And Now There Is One. . . Mercedes-Benz S Coupe Wins 2015 World Luxury Car Award Second Year In A Row

NEW YORK -- April 2, 2015: At a press conference hosted by the New York International Auto Show, Bridgestone Corporation, and Autoneum, the MERCEDES-BENZ S COUPE was declared the 2015 World Luxury Car.

This is the second year in a row that Mercedes-Benz has won the World Luxury Car title. The company won last year's inaugural award for the S-Class when the new category was created in to acknowledge higher-priced premium models selling in more limited numbers worldwide.

Mercedes-Benz is no stranger to the World Car Awards program – now in its 11th year. Mercedes-Benz has also won two World Green Car awards: one for the S 250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY in 2012 and for the Mercedes-Benz E320 Bluetec in 2007.

Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG, Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars said, "The S-Class Coupe lives up to the claim 'The best or nothing' in every detail and in an exceptionally exclusive fashion: in terms of aesthetics, technology and quality. A brand ambassador par excellence. And the entire Mercedes team is proud that the WORLD CAR OF THE YEAR jury takes a similar view."

This year's World Luxury Car winner was chosen from an initial entry list of 12 prestigious cars from all over the world, then a short list of three finalists: the winner as well as the BMW i8 and the Range Rover Autobiography Black LWB.

The World Car jurors observed that, "Mercedes-Benz design and technology are forming a marriage that is more happy than ever. There is no better car to prove it than this stunningly beautiful derivative of the S-class, available with powerful, turbocharged V-8 and V-12 engines."

Vehicles in all award categories are selected and voted on by an international jury panel comprised of 75 top-level automotive journalists from 22 countries around the world. Each juror was appointed by the World Car Steering Committee on the basis of his or her expertise, experience, credibility, and influence. Each juror typically drives and evaluates new vehicles on a regular basis as part of their professional work. Through their respective outlets they collectively reach an audience of many millions world-wide. The international accounting firm KPMG tabulates the jurors' ballots.

The Road to the World Car began in Paris on October 2, followed by a stop in Los Angeles for a test-drive of the North American contenders in November, and the announcement of the "Top Three in the World" finalists at the Geneva International Auto Show in March. The journey has now ended today with the winners' declaration at the New York International Auto Show.

The Global Trends Report, co-presented by Prime Research and Autoneum, was presented just before the winners' press conference. Autoneum CEO Martin Hirzel said, "Smart efficiency is the most important trend in the automobile industry. With Autoneum's lightweight and multifunctional products for acoustic and heat management in vehicles, smart innovations are making an important contribution to the future of the automobile."

About World Car Awards

The World Car Awards (WCA) are more than just an awards program. The WCA's judging panel is made up of 75 prominent automotive journalists from around the world that form a global community of experts. The jurors ensure the integrity and credibility of the awards but also serve as an important resource for the industry with a focus on excellence and innovation on a global scale.