Stuttgart – The new Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate is the best business class car, while the Gullwing Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG is the best newcomer in the “luxury” category – this is according to a top-class panel of international motoring journalists which has voted both Mercedes-Benz models the top cars of 2010 in their respective categories.

No fewer than 150 motoring journalists from Germany, Austria and Switzerland were asked by the Motorinformationsdienst (mid) (Motor Vehicle Information Service) to cast their votes and use their expertise to decide on the top cars of 2010, choosing from among 80 passenger cars in 8 different categories.

In the “business” category, the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate took top honours by quite a significant margin. The premium lifestyle estate has caused a great deal of excitement since its launch with its distinct, dynamic and at the same time elegant design, and also sets new standards in safety, comfort, quality, economy and functionality. In addition it also provides a unique combination of technical innovations in this vehicle class – from drowsiness detection to automatic emergency braking when an accident is recognised as imminent, and from Adaptive Highbeam Assist to the active bonnet. On top of all this there is also air suspension with self-levelling at the rear as standard, as well as some innovative new features in terms of the functionality of the luggage compartment. This area can also accommodate an optional third row of seats, something unique among the competition.

The new Gullwing Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG also moved effortlessly into first place in its “luxury” category. Its exciting design featuring the gullwing doors harks back to that sporting legend of the 1950’s – the 300 SL. The new super sports car also dazzles with its exquisite technology which includes such highlights as: aluminium spaceframe body shell, AMG 6.3-litre V8 front mid engine with dry sump lubrication as well as a maximum power of 420 kW (571 hp) and 650 Nm of torque, seven-speed double-clutch transmission in a transaxle arrangement and a sports suspension with aluminium double-wishbone axles. This high-tech combination helps to guarantee the highest level of driving dynamics.

Being voted the top cars of 2010 is not the first time that both Mercedes-Benz vehicles have picked up an award. The SLS AMG has won the 2009 Auto Trophy, as well as the 2009 Golden Steering Wheel award.

Other awards also received by the E-Class family include the following:

Auto Bild Design Award: Germany’s most beautiful car (Saloon)

Auto Bild Design Award: Germany’s most beautiful Coupé (Coupé)

Auto Trophy (Auto Zeitung): best luxury-class saloon

Die sportlichsten Autos (Auto Bild sportscars): best sports saloon (E 63 AMG)

EuroCarBody Award 2009: best bodyshell

Diners Club Magazine Award: best power-to-economy ratio

Großer Österreichischer Automobilpreis (Austria’s car of the year award): favourite premium saloon

International Engine of the Year Award

• 0 Comments

Daihatsu Satisfies Germans

Daihatsu has been named the top manufacturer in this year’s German J D Power Vehicle Ownership Satisfaction Study. Daihatsu scored 843 points out of a possible 1000 – scoring particularly well for service satisfaction and ownership costs – and beat Alfa Romeo and Mercedes-Benz (835 points each), BMW (834), Audi and Toyota (831 each).

The industry average score was 814, and several manufacturers struggled to get anywhere near that. The worst performer was smart on 772 points, followed by Chevrolet on 775, Fiat on 778 and Kia, Peugeot and Vauxhall/Opel all on 790.

The Daihatsu Sirion (pictured) was the highest scorer in the Small Car category. Other category winners were the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and CLK-Class, the Toyota Aygo and Corolla, the Renault Laguna, the Skoda Roomster and the Nissan Qashqai.

Overall, the top-scoring car was the Mercedes CLK-Class (pictured), followed by the BMW Z4, the Nissan Qashqai and, tied in fourth place, the Mercedes E-Class and Renault Laguna.

Eagle-eyed readers will have spotted that there has been no mention so far of Lexus, which was recently named top manufacturer in the UK J D Power survey for the ninth consecutive year (see separate story). The reason is that the survey does ignores brands below a certain sample size, and Lexus, along with Chrysler, Land Rover, Porsche (yes, really), Saab and Subaru all failed to make the cut.

Daihatsu Satisfies Germans | Road Tests, Auto Features

[Source: German Car Zone]

• 0 Comments