Via Benz World…

C-Class scoops Wheels Car of the Year

Mercedes-Benz has claimed Australia’s longest running new-car award for its ultra-impressive mid-size sedan range.

The C-Class convincingly came out on top of 20 new models after Wheels’ gruelling week-long testing program.

Wheels editor, Ged Bulmer said the C-Class stood apart from the field with its impressive combination of standard safety features, well-judged electronic driver aids, excellent dynamic ability, ride comfort, build quality and attractive design.

“Every C-Class model in the range shares these outstanding core attributes,” Bulmer said.

This was the 45th running of Wheels Car of the Year.

The 20 nominees for Wheels COTY 2007 were:

Audi A5
BMW M3
BMW X5
Ford Mondeo
Honda Civic
Honda CR-V
Hyundai i30
Land Rover Freelander 2
Lexus LS
Mazda 2
Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Mitsubishi Lancer
Nissan Dualis
Skoda Roomster
Nissan X-Trail
Subaru Impreza
Toyota Corolla
Toyota Kluger
Toyota Landcruiser
Volkswagen Eos

Hey…it beat out two BMWs and an Audi.  Oh…and a Lexus.  The new LS no less!  Wow.  That’s gotta hurt.  The LS is to Lexus as the ‘E’ class is to Mercedes.  Now I wish I could find one of those Lexus commercials from a few years back where they show a bunch of German automobile engineers, presumably in the headquarters of some (nameless) German automaker, studying a Lexus ES (the ES is about the same class as the Mercedes ‘C’ whereas the LS is their flagship sedan) and of course they’re all speaking English at each other with these thick stereotypical German accents even though this is supposedly taking place in Germany inside a German car company, and when they’re told that the Lexus is "thousands less" then their cars the head engineer shakes his head sadly and says, "Now vhat do ve do…?"  Guess the shoe’s on the other foot now…

My ‘C’ is nowhere near as sumptuous as a Lexus LS.  But a good automobile is more then nice leather and wood trim and a high powered stereo system.  The best European car makers have known this for some time.  Once upon a time Detroit knew it too.  But the only Japanese car maker that I can think of who might now is Honda…and that because, so I hear, Mr. Honda loved to race.  That five speed Accord sedan I had was nice.  Had Mercedes not come out with this new ‘C’ class, I might still be driving it.

Well…no…  Actually I was ready for my Mercedes now…