World Car Awards Names Mercedes-Benz S 250 CDI BlueEfficiency as 2012 World Green Car; PRIME Research Is Research Partner
At a press conference hosted by Bridgestone Corp. and the New York International Auto Show, the Mercedes-Benz S 250 CDI BlueEfficiency was declared the 2012 World Green Car. Prime Research International, a company focused on strategic communication research and consultancy served as the World Car Awards’ research partner. The company provides strategic reports for the awards that analyze the awards global automotive media coverage. Now in its eighth year, the annual World Car awards have become a credible and significant programs of its kind.
The group said the Mercedes-Benz S 250 CDI BlueEfficiency was chosen from an initial entry list of twenty-three (23) new vehicles from all over the world, then a short list of ten, then three finalists: the Mercedes-Benz S 250 CDI World Car Awards, the Ford Focus Electric, and the Peugeot 3008 Hybrid.
This is the second time in World Green Car history that a Mercedes-Benz technology has won this honor. The Mercedes-Benz E320 Bluetec technology was the 2007 World Green Car winner.
Prof. Dr. Thomas Weber, Board of Management, responsible for Group Research & Mercedes-Benz Cars Development observed that, “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 impressive 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.”
The World Green Car award is presented by Bridgestone Corp. (Japan). Ryoji Yamada, General Manager of Brand Management said, “We are very pleased and honored to sponsor the 2012 World Green Car award. The environment is everyone’s responsibility. And throughout our global family of companies, we take this responsibility very seriously. We believe it is our mission to serve society with superior quality… not just with eco-friendly products but also in the way we produce those products and the way in which we support our many communities with environmentally-friendly activities such as wildlife habitats and our Lake Biwa initiative in Japan.”
To be eligible for the 2012 World Green Car award, a vehicle had to be all-new, or substantially revised, in production and introduced for sale or lease to the public in quantities of at least 10 in at least one major market during the period beginning January 1, 2011 and ending May 30th. Tailpipe emissions, fuel consumption, and use of a power plant technology (beyond engine componentry), aimed specifically at increasing the vehicle’s environmental responsibility, were all taken into consideration.
Due to the complexity of some of the ‘green’ technologies, the group noted that three green professionals were appointed by the World Car Awards Steering Committee to review all documentation and specs associated with each candidate. They were asked to create a short-list of finalists for review by the sixty-four (64) jurors in their second round of voting in February. Their ballots were then tabulated by the international accounting firm KPMG.
The professionals said, “This is the first 4-cylinder S-Class in the 60-year history of the legendary model. Powered by a 204hp diesel turbo producing 500Nm, this S-Class develops ample power from the world’s cleanest diesel, while the incorporation of a start-stop system means that this car produces an outstanding 149g/km of CO2.”
The three green professionals, as described by the group, include:
- Phil Berg (representing North America) contributor to GreenFuelsForecast.com, DieselForecast.com, HydrogenForecast.com, PopularMechanics.com, AutoWeek, Car and Driver.
- Dean Slavnich (representing Europe) is editor of Engine Technology International (ETi) and its sister publication, Electric & Hybrid Vehicle Technology International (E&H), for the past five years.
- Tadashi Tateuchi (representing Asia) is the creator and chairman of the Japan Electric Vehicle (EV) Club. A juror on the Japan Car of the Year panel, he contributes regularly to Car Graphic magazine and the Japan Automobile Federation’s monthly magazine.
Previous World Green Car winners were the Chevrolet Volt in 2011, the Volkswagen BlueMotion in 2010, the Honda FCX Clarity in 2009, the BMW 118d with Efficient Dynamics in 2008, the Mercedes-Benz E320 Bluetec in 2007 and the Honda Civic Hybrid in 2006
Bridgestone Corp., headquartered in Tokyo, is a tire and rubber company.
Showcasing the latest automotive trends, the 2012 New York International Auto Show will unveil a collection of vehicles on display.
More information:
You may also be interested in...
