Mercedes-Benz has claimed a hat-trick of successes after an international panel of expert judges voted new Actros ‘Truck of the Year 2009’.

Their decision means that all three generations of the Actros premium tractor unit have now won the industry’s most coveted prize.

New Actros bristles with innovative technology and the judges, specialist journalists from 21 European countries, hailed the resulting improvements to economy, environmental compatibility, safety and comfort.

Andy Salter, outgoing Chairman of the International Truck of the Year jury, declared: “New Actros brings a host of improvements to the driving and operational efficiency of the truck. The whole is very much more than the sum of the parts, so it’s easy to see why Actros is already building a strong reputation among drivers and operators.”

Easily distinguished from its illustrious predecessor by its reworked front grille and sculpted external sun visor, new Actros is the first truck to come equipped with an automated transmission (Mercedes PowerShift 2) as standard.

Power comes from well proven BlueTec® Euro 5 engines while inside, the emphasis is on understated quality and comfort. The cab is classier and more modern, with improved bunks and a host of new features.

The Mercedes-Benz Actros was first seen in 1996, since then more than 600,000 units have been sold. It won Truck of the Year in 1997, with the second generation model grabbing the glory in 2004.

(caption) Winning ways…ITotY judge Andy Salter, left., with Andreas Renschler, Head of Daimler Trucks Division, centre, and Hubertus Troska, Head of the Mercedes-Benz Trucks Business Unit.