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Mercedes-Benz All New 2000 S-Class Continues To Garner Awards

12 November 1999

Mercedes-Benz All New 2000 S-Class Continues To Garner Awards; Chosen as 'Best of What's New' by Popular Science Magazine Wins Popular Mechanics Magazine's 'Design & Engineering Awards 2000'

    MONTVALE, N.J., Nov. 11 -- The all-new 2000 Mercedes-Benz S-
Class sedan was selected as a winner of Popular Science's 1999 Best of What's
New award.  Debuting in the December issue of Popular Science -- the monthly
published by Times Mirror Magazines that informs consumers of new technology
and scientific breakthroughs in the automotive, consumer electronics,
aviation/space, and computer/software industries -- the all-new S-Class was
chosen as one of the 100 best achievements of the year in science and
technology.  For the twelfth year, editors of Popular Science review thousands
of new products, technology developments and scientific achievements.
    For this year's Best of What's New car award, the all-new S-Class was
distinguished as a technical tour de force that "features unparalleled luxury
and technology" citing groundbreaking automotive technology features such as a
"voice-activated GPS navigational system [that] makes you get to your
destination" and a "grill-mounted radar sounds an alarm and automatically
brakes the vehicle if it detects another car or an obstacle ahead."
    In the automotive technology category, editors of Popular Science chose
DaimlerChrysler's NECAR 4 (New Electric Car), noting that the NECAR 4 is the
"first fuel cell vehicle that drives like a regular car." They conclude that
"the bigger breakthrough, though, is that the company was able to shrink the
drivetrain enough to fit under a tiny A-Class subcompact."
    The all-new 2000 S-Class sedan also won the Design & Engineering Award by
Popular Mechanics magazine, the original men's service magazine published by
Hearst Magazines that informs readers on mechanical and scientific materials
in a popular, easy-to-understand format.
    Each year, editors of Popular Mechanics recognize new ideas, designs,
innovations and developments that represent the best thinking in 1999 in areas
the magazine covers.  Debuting in the December issue of Popular Mechanics, the
Design & Engineering Awards 2000 is reviewed by editor-in-chief, Joe Oldham.
    The all-new S-Class was recognized for many technologies and features such
as its "double-overhead-cam, 24-valve, 16-spark plug V8 engines and
manual/automatic transmission rear-drive powertrains [plus] its totally
integrated climate control/audio/navigation/communication system console."
Oldham summed up by adding: "you could make a case for the S-Class being the
best car ever made."
    "The Mercedes S-Class quickly proved a winner with our clients for its
striking design and new high-technology features," said Hal Whiteford, vice
president, operations, MBUSA.  "Receiving this kind of recognition from both
Popular Science and Popular Mechanics reinforces our commitment to continue to
design and produce the finest premium luxury vehicles in the world."
    Mercedes-Benz launched its all-new model year 2000 S-Class in the spring
of 1999 as the newest generation of its flagship passenger sedan.  Since its
debut, demand for both the S430 and S500 has been phenomenal, with S-Class
sales recording the highest monthly sales volume in its history in October.
    The December issues of Popular Science and Popular Mechanics are now
available on newsstands.