Mercedes-Benz's triple triumph at 2011 Automotive Brand Contest

Mercedes-Benz has scooped three first prizes at this year's Automotive Brand Contest.

The competition's jury selected Mercedes-Benz's design team as ‘Team of the Year', while the Mercedes-Benz CLS was given the award for ‘Best of Best' in the exterior category. The interior of the Concept A-Class also picked up the award for ‘Best of Best'.

Mercedes-Benz's design director, Professor Gorden Wagener and his staff of approximately 500 based at Sindelfingen, Germany, and at four other studios globally, picked up the award, much to his satisfaction:

"Everyone in our team works with great dedication day-in, day-out to ensure that the Mercedes-Benz models of the future retain their distinctive, hallmark Mercedes character in keeping with the very highest aesthetic standards," he explained.

First place in the interior area of concept and study category was awarded to Mercedes-Benz for its Concept A-Cass, which features elements such as bionic cell structures and a fully integrated smartphone among others, hinting at the interior design for future Mercedes-Benz models.

The Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class, picking up the ‘Best of Best' award in the exterior category, was recognized as a result of inspiration drawn from previous Mercedes sports cars, resulting in distinctive feature lines, graphics and surfacing.

The awards will be presented at the Automotive Designers Night that is to take place at the Frankfurt International Motor Show on September 13, 2011.

By Rufus Thompson