Daimler AG : The M-Class and SLS AMG Roadster are the best cars

Stuttgart, Germany, January 26, 2012

"Best cars of the year" voting of "auto, motor und sport"

The M-Class and SLS AMG Roadster are the best cars

These are the results of a reader survey conducted by specialist German motoring magazine "auto motor und sport". The SLS has now received the title of "Best car of the year" for the third time in a row.

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster

The motoring magazine "auto motor und sport" has been conducting its vote for the "Best cars of the year" in ten different categories since 1977. This year around 210,000 readers from 14 European countries, as well as China and Brazil, took part in the longstanding survey to decide the best cars of 2012. When it came to off-road vehicles, the majority of readers voted for the M-Class, thereby acknowledging not only its characteristically distinctive design and variable interior, with that all-important sense of wellbeing, but also its excellent energy efficiency and thus environmental acceptability. In addition, the permanent all-wheel drive system of the M-Class also impressed with its well-balanced ride comfort combined with excellent driving dynamics both on and off road, along with the car's outstanding range and high level of safety. The G-Class picked up second place.

Mercedes-Benz ML 250 BlueTEC 4MATIC In the case of the cabriolets, the readers of "auto motor und sport" placed the SLS AMG Roadster in pole position, honouring it as the best car of 2012 in its category and as such paying tribute to both its uniquely exciting design as well its exquisite engineering and technology. The super sports car excels with its uncompromising lightweight construction, superior driving dynamics and exemplary safety. These attributes are ensured by a unique technology package consisting of a lightweight aluminium spaceframe body, AMG 6.3-litre V8 front mid-engine producing 420 kW (571 hp), seven-speed dual clutch transmission and a sports suspension with aluminium double wishbone suspension. This combination guarantees dynamic performance at the very highest level.

ML-Class: fuel consumption, combined cycle: 11.8 - 6.0 l/100km, CO22 emissions, combined 308 g/km, energy efficiency class: G)*.

*The figures are provided in accordance with the German PKW-EnVKV and apply only to the German market. They do not concern an individual vehicle and are not part of the offer; they are provided solely for the purposes of comparison between different types of vehicles.