We know you've been waiting with bated breath, but the results are finally in. For the second time in less than 10 years, Mercedes-Benz won the award for producing the greenest car in the world. Surprised? We kinda were too.
When thinking about green cars, characteristics like small, simple, and incredibly-efficient normally spring to mind. Luxury car does not. According to the judges at the World Car Awards, however, retaining performance and aesthetic appeal without polluting the planet is noteworthy as well.
These criteria led a panel of three green car experts to select the Mercedes-Benz S 250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY from an initial entry list of 23 new vehicles from all over the world. Other finalists were 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 award. The Mercedes-Benz E320 Bluetec technology was the 2007 World Green Car winner.
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, 2012. Tailpipe emissions, fuel consumption, and use of a major advanced power plant technology (beyond engine componentry), aimed specifically at increasing the vehicle's environmental responsibility, were all taken into consideration.
"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," said the expert judges regarding the Mercedes-Benz S 250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY.
Do you think the Mercedes deserved to win over the much smaller, more affordable Ford EV and Peugeot 3008 Hybrid? Tell us in a comment!
