Mercedes-Benz C-Class a top pick in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety tests

TORONTO, ON – The respected Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in the United States has named the Mercedes-Benz C-Class one of its Top Safety Picks for 2009. The C-Class achieved top marks in all the safety criteria that were examined.

Each year, experts at the IIHS rate new vehicle models based on stringent safety criteria, providing an important tool to help buyers make purchasing decisions. In their latest assessments, the safety specialists subjected the Mercedes-Benz C-Class to front and side crash tests and also evaluated protection against neck injuries in rear impacts. For all three criteria, the C-Class was awarded top marks.

The safety concept for the C-Class was optimized based on the analysis of real-life accidents. With six airbags, belt tensioners, belt force limiters and NECK PRO crash-responsive head restraints fitted as standard, the sedan offers its occupants an extremely high level of protection in the event of an accident. The body structure was designed to ensure that, in the event of a frontal collision, the impact forces are distributed over a wide area and on four independently acting impact levels, leaving the passenger compartment largely undamaged. Around 70 percent of all the bodyshell panels are made from state-of-the-art, high-strength steel alloys that minimize weight and maximize safety.

By rating the C-Class a Top Safety Pick for 2009, the IIHS has confirmed the vehicle's extremely good performance in crash tests. This honour follows the European New Car Assessment Program (Euro NCAP) results that awarded the C-Class five stars; making it one of the safest cars on the market.

For more information, please contact:

JoAnne Caza        416-847-7550    caza@mercedes-benz.ca

Michael Minielly   416-847-7509     minielly@mercedes-benz.ca