The top-class awards were presented to Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars, and to Dr. Joachim Schmidt, Executive Vice President Mercedes-Benz Cars Sales and Marketing, at a ceremony held last night in Berlin.

This marked the 22nd occasion on which “Auto Zeitung” opened up annual voting for the best cars of the year. No fewer than 104,442 readers cast their votes, carrying the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class to victory as the best car of the year in the luxury class. As the global leader in this segment, Mercedes-Benz easily fended off its 19 competitors.

Since its market premiere in spring 2009, the new E-Class has successfully made a name for itself with its dynamic design, setting new standards in terms of safety, comfort, environmental compatibility and economy. Contributing to this success is a new generation of engines which operate at previously unattained levels of efficiency.

One of the most exciting prospects, however, is the launch of a brand new SL-Class, which has been spied here for the first time in prototype form. Though its proportions seem similar to the current model, a closer inspection reveals that this is in fact the next-generation SL due in 2012.

Set to go on sale as a 2013 model, the new car will adopt styling influences seen on previous SLK prototypes as well as the SLS AMG and even the next-generation CLS, which will share a similar tail-light design.

A side-by-side comparison of the current SL and this latest prototype also reveal several clear differences. The new SL will sit lower and feature a wider stance than the current model. A glimpse of the interior also shows a boxier design, though it’s still much too early to speculate on such fine details–anything can change between now and the 2012 launch date.

As for what’s lurking beneath the heavily clad sheet metal, expect to see a brand new aluminum spaceframe chassis. The adoption of lightweight aluminum will improve the handling, ride, performance and the fuel economy of the new Mercedes-Benz SL, which in current form weighs between 3,860 and 4,500 pounds depending on which model and options are chosen.

Much of the new SL’s components will also be shared with the SLS AMG, including drivetrains, suspension and electrical systems. This means that the SLS AMG’s 7-speed dual-clutch transmission is almost a certainty for the 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL.

A choice of V-6 and V-8 engine will be on offer, possibly with forced-induction and even hybrid technology, though everything is still largely a matter of speculation.