DAIMLER AG - The readers of Europe's biggest 4x4 magazine "Auto Bild Allrad" have spoken and reached a unanimous decision: the Mercedes-Benz M-Class is "Car of the Year 2012".
More than 120,000 readers cast their votes as part of an online survey in which a total of 157 all-wheel-drive models were put under the spotlight. In the category "Off-road vehicles and SUVs over €40,000", a good 12 percent preferred the M-Class and as a result voted the multi-talented vehicle as the overall winner. As the most successful Mercedes-Benz SUV with sales of more than 1,000,000 vehicles, the M-Class celebrated its premiere in 1997 and is seen as the forerunner to all modern premium SUVs. In 2011, the third generation of the model was launched. It boasts impressive performance both on and off the road, and has established its position as the champion of efficiency. A further three model series from Mercedes-Benz also featured among the top ten vehicles in this category in the guise of the G, GL and GLK-Class.
The R-Class, the impressive touring SUV offering high levels of comfort on long journeys as well as a generous and variable interior with up to seven seats, was voted into second place in the category for "All-wheel-drive vans and buses".