BEIJING, October 23, 2009 -- Five exemplary individuals who hail from the creative to business circles are honored today at the 3rd Mercedes-AMG National Achievers Award. The distinguished annual award organized by Mercedes-Benz (China) Ltd and Modern Media Group's Life Magazine acknowledges these outstanding Chinese talents at a ceremony held at the China National Film Museum today. This year's winner's roll featured internationally-acclaimed names including: renowned film director Lu Chuan, sohu.com founder Charles Zhang, Oscar-winning art director Tim Yip, Chinese artist Zeng Fanzhi, and multiple award-winning lead actor Zhang Hanyu.

These achievers are recognized for their exceptional contributions in shaping the future of their respective areas and best personifying the Mercedes-AMG award spirit of "Will. Power. Dream" – rightly earning them the National Achievers Award title. The success stories behind each achiever serve as an inspiration to many and exemplify the values which Mercedes-AMG champions. Paying tribute to these winners, Mr. Klaus Maier, President and CEO of Mercedes-Benz (China) Ltd, said: "These worthy winners embody the national spirit and motivate the progress of our society. As China marks her 60th anniversary this year, it is this resilient will, dynamic power and relentless pursuit of dreams that propel the nation forward."

The award theme of "Will. Power. Dream" is well-articulated through the spectacular sights and sounds at the ceremony. The curtain rises amidst a pulsating ensemble of drumbeat that resonated with the powerful engine sound from Mercedes-AMG, bringing to life the vibrant expression of "Power". Audiences at the ceremony are also captivated by the exclusively-choreographed dance performance by China's leading male dancer Huang Doudou. Inspired by AMG's signature "One Man, One Engine" philosophy, his moves elegantly interact with the AMG engine onstage to create an infinite room for imagination and interpretation of AMG's "Will".

The "Dream" element is best captured through the modern oriental artistic expressions by Tim Yip's glittering fashion show "Dream World" – which aptly reflected Mercedes-AMG's brand philosophy and the respect for refined craftsmanship, design and innovation.

Finally, the 3rd National Spirit Achievers Award ended with the songs of young pop singer Yang Kun.

Sharing the limelight with the achievers and artists onstage are the eye-catching, exquisite seven Mercedes-AMG models. Among them are the three newly-launched C 63 AMG, SL 63 AMG and SLK 55 AMG which characterize trend-setting and dynamism. Since their debut, the trio have enhanced the brand's leadership in the high-performance luxury car segment. Equally stunning are their four counterparts featured alongside: the high-performance ML 63 AMG; the epitomy of elegance and vigor -- S 65 AMG; the timeless classic off-roader in G 55 AMG; and CLS 63 AMG – a design masterpiece and forerunner in the coupe category. This impressive line-up reinforces Mercedes-AMG's top industry position in bringing perfect driving experience for its enthusiasts. Significantly, AMG's high-performance 6.3-litre V8 powerplant recently received the prestigious accolades in both "Best Performance Engine" and "Above 4 litres" categories at the coveted 2009 International Engine of the Year Awards. The engine has been built into four AMG models in China.

The key to AMG's performance lies in the "One Man, One Engine" philosophy which has been instrumental to its legacy in offering first-class products to customers around the world. Since its entry into the Chinese market in 2007, Mercedes-AMG has enjoyed increasing popularity and industry accolades for its range of eight available sedans, SUVs and coupes. In merely a year following its launch, AMG saw an impressive sales increase of 87%, catapulting the brand to become a well-loved high-performance one among elites and car enthusiasts. AMG's diverse portfolio not only enriches the Mercedes-Benz's offerings here but also strengthens its competitive position in the luxury car segment.

AMG fully embodies the twin pleasures of dynamic driving experience and indulgence for those who appreciate speed and luxury. AMG's exquisite craftsmanship and excellent quality have been and will continue to endear the brand to countless consumers in China, making it "an elite choice of the elites".