MOTOR TREND Names Mercedes-AMG GT S 2015 Best Driver's Car

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 1, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- TEN: The Enthusiast Network announced today that MOTOR TREND has selected the 2016 Mercedes-AMG GT S as its 2015 Best Driver's Car. The award announcement, made on MotorTrend.com with a special video presentation on the MOTOR TREND YouTube channel and CBS This Morning and Fox & Friends morning shows, is the centerpiece of MOTOR TREND's Best Driver's Car Week. Earlier this week, the contenders were highlighted with their own exclusive hot lap videos on the MOTOR TREND YouTube channel, along with an extensive trackside write-up on MotorTrend.com.

"The Mercedes-AMG GT S has the sharpest, most precise steering we have ever felt on any Mercedes or AMG vehicle," said MOTOR TREND editor-in-chief Ed Loh. "It makes massive power from a compact, high-tech turbocharged V-8 engine. What most impressed my team is how well the GT S was able to combine these elements. It put all 503 of its horsepower to the ground like an all-wheel-drive supercar and gripped the road through high-speed corners like a winged racer."

To determine the 2015 Best Driver's Car, each of this year's competitors was driven on the open road and track-tested at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca to discover the one vehicle that offers enthusiasts the most engaging and rewarding driving experience possible. In addition to the hot laps and road loops, a full suite of performance data was collected and evaluated by the MOTOR TREND team using some of the industry's most advanced equipment.

"The Mercedes-AMG GT S was developed entirely in-house by the racing experts at Mercedes-AMG, and we are extremely proud to accept this honor on behalf of our employees here in the U.S. and the talented team in Affalterbach who continue to push the boundaries of high performance, exclusivity and overall driving pleasure," said Stephen Cannon, president and CEO of MBUSA. "From its powerful new AMG 4.0 liter V8 biturbo engine, lightweight aluminum construction, optimum weight distribution and highly emotional design, this dream car is the culmination of a triumphant motorsport heritage and an unwavering focus to consistently deliver the AMG brand promise of Driving Performance on every level."

Established in 2009, the Best Driver's Car competition is a massive six-day production that includes a staff of 25 editors, photographers, video producers, and championship-winning race driver Randy Pobst, all deployed to properly test, review, and film a 10-car field of the year's highest-performing sports sedans, coupes, hatchbacks, and roadsters.

"Our 2015 Best Driver's Car competition saw the return of some true legends, including a 650-hp Corvette Z06; the fourth-generation definition of lightweight driving fun, the Mazda MX-5; and latest, greatest version of a previous winner, the Porsche Cayman GT4," said Loh. "But the newcomer Mercedes-AMG GT S bested them all with its combination of breathtaking power, endless grip, and soul-stirring handling. Congratulations to the Mercedes-AMG GT S, MOTOR TREND's Best Driver's Car for 2015."

In addition to the 2016 Mercedes-AMG GT S, this year's Best Driver's Car competition included:

• 2015 Bentley Continental GT3-R
• 2016 Cadillac ATS-V  
• 2016 Cadillac CTS-V  
• 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 (Z07)
• 2015 Lexus RC F
• 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata
• 2016 Mercedes-AMG C63 S  
• 2016 Porsche Cayman GT4
• 2015 Volkswagen Golf R

MOTOR TREND's Best Driver's Car Week concludes Friday with the World's Greatest Drag Race 5. Viewers will be treated to a special bonus as the 10 cars tested during Best Driver's Car Week are pitted against each other in an ultimate display of speed and raw power as they race through the quarter mile to the checkered flag. Video of the drag race is available by visiting the Motor Trend YouTube channel.

Visit MotorTrend.com to view videos and read complete analysis of the field, or visit MOTOR TREND's YouTube channel at YouTube.com/motortrend and its Facebook page at Facebook.com/motortrendmag.

About MOTOR TREND
MOTOR TREND®, a media brand of TEN: The Enthusiast Network, was founded in 1949 and is internationally recognized as one of the leading brands in the automotive category. The MOTOR TREND brand includes Motor Trend magazine; the award-winning website MotorTrend.com; MOTOR TREND Auto Shows; MOTOR TREND Audio; MOTOR TREND en Espanol; MOTOR TREND India; and the renowned MOTOR TREND Car of the Year, SUV of the Year, Truck of the Year, and Best Driver's Car awards programs.

About TEN: The Enthusiast Network
TEN: The Enthusiast Network is the world's premier network of enthusiast brands, such as MOTOR TREND, AUTOMOBILE, HOT ROD, SURFER, TRANSWORLD SKATEBOARDING, and GRINDTV. With more than 50 publications, 60 websites, 50 events, 1,000 branded products, the world's largest automotive VOD channel, and the world's largest action/adventure sports media platform, TEN inspires enthusiasts to pursue their passions. For more information, visit enthusiastnetwork.com.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151001/272880 

SOURCE MOTOR TREND; Mercedes-Benz USA

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