Mercedes wins ADAC innovation award for the world's cleanest diesel

"Yellow Angel" award for BLUETEC diesel

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.

Source: © germancarfans.com