World Green Car Award 2012 Goes To Mercedes-Benz

At the annual World Green Car awards corresponding with the New York International Auto Show, Mercedes garnered for the second time this award which distinguishes the world’s most efficient cars. Initially won in 2007 by the carmaker’s E 320 BlueTEC, this year’s award was garnered by the Mercedes-Benz S 250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY. It overcame 23 other entries such as the Ford Focus Electric and the Peugeot 3008 Hybrid.

The S 250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY is the first four-cylinder engine used in the S-Class, with the diesel unit triumphing fuel consumption levels of just 5.7 litres per 100 kilometers. Says Prof. Dr. Thomas Weber, Board of Management, responsible for Group Research & Mercedes-Benz Cars Development, “The highly efficient gasoline and diesel engines in the S-Class show that our customers can drive a luxury vehicle with a clear conscience. The S250 CDI is the most remarkable example: with a fuel consumption of only 5, 7 l per 100 km, the S250 CDI is the most fuel-efficient luxury sedan in the world.”

To be entitled for the 2012 World Green Car award, a vehicle had to be all-new, or noticeably revised, in production, and announced for sale or lease to the public in quantities of at least 10 in at least one major market during the period beginning Jan. 1, 2011 and ending May 30, 2012. Tailpipe emissions, fuel consumption, and use of a major advanced power plant technology (beyond engine componentry), aimed precisely at increasing the vehicle's environmental responsibility, were all taken into consideration.

Three green experts were selected by the World Car Awards Steering Committee to expansively review all documentation and specs linked with each vehicle contender. They were asked to create a short-list of qualifiers for review by the 64 jurors in their second round of voting in February. Their ballots were then tabulated by the international accounting firm KPMG, according to the World Car Awards.

According to the experts, “This is the first 4-cylinder S-Class in the 60-year history of the legendary model. Powered by a 204 hp diesel turbo producing 500Nm, this S-Class develops generous power from the world’s cleanest diesel, while the integration of a start-stop system means that this car produces an exceptional 149g/km of CO2.”

Nico Rosberg rides home to a commanding win at the UBS Chinese GP

Nico Rosberg took a commanding victory at an action packed Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai yesterday. Starting from pole position, he took the chequered flag with a comfortable 20 second margin over his closest rival, achieving his first win in Formula One.

Nico ran a two-stop option/prime/prime strategy to win by 20.626 seconds over Jenson Button´s McLaren-Mercedes. Teammate Michael was forced to retire on lap 13 after his right front wheel was not properly attached at his first pit stop. This was Nico´s 111th Formula One start, and comes 111 years after Mercedes´ first win at the 1901 Nice Speed Weeks.

What makes this particular win special is that it’s the first win for a works Silver Arrow since the 1955 Italian Grand Prix, on 11 September in Monza - 25,671 days ago! The victory is the tenth in Formula One for a works Silver Arrow, and brings the total number of Mercedes-Benz F1 victories to 90. Mercedes-Benz powered cars filled the podium for the second time in three years at the Chinese Grand Prix.

Nico Rosberg

“This is a very special moment for me. The whole weekend went perfectly. My first pole position, now my first win in Formula One - it really is fantastic. But it´s not only this; it´s the first win for the new Silver Arrow and for this great team. That is really special for me. Thanks to everybody in the team, here in China and in our factories in Brackley and Brixworth. It makes me very proud that we have improved the car so quickly. I will never forget this race, and the last 20 laps felt as long as if I was racing in the Le Mans 24 Hours! But then crossing the line was so intense. We will enjoy this success, but our feet are still on the ground. We are still not where we want to be, we are still working hard to understand the car and the tyres in all conditions, and we will keep pushing to improve our race pace even further. We will see how that works out in Bahrain.”

Michael Schumacher

“First of all, congratulations to the whole team, to Mercedes-Benz and of course to Nico who achieved a perfect victory from start to finish. He did a great job today and yesterday, and I am happy for him. As for my race, my right front tyre got loose following my first pit stop. As I did not want to cause any bigger damage to the car, I stopped on the grass. I felt there was something wrong immediately and especially in turn three, when I put pressure on the right side of the car. Up until then I had a controlled race I´d say, keeping the others behind me and the tyres together. Of course, this was an unfortunate ending to what could have been a nice race, and I feel sorry for the guys, who always work so hard and give their best. But we all know that´s part of the game.”

Ross Brawn

“This is a truly special and historic day. I am so delighted for Nico, he has deserved to take his first victory several times, and has now done so by driving a perfectly judged race from pole position. I am excited to see how he develops now he has that win under his belt. Commiserations to Michael, who was driving a controlled race in second position, but was forced to retire after his pit stop. However, he is the first man to say that we win and lose as a team, and his performances this year prove that he is equally capable of climbing to the top step of the podium. 

Heartfelt congratulations to all our team here at the track, in Brackley and in Brixworth; they have put tremendous effort into this project, and we are now starting to see the rewards for their dedication and expertise. Finally, I must thank all our colleagues at Mercedes-Benz in Stuttgart and around the world - their support has been unstinting, and we are proud to deliver the first victory for a works Silver Arrow car in 57 years. I was just one year old when Juan Manuel Fangio won in Monza in 1955 - but this victory is something I will remember, and savour, for a very long time indeed!”

Norbert Haug

“What a sensational victory from Nico and our team! It was unbelievable how Nico drove and controlled the race from lap one to 56. A big thank you to everybody in Brackley, Brixworth, Stuttgart, Fellbach, Untertürkheim and Möhringen for all their relentless work and their belief in our capabilities and that we can make it. Nico´s performance was superb today, the team executed a great two-stop strategy, and Nico and his car managed the tyres very well. It was a shame for Michael, who dropped out after his first pit stop because of a problem with the right front wheel; he missed out on a possible very good podium result. It was particularly sweet to see Jenson and Lewis on the podium - Mercedes Power to the power of three!”

A Day without Speed Limits

Watching a Formula 1 car zip down the race track is one of the most thrilling moments that an auto enthusiast might experience. The sound of engines roaring at unimaginable RPMs, the blurring of colors as cars skim by like bullets - truly a rush! One wonders what it must feel like to be in the midst of something so high octane that pushes man and machine to their limits. Would a seat in the cockpit make for an auto enthusiast’s ultimate exhilaration?
 

The Mercedes-Benz Track Day Experience was an event that put most of these questions to rest. Hosted at the Buddh International Circuit (BIC), Sahara Force India’s Mercedes drivers Paul Di Resta and Nico Hulkenberg took to the wheel with a single motive - to push their cars to the very edge while giving media personnel, our YEO customers and auto enthusiasts a feel of how it is to race in a GP!

A stack of papers to be signed as an acceptance of indemnity clauses, a briefon driving dynamics and rules by Mr. Hari Singh and the lucky Track Day participants were ready to shut the visors on their helmets. What followed was a gut wrenching blast as they zipped across the BIC at speeds at excessive speeds of 200kmph in the C63 AMG one of the most powerful cars in its league and Mercedes-Benz's official car for the DTM circuit! Auto enthusiasts and young entrepreneurs alike were treated to the ‘the drive of their lives’. Post racing, it took them a while to get over the hair-raising speeds that they had travelled at. The enthralled look on all faces at the end of the day served as a testament to the fascination that the Mercedes-Benz Track Day Experience had delivered.

Mercedes-Benz has always been a strong advocate of motorsports & so have its initiatives in the country:

• In the F1 arena, Mercedes-Benz today has the distinction of having three teams, and their six cars, running on Mercedes-Benz engines.

• Sahara Force India's showcase in F1 is woven around engines manufactured by Mercedes-Benz, and the continuous podium appearances across different race tracks and varied conditions are a testimony to the technological prowess of the engines.

• Sahara Force India as the 'only Indian' F1 team on the circuit, along with Mercedes-Benz will be striving with newer initiatives to popularize motorsports in the country.

• The initiation of such collaboration together with Mercedes-Benz will go a long way in sculpting the future of motorsports in India, with the active help of our partner JPSI.

• The AMGs have been revered in the motoring circuit with high esteem ever since its inception and each race reaffirms the belief in the amazing performance capabilities of this beautiful racing machine.

• In India, just like the other part of the world, the AMGs have won hearts of all motoring enthusiasts and is synonymous with performance motoring.

• The entire range of AMG from Mercedes-Benz's stable are offered for sale in India for customers and enthusiasts who are passionate about performance motoring.