Despite being unveiled only a few months ago at the 2006 Düsseldorf Caravan Show, the new Mercedes-Benz James Cook Westfalia Sprinter has already won an impressive award - being voted "Camper Van of the Year" by readers of promobil, Europe's leading camper van magazine.

In total, approximately 20,000 readers took part in the poll; and after tallying the votes, 46.9 percent chose the new James Cook. This marks the 17th category win to date for a James Cook model, meaning it has come first in its category every time it has taken part in the poll.

But the James Cook Westfalia Sprinter wasn't the only Mercedes model to be honored in the awards. Other MB vehicles bestowed with accolades included the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, which was ranked second in the camper van base vehicle category; as well as the Mercedes-Benz Marco Polo 4MATIC, which took second place in its "Camper Van of the Year" category.

To learn more about promobil's "Camper Van of the Year" awards as the full list of Mercedes models that made the list, keep reading for the full press release.

Enjoy.



OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE


Mercedes-Benz James Cook Westfalia Sprinter an instant winner

• New James Cook voted Camper Van of the Year
  
  
• Mercedes-Benz Sprinter finishes second at its very first attempt
  
  
• Marco Polo 4Matic comes second in its class
  
  
• Lots of good results for camper vans based on Mercedes-Benz vehicles

Stuttgart, Jan 12, 2007
The new Mercedes-Benz James Cook Westfalia Sprinter has got off to an excellent start. First unveiled only a few months ago at the 2006 Düsseldorf Caravan Show, this Mercedes-Benz camper van has already won an important award: in a readers' poll it was decisively voted Camper Van of the Year 2007 in the category "camper vans over 40,000 euros".

New concept endorsed by readers

Approximately 20,000 readers of "promobil", Europe's leading camper van magazine, took part in the poll. Their vote was an endorsement of the new James Cook concept, under which the previous single model has been replaced by two different versions and extensive customisation options.

The new James Cook received 46.9 percent of the readers' votes in its class, a performance which follows firmly in the tracks of this vehicle's two legendary predecessors. Winning the Camper Van of the Year award is already something of a tradition for the James Cook. The 2007 success was its 17th category win to date. To put it another way: the James Cook has come first in its category every time it has taken part in the poll. The conversion work on this popular camper van is carried out entirely by Westfalia Van Conversion.

Mercedes-Benz Sprinter finishes second at its very first attempt

The new James Cook is built on the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter platform. In the newly created award category for camper van base vehicles the Sprinter – the latest generation of which was successfully launched on the market last spring – achieved an excellent result, finishing second at its very first attempt. Its unrivalled safety equipment, engines which are as powerful as they are economical and a comfortably and attractively appointed cab all counted in its favour with the readers.

And those are not the only features that make the new Sprinter a good choice as a camper van platform. For example it is the only base vehicle available ex factory in a special low-frame chassis version with independent rear suspension. It is also the only model in its class available with an exceptionally smooth torque-converter automatic transmission.

Viano Marco Polo 4Matic comes second in its class

Another high-flier in the Camper Van of the Year poll was the Mercedes-Benz Viano Marco Polo. The Marco Polo 4Matic version of this model took second place in its class. All-wheel drive gives the Marco Polo 4Matic significantly enhanced traction in off-road and winter operation – often an important criterion for camper vans. The Marco Polo, too, is developed in close collaboration between Mercedes-Benz and Westfalia Van Conversion.

Lots of good results for camper vans based on Mercedes-Benz vehicles

Numerous other products which are made by top-name camper van manufac-turers and based on Mercedes-Benz vehicles achieved good placings, too, in particular the Sprinter-based Hymermobil S Class, which came first by a big margin in the category "integrated camper vans over 100,000 euros". The high-end Hymermobil B Class SL models, too, are based on the Sprinter. In this year's vote, this perennial winner in the category "integrated camper vans up to 100,000 euros" was successful once again.

In the James Cook's category, bronze was taken by the La Strada Regent. Fourth places in their respective classes were taken by the all-wheel-drive Bawemo Icebird and the Pilote Galaxy Explorateur in the “imported vehicle” section of the category "integrated camper vans up to 100,000 euros". All three camper vans are based on the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter.

Copyright © 2007, DaimlerChrysler AG