0 Mercedes-Benz Vans pick up two awards from independent specialist jury

On two test routes around the Baltic resort of Warnemünde, the star-branded products of Mercedes-Benz have been able to win through against the competition. The Vito 113 CDI and the new Sprinter 316 BlueTEC successfully secured first place in their respective categories.

Specialist jury singles out Mercedes-Benz Vans

This year marked the thirteenth occasion that the competition for the "Courier, Express and Parcel Services Van of the Year" was hosted by the publishing company “ETM-Verlag” based in Stuttgart. A jury comprising 40 professionals from the courier, express and parcel services sector was faced with the task of assessing the 23 participating vehicles and selecting individual winners in four respective categories.

Based on their everyday dealings with their own vehicle fleets, the experts are only too aware of the precise requirements of the individual vehicles and put the participating vans through their paces under real conditions on a variety of test routes. Their evaluation sheets therefore covered such aspects as functionality, ride comfort, handling, design and of course economy, all of which had to be carefully rated after each test run. In total the testers clocked up more than 2500 kilometres on 800 test runs around the Baltic resort of Warnemünde.

Award for "Courier, Express and Parcel Services Van of the Year 2013" goes to the Mercedes-Benz Vito and the new Sprinter

The Mercedes-Benz Vito was able to stand out from a strong field of competitors to take first place on the winners' podium in the category "Vans up to 3 tonnes".

The new Sprinter succeeded in reaffirming the leading position it has enjoyed over the past seven years by securing first place in the category for "Vans up to 3.5 tonnes". Moreover, the new Sprinter left a significant impression on its testers with five new safety systems as well as with engines meeting the future Euro VI emissions standard.

Celebrating their world premiere in the van segment with the new Sprinter are the standard-fit Crosswind Assist as well as the optionally available safety systems COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST and Blind Spot Assist. Highbeam Assist and Lane Keeping Assist are also available.

World's first van to meet the future Euro VI emissions standard

The new Sprinter is the first van to meet the future Euro VI emissions standard in all of its engine variants. The Sprinter achieves the strict limits with the help of its BlueTEC-engine and SCR-technology that injects AdBlue into the off-gas stream. The technology has already proven its worth in more than 100,000 commercial vehicles from Mercedes-Benz.

The most economical van in its class

The combination of the highly efficient diesel engines, the optimized powertrain, the longer axle ratio, the ancillary components, and the BlueEFFICIENCY PLUS efficiency package has reduced fuel consumption to a minimum of 6.3 l/100 km (NEDC combined), which is a remarkable new record for the Sprinter's vehicle class.

Credits: Daimler AG

Copyright © 2013, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

Detail: Mercedes-Benz Vans pick up two awards from independent specialist jury

0 The GLK and G-Class scoop awards in "Off Road" readers' poll: SUV poll win for Mercedes-Benz

True to form, serial winner Mercedes-Benz triumphed once again this year in the annual readers' poll conducted by renowned automotive magazine Off Road to find the "SUV of the Year".

This year the GLK saw off the stiffest international competition to win the SUV category. This was a resounding acknowledgement of last year's revamp of the SUV, entailing comprehensive new technical and design features. The range of engines on offer was additionally bolstered by a particularly agile and economical four-cylinder petrol variant in the spring of 2013. The cutting-edge direct-injection engine in the GLK 250 4MATIC BlueEFFICIENCY offers superior performance coupled with well-balanced drive comfort at an output of 155 kW (211 hp) and 350 Newton metres of torque. The GLK-Class additionally boasts a new infotainment generation with extended functions.

The legendary G-Class was a success on two fronts, topping the "SUV" category while the G Professional model won the "Classic Cars" section. This makes the G-Class the most successful participant in this poll - which has been held annually since 2001 - with a total of nine awards to its name.This year, a total of 125 vehicles were in the running in 13 categories. In all, the Off Road jury counted 74,282 votes cast.

Credits: Daimler AG

Copyright © 2013, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

Detail: The GLK and G-Class scoop awards in "Off Road" readers' poll: SUV poll win for Mercedes-Benz