The Mercedes-Benz CLS, the SLS AMG Roadster and the various models in the C-Class are the most attractive vehicles in their respective classes. Furthermore, the legendary 300 SL Gullwing of the 1950s has earned the right to be called a design icon of recent decades. Such were the results of a survey of readers undertaken by leading German motoring magazine "auto motor und sport".


22,916 readers submitted votes in this year's Autonis design awards, which are made each year by "auto motor und sport" to honour the most beautiful new cars. The survey's only criterion is to establish which car readers find the most visually appealing. The clear winners in the medium-size category, with more than two thirds of all readers' votes, were the Mercedes-Benz C-Class and the coupé of the same model family. Readers showed themselves impressed by the dynamic design of the new generation C-Class. This was especially true in the case of the C-Class coupé, with its classic coupé proportions.

In the luxury segment, the magazine's very percipient readers voted the Mercedes-Benz CLS four-door coupé into first place in the beauty contest. Like its predecessor, the new version of the CLS offers a very convincing package of captivating design and refined sportiness.

When it came to the cabriolets, the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster was the car that found most favour with readers. The open version of the super sports car features the same technical highlights as the coupé model with gullwing doors that caused such a stir in this same competition back in 2009. With its compact soft top, which opens and closes in just eleven seconds, the new SLS AMG Roadster combines excellent driving dynamics with breathtaking roadster fun.

Even after almost 60 years, eyes light up when one of the legendary 300 SL models appears on the scene – Gullwing or Roadster, the effect is the same. This reaction serves to underline the longevity of the car's stunning design. It also underpins "auto motor und sport" readers' decision to award the title of "Design icon of recent decades" to the 300 SL – a "lifetime achievement award", as it were.

Mercedes-Benz scores outstanding success in the poll for the ‘Goldenes Klassik-Lenkrad’: this year, four of the brand’s vehicles are awarded a trophy. The competition is run by specialist magazine Auto Bild Klassik in the form of a readers’ poll. The gala award ceremony for the winners took place in the Mercedes-Benz Museum on 29 September 2011.


“I’m absolutely delighted about the success for Mercedes-Benz,” says Michael Bock, Head of Mercedes-Benz Classic and Managing Director of Mercedes-Benz Museum GmbH. “It is a perfect way to round off the anniversary year marking 125 years of the automobile.”

The ‘Classic of the Year’ is awarded in five categories – and in three of them, the title goes to Stuttgart. In the saloon category, the Mercedes-Benz 300 (model series W 186) from 1951, popularly known as the ‘Adenauer’, tops the poll with 7,164 votes. The ‘convertibles and roadsters’ category is won by the Mercedes-Benz model series R 107 – the SL of the 1970s and 1980s (8,374 votes). Dominating the ‘off-road vehicles and MPVs’ category with 9,934 votes is the Unimog, first manufactured in 1951. The models that were nominated for the ‘Classic of the Year’ all celebrate a milestone anniversary in 2011.

The Mercedes-Benz CLS saw the greatest success: it not only won the ‘Classic of the Future’ title in the saloon category, but, with 12,350 votes, also received more support from the readers than any other model in the poll.

The main prize for the ‘Goldenes Klassik Lenkrad’ is donated by Daimler AG – a Mercedes-Benz 190 E (model series W 201) built in 1989. A prize draw was held to decide the winner from the participants of the poll. This nautical blue metallic car, part of the Mercedes-Benz Young Classics collection, is in excellent condition and has only 18,200 kilometres on the clock.

This is the second time that Auto Bild Klassik has held the competition. It invited readers to vote on the ‘Classic of the Year’, ‘Classic of the Future’, ‘Find of the Year’, ‘Restoration of the Year’ and ‘Person of the Year’. A total of 13 awards were presented, and 27,023 readers of the magazine and its online edition took part. All the results can be found at www.autobild.de/klassik-lenkrad.

BRABUS will appearantly debut a new supercar at the upcoming IAA Frankfurt in September or, at least, this is the conclusion that rises after seeing this leaked teaser image. Most probably, the business is very serious and very hot to deserve such attention. It's not hard to see they got their magic hands on the new CLS to create one hell of a beast. To put it straight, a new, insane BRABUS Rocket V12 version could be right around next corner. Anyway, there's not much left till the motor show commences and we'll then see what masterpiece is hiding under that shiny red cover.


Copyright © 2011, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

Back in 2004, the extravagant CLS-Class was the pioneer of all new segment of niche cars: the 4-door coupes. Now, the second generation, launched in October 2010, continues to fascinate clients with its brilliantly-penned coupe-like silhouette. More than enough to get Merc officials to think at the possibility of offering a new 4-door coupe in their portfolio, an uber-premium luxury model that could slot right above the CLS. While this inside rumor is yet to be confirmed by company's execs, it is believed the new car will be positioned as to directly compete with high-end manufacturers such as Bentley, Rolls-Royce and Aston Martin. Obviously, it will have to fill the existing gap between the CLS and S-Class without affecting the sales of the future S-Class Coupe (that replaces the outgoing CL-Class). Given the fact the new flagship versions, programmed for release in the late 2012 - mid-2013 period, will grow at least 10 to 20 centimeters in size, the bigger CLS could feature an overall length of just above five meters, which is just enough for setting its own field of customers. Expect a striking approach towards the exterior and interior styling, with key inspiration from the new S-Class and S-Class Coupe. If the new 4-door coupe gets greenlighted, then it should be premiered after 2014 and serve as starting point for developing a similar Maybach version as well.

Source: Autocar


Copyright © 2011, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.