For the eighth time in succession, the Mercedes-Benz Unimog has been chosen as the best cross-country vehicle of the year by the readers of the trade magazine "Off-Road" in the category "special vehicles". The award "Off-road Vehicle of the Year 2012 – special vehicles category" was based on the votes given to the cross-country vehicles in the eight categories of the competition run by the old-established Munich magazine for off-road vehicles. The off-road obelisk was presented in a ceremonial atmosphere at a gala evening in Munich's theatre tent "Das Schloss". More than 57,000 votes were handed in by 16 January and there were 143 vehicles from 40 manufacturers to choose from. In the category for special vehicles, the Unimog took first place with an outstanding 34,3 % of the readers' votes.
The following categories were available: "off-road vehicles", "luxury off-road vehicles", "sports utility vehicles (SUV)", "luxury SUV", "classics", "pick-ups", "special vehicles" and "crossover vehicles". Among the special vehicles entered – i.e. off-road vehicles designed to transport goods and loads to remote areas, or also to be used as the basis for special bodies for fire-fighting, expedition and military vehicles – the Unimog was clearly more than one step ahead. Particular praise was given to its characteristic product features such as its outstanding off-road mobility due to portal axles and extreme torsional flexibility combined with its extreme toughness and stability.
Where the Unimog gets through, others don't even arrive
The outstandingly mobile off-road Unimog product range U 4000/U 5000 has been produced in Wörth since 2002 as a special vehicle for complicated jobs in remote areas only accessible over difficult terrain with no roads or tracks. It is mainly used by fire services – in particular for fighting forest fires – as well as for disaster control, expeditions and servicing and maintenance work in hard to reach areas – with the slogan "Where the Unimog gets through, others don't even arrive".
As a result, Unimog models U 4000 and U 5000 are the ideal supplement to vehicles in product ranges U 300 to U 500 which are off-road implement carriers mainly found working for public services, municipal contractors, the construction and energy industries as well as for in-plant transport and road-rail operations. The youngest member of the Unimog family is the compact Unimog U 20 which was launched in 2008.
"Off-Road" magazine has been giving its readers the opportunity to vote for their off-road vehicle of the year since 1982.
60 Years of Mercedes-Benz Unimog – the success of an idea
Sixty-one years ago, on 3 June 1951 to be exact, the first Mercedes-Benz Unimog rolled off the line in Gaggenau. A unique vehicle concept had been created with great off-road mobility due to its four-wheel drive and fast driving features for road use.
Credits: Daimler AG
Copyright © 2012, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.
The total number of visitors to the Mercedes-Benz Museum rose once again in 2011, to 701,000. On the year marking the automobile's 125th anniversary, the visitors came from 175 countries worldwide. The newly designed Legend 6 exhibition room and the special 'Art & Stars & Cars' exhibition additionally attracted new target groups to the Mercedes-Benz Museum. Almost 4000 guided tours were conducted in ten different languages.
"Another successful year is drawing to a close. Since the opening in May 2006, over 4.2 million people have visited the Mercedes-Benz Museum," says Michael Bock, head of Mercedes-Benz Classic. "125 years after its invention, the automobile retains its special fascination to this day – the figures speak for themselves. We are particularly pleased about the high proportion of international visitors. Once again this year, almost a third of our guests came from abroad. This international appeal is attributable both to the anniversary year of the automobile and to our extensive programme in 2011."
People from all over the world flock to see the first ever automobile
The visitors from a total of 175 countries reflect the international character of the Mercedes-Benz Museum. In 2010 visitors came from 158 countries. The share of international guests has risen by almost half in recent years, to 27 percent. The majority of guests came from Germany, followed by China, USA, France and Switzerland. There has been a sharp increase in the number of Chinese guests since 2009, resulting in a steady climb for China from fourth to second place in the visitor rankings.
How did the visitors become aware of the Mercedes-Benz Museum? While almost 40 percent relied on recommendations from friends and acquaintances, 7 percent of visitors stated that they had been prompted to visit the museum by the increased media coverage in the anniversary year. Social networks such as Facebook and Twitter have given rise to a two-fold increase in awareness of the museum as a leisure destination.
Many of the guests visited the Mercedes-Benz Museum for the first time in the year marking the 125th anniversary of the invention of the automobile. The top rankings from regular visitor surveys in 2011 confirm the guests' satisfaction, with over 90 percent of all visitors stating that their expectations had been surpassed and 98 percent confirming that they would recommend the Mercedes-Benz Museum. Two thirds of all visitors spent more than three hours at the automobile exhibition covering 16,000 square metres.
Group visitors and children's programmes on the increase
Almost 4,000 guided tours in 2011 marked a new record for the Mercedes-Benz Museum. The classic Automobile guided tour, carried out in a total of ten languages, remains the leading attraction. Exclusive after-hours tours in the evening, guided tours of the Untertürkheim and Bad Cannstatt engine factories and the special guided tour of the 'Art & Stars & Cars' exhibition also proved very popular.
The Mercedes-Benz Museum has also become a yet more attractive destination for groups: over 5,000 groups comprising a total of over 100,000 persons visited the exhibition – more than ever before. In addition, over 1900 school classes took advantage of the educational programme in the GeniusCampus area for children and young people. Another programme offered by the GeniusCampus enjoyed particular popularity, with almost 1000 children visiting over 80 children's birthday parties held at the Mercedes-Benz Museum. The new programme "Motor mechanics for adults" also became firmly established, with over 100 workshops offering almost 850 participants an opportunity to lean more about present-day engine technology.
Outstanding exhibitions and events in 2011
For the inventor of the automobile, the anniversary marking 125 years of the automobile played a major role this year, as the Mercedes-Benz Museum is the only venue in the world where visitors can take in the entire history of the automobile – from Benz's patented motor car dating from 1886 to futuristic vehicle studies.
The year kicked off with the opening of the new exhibition room Legend 6, ‘New start – the Road to Emission-free Mobility’, which has since won various awards. The new exhibition room grants visitors an insight into the future and outlines the drive technologies of tomorrow. The future has already arrived for visitors arriving at the Mercedes-Benz Museum by e-vehicle, with six electric charging stations offering free electric power to replenish the vehicles' batteries during visits to the museum.
The special exhibition 'Art & Stars & Cars' shows the museum in a similarly pioneering and innovative vein. This first art exhibition at the Mercedes-Benz Museum was conceived in collaboration with the Daimler Art Collection. A highlight of the exceptional exhibition comprising over 120 works was Andy Warhol's legendary Cars series, which was produced 25 years ago on the occasion of the car’s centenary. The Mercedes-Benz Museum also celebrated its fifth birthday in the middle of the anniversary year, on 22 May 2011. This proved one of the busiest days of the year, drawing over 5000 guests. The museum's summer season revolved around firm favourites such as the jazzopen stuttgart, the Mercedes-Benz Lounge and the Open Air Cinema programme – this year featuring the drive-in cinema event for the first time, which sold out in next to no time. Families with children were able to take part in Universal Children's Day at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in September, while the collectors' fair in November offered brand aficionados another opportunity to pick up some gems. This year, the Mercedes-Benz Museum once again offered events tailored to visitors with special needs – most recently on the Day of People with Disability in December.
2012 – spotlight on the Mercedes-Benz SL
"It will be a challenge to top 2011," observes Michael Bock. "But we have ambitious plans for 2012 and some great exhibitions in store. For the Mercedes-Benz brand, the first half of the year will centre on the new SL. At Mercedes-Benz Classic and at the museum we will be highlighting the 60-year history of the legendary SL series with special events and a major exhibition. All the models in one room – that will be a spectacle not to be missed. I am also looking forward to the 2012 Stuttgart Festival of Animated Film. As a partner to the festival, we will be presenting a special award – again focusing on the topic of 60 years of the SL. The special exhibition 'Timeless – 60 years of the Mercedes-Benz SL' will begin on 24 January 2012 and run until 2 September 2012.
Credits: Daimler AG
Copyright © 2012, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.
Mercedes-Benz-Blog is reaching the fourth year of its online existence. On this occassion, we would like to express our feelings of gratitude and respect towards all our fans and partners who helped us grow this weblog through time and assure them we will do our best to prove Mercedes-Benz-Blog continues to be a trustful, powerful and competent Mercedes-Benz news source in 2012 as well. This year has been tough and challenging - may the next year be better and fruitful in every aspect for everybody. Happy New Year! May all your wishes come true!
P.S.: We'll be back with updates at the beginning of January. See you soon!
Copyright © 2011, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.
Readers of MODELL FAHRZEUG, Germany's leading magazine for model cars, have declared miniature versions of Mercedes-Benz vehicles the winners in no less than eight categories. Two awards went to the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG 1:12 scale model from model-car maker Premium Classixxs: the gullwing model from the Mercedes-Benz Collection won the overall award "Super Model Vehicle 2011" as well as achieving first place in the 1:12 category. Readers voted on a total of 162 models (including 31 Mercedes-Benz models) in 22 categories.
In addition to these accolades, Mercedes-Benz Accessories GmbH won the award in the new category "Premium brand 2011 auto industry". For this award, which was given for the first time this year, the readers had to decide which car maker had made the best policy for model cars in 2011. "We are naturally very pleased to receive this recognition," says Christian Boucke, CEO of Mercedes-Benz Accessories GmbH. "Model cars that remain faithful to the original and are produced with great attention to detail have always had a special importance – both in our Collection and in the case of our licensed products. Over 350 models bearing the Mercedes star currently arouse the passion for perfection and design common to collectors all over the world. And models from around 130 licensed partners allow Mercedes-Benz to widen its range of products at specialist retailers."
The table below highlights the winning Mercedes models as voted for by the readers of MODELL FAHRZEUG magazine:
For collectors: Mercedes miniatures displaying great attention to detail
Since the invention of the automobile, Mercedes-Benz has built its vehicles out of conviction and passion. Such is the extent of this passion that even the miniature vehicles in the Mercedes-Benz Collection are produced with enormous attention to detail – so much so that they even stand up to comparison with their larger role models. As soon as you see a new Mercedes-Benz on the road, you can be sure that a miniature version – available in a range of almost 100-percent genuine colours and a choice of scales, of course – will be waiting for enthusiasts at Mercedes-Benz outlets.
Numerous model cars produced in collaboration with licensed partners widen the range of model cars sporting the Mercedes star – not only collector's models but also miniatures in categories not currently covered by Mercedes‑Benz Accessories GmbH, such as RC cars or slot cars. When it comes to the licensed products, too, Mercedes-Benz naturally attaches great importance to attention to detail and high value: hence the developers have access to either CAD data or digitalised design data from the original. Or they are given a vehicle for photographic purposes. Aspects checked before approval is given include design, quality and logos.
Source: Daimler AG
Copyright © 2011, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.
