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Mercedes Wins Yellow Angel Award For Bluetec Diesel

Posted by www.eMercedesBenz.com on January 20, 2006 at 8:55 AM CST

In keeping with this morning's awards theme, Mercedes has just been  
graced with yet another accolade, this time earning the ADAC (German  
Automobile Association) "Yellow Angel" award for "Innovation of the  
Year."

The award was given to recognize Mercedes' latest BLUETEC Technology,  
a system that substantially reduces diesel emissions and allows  
diesel vehicles to meet the even the world's most stringent emission  
standards.

To arrive at their decision, a jury made up of experts from the ADAC,  
VDA (Association of the German Automotive Industry), VDIK (German  
Motor Vehicle Importers Association) and ZDK (German Motor Vehicle  
Trade Association) were given a selection of 32 different outstanding  
innovations, and ultimately, Mercedes' BLUETEC technology was  
declared the victor.

I should also mention that in addition to capturing the "Innovation  
of the Year" award, Mercedes' Night View Assist Technology was also  
nominated in the same category, and in the end it managed to capture  
the runner-up spot.

For more info on ADAC's "Innovation of the Year" award, visit us at  
www.eMercedesBenz.com or check out the full press release below.


OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE


"Yellow Angel" award for BLUETEC diesel: Mercedes-Benz wins ADAC  
innovation award for the world's cleanest diesel

Stuttgart, Jan 19, 2006

The ADAC (German Automobile Association) has presented Mercedes Benz  
with its "Gelber Engel" (Yellow Angel) award for "Innovation of the  
Year". Europe's largest automobile club awarded the accolade in  
recognition of the leading-edge BLUETEC technology that allows the  
Stuttgart-based brand to offer the world's cleanest diesel in any  
vehicle category. Mercedes-Benz also picked up second place in the  
"Innovation of the Year" category with its night view assist system.
Dr Dieter Zetsche, CEO of DaimlerChrysler AG and Head of the Mercedes  
Car Group, received the "Yellow Angel" prize as acknowledgement for  
the outstanding innovation of the year. A jury made up of experts  
from the ADAC, VDA (Association of the German Automotive Industry),  
VDIK (German Motor Vehicle Importers Association) and ZDK (German  
Motor Vehicle Trade Association) selected Mercedes Benz BLUETEC  
technology as "Innovation of the Year" ahead of 31 other nominations.

The members of the jury were especially impressed by the outstanding  
future prospects for diesel drive systems offered by BLUETEC. This  
modular concept, incorporating a raft of precisely harmonised  
measures, brings about a further substantial reduction in Mercedes- 
Benz diesel-engine emissions. These measures include engine  
modifications to minimise untreated emissions as well as an  
efficient, multi-stage exhaust-gas aftertreatment process. By  
introducing the innovative BLUETEC technology package, Mercedes-Benz  
has transformed the diesel engine into a high-tech drive system with  
the potential to comply with the world's most stringent emission  
standards. In addition, sophisticated diesel vehicles consume 20 to  
40 percent less fuel than comparable petrol models as well as  
ensuring renowned pulling power, economy and range.

The ADAC jury awarded second place in the "Innovation of the Year"  
contest to the new night view assist system which recently celebrated  
its premiere in the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Aided by infrared  
beams and an infrared camera, the night view assist extends the  
driver's range of vision in the dark by a significant margin,  
allowing him or her to see the course of the road more clearly and to  
detect pedestrians, cyclists or obstacles on the road at an earlier  
stage. This leading-edge technology sees Mercedes Benz making a  
further contribution to improving road safety in the dark.

Although this is only the second time the annual ADAC "Yellow Angel"  
award has been presented, it has already become one of the most  
renowned accolades in the German automotive industry.

For more Mercedes-Benz news and information, visit us at  
www.eMercedesBenz.com