June 4, 2003

• AMG takes first place in the International Engine of the Year Awards
• A resounding victory in the Best Performance Engine category
• Jury made up of 50 journalists from some of the world's leading media organizations and representing 22 countries

Stuttgart/Affalterbach - The supercharged AMG V8 engine is celebrating a crushing victory in the International Engine of the Year Awards after gaining a clear majority of votes from the 50-strong jury in the newly created Best Performance Engine category. This conclusive result in the face of competition from its rivals in Europe, Japan and the USA underlines once again the expertise of Mercedes-AMG in the development of high-performance engines and cars.

Every year, the leading passenger-car engine concepts are nominated for awards in twelve different categories as part of a competition organized by British motoring publication Engine Technology International Magazine. The jury is made up of 50 recognized motoring journalists representing leading media organizations from 22 countries. Many of the jurors are also members of the Car of the Year committee.

"It's very powerful, and completely without temperament - the exact opposite of most frenetic high-performance engines," was the verdict of Jake Venter from the South African trade magazine "Car" when it came to the supercharged AMG V8 engine. Graham Johnson, Chairman of the International Engine of the Year Awards, was equally impressed. His assessment: "Blistering performance delivered by a brilliantly smooth and charismatic V8."

"This award for our supercharged AMG V8 power unit is not only confirmation of the positive results from tests carried out by press and media around the world, it also reflects the delight of our customers with our product," enthused Ulrich Bruhnke, Managing Director of Mercedes-AMG GmbH, at today's presentation ceremony at Engine Expo 2003. This globally recognized exhibition for the engine industry is taking place from June 3 to 5, 2003 at the Stuttgart trade fair center.

Developing output figures of 350 kW/476 hp to 368 kW/500 hp and peak torque of 700 Newtonmetres, the supercharged AMG V8 engine delivers a seriously impressive driving experience. The 5.5-litre eight-cylinder power unit made its debut in 2001 under the bonnet of the SL 55 AMG and since the autumn of 2002 has also been available for the E 55 AMG and S 55 AMG Saloons, as well as the CL 55 AMG Coupé.