Mercedes Benz Archives - Indiandrives.com

June 18, 2015

Mercedes-Benz India Opens Booking Of GLE For Rs 3 Lakh

Mercedes-Benz India is in top-gear for 2015. On an exciting note, this German carmaker had started accepting the bookings of GLE in the country for as low as Rs 3 lakh. GLE, the facelift version of M-Class, is announced for India soon after it was introduced to the world. With this new car on card, it seems, the Star logoed carmaker want to contribute to the buyers of this nation for their immense response during past FY.

On styling factor, Mercedes-Benz GLE is tweaked at front for the most. New C-and S-Class found lending their cues. LED headlamps and tail lamps, twin rectangular exhausts are some other changes witnessed.

A 7.0-inch infotainment (free-standing) will also go on offer. Buyers are given to choose from variety of options for the cabin. Firmly, there are no changes expected inside the engine bay. The 2.1-litre diesel engine of 203bhp for GLE 250d, and 3.0-litre V6 diesel unit of 255bhp for GLE 350d are expected to come on-board across the sales floors in India.

Earlier, the SUV had garnered good response in the market, but for the new series Benz is expecting the show to stage the show bigger and better than before.

May 6, 2015

Mercedes-Benz Considering Audi TT Rival

If Audi TT is the only car that hits maximum likes when posted on Facebook, then why not build a rival to it, recounts Mercedes-Benz via its rumoured intention of building a new vehicle for the segment.

The 2+2 seating arrangement is a bit tad for the occupants of TT to occupy the cabin space with complete peace. But it is most relishing part of the package at least the owner will not leave friends stranded for a chauffeur drive while heading the party/coffee shop just yards away.

As confronted by a source, Mercedes-Benz is in the league to develop a rival to Audi TT based on its new front-wheel platform. As far the information is grown, it was pretty much clear, the Benz’s offering too will remain capable of 2+2 capacity with designing borrowed from AMG GT. As seen the Star logoed carmaker too had several options from the small categories like A and CLA-Class, where the B and GLA-Class too cannot remain an exception. Adding this newbie will surely add more spunk to their so-called ‘youthful’ repertoire.

However, it is habitual for the AMG to barge into every lineup and nudge its speculation of performance in each of them. So, going by the rumours till here, we too can safely say AMG is also on cards where the 2.0-litre four-cylinder may make way for the 400bhp. A coupe and convertible both are likely to take care of the remaining buyers in the cadre. A liftback roof is also another trick what one can expect on seeing the Benz’s TT rival in reality.

Hence, it’s not only the Audi TT to fall in its zone, but we believe the BMW 2-Series too is on its hitlist.

January 22, 2015

Mercedes-Benz CLA Launched In India At Rs 31.5 Lakh Ex-Showroom Delhi

Apparently, there is nothing more exciting than a small car with the comfort of bigger ones. Finally, after studying the heap of pros and cons, Mercedes-Benz India has brought its cheapest sedan called CLA for a price of Rs 31.5 lakh. Prior to it, it was the CLA45 AMG – the performance version of CLA – launched in India with beefed up cosmetic as well as technicalities.

Appealed by its compact nature, the CLA is a stylish offering in its class against the Audi A3.

Hence, the doors are frameless and it is designed to appear more like a coupe rather than that of a compact sedan. However, diamond starred front grille and aerodynamic body makes it to stand out from the crowd. To keep it a bit personal, 0.25 drag co-efficient only can reeled from the aerodynamics.

Well, the bonnet keenly hides a 2.2-litre diesel and 2.0-litre turbo petrol. Technically, the car drives on front-wheel MFA architecture, which theoretically makes it unstable for drifting.

In the guise of petrol rated as CLA 200, it produces 181bhp of max power at 5500rpm and 300Nm of peak torque between 1200 and 1400rpm. The acceleration from 0-100 km/h is reached within 7.8 seconds and an attainable top-speed of 235 km/h is stated in its official press release. Mercedes claims fuel-efficiency of 15.04 km/l (as per ARAI) for this variant.

On the diesel side with CLA 200, the entry-level Mercedes sedan in India eagerly relishes the max power of 134bhp between 3600 and 4400rpm and 300Nm of peak torque between 1600 and 3000rpm. This model gushes from 0-100 km/h in 9.8 seconds and claims a top-speed of 220 km/h, constituted to deliver the fuel-economy at a rate of 17.9 km/l (as per ARAI).

Both of fuel-types comes mated to a to a 7-speed dual-clutch (DCT) automatic gearbox with the traction being sent to front wheels only.

Feature list continued the explanation with those 6-airbags, ABS, EBD, ASR, 17-inch alloy wheels, panoramic roof, Bi-Xenon headlamps, reverse parking camera, Harman Kardon surround system with 12-speakers and a COMAND infotainment system.

So, those young aspirers looking out for a Merc at an early age can surely look forward to CLA which assures a statement at every arrival. Phrase like ‘see it to believe it’, perfectly fits this youngest yet cheapest Benz sedan in India.

Three trims are offered for CLA, which are mentioned below with their prices as per ex-showroom Delhi.

CLA 200 CDI (Diesel) Style – Rs 31.5 lakh

CLA 200 CDI (Diesel) Sport – Rs 35.9 lakh

CLA 200 (Petrol) Sport – Rs 35.0 lakh

December 30, 2014

Mercedes-Benz CLS Facelift Diesel India Launch In 2015

As the Indian mentality goes, if the huge sum of money is paid then it shall also boasts some sort of utility rather than being a typically luxury stuff. The coupe style of cars seems to be seeing the failure due to this said reason here.

Earlier this year, the carmaker Mercedes-Benz has unveiled the CLS facelift, which now a report is found claiming that carmaker has imported 5 units of the same, powered by a diesel engine.

The CLS facelift with the diesel comes powered by a 2.2-litre oil burner with the power figures not known yet.

But the drivetrain is mated to a 7-speed dual clutch transmission.

However, it will be performance rather than the style quotient for this CLS facelift. On the oeuvres of design, a new diamond shaped grille takes on the dominance along with the tweaked bumpers of front as well as rear. The headlights now features Multibeam function consisted of 24 LEDs all of which are controlled individually for the better exposure as per the driving conditions. The taillights got sportier than before due to the dark tint to its cluster.

Inside the cabin, there is an 8-inch screen on top of dashboard which serves as COMAND and navigation screen. Like the new C-Class the touchpad is written off from this model too.

Launch is expected to happen sometime in February 2015.

Just to inform a bit, there the petrol trims stores a comparatively bigger engine displacement of 3.5-litre of which the power figure aren’t revealed yet.

November 27, 2014

Long Wheelbase Mercedes E-Class Expected For India

E-Class clashed all the conventional design elements for the current-gen. Now, it is reported the next-gen is getting long-wheelbase version for India as well.

Speaking to the source, E-Class long-wheelbase is a good product for this country.

Apparently, the sedan will be aimed to buyers who are more luxury oriented and needed to be driven comfortably for a lesser price than the flagship S-Class. However, one would raise this quest – CLS too sits in the slot between S-Class and E-Class. To the answer, CLS is sportier whereas the E-Class long-wheelbase will define the chauffeur-driven segment. Both the class aspires to different set of buyers.

Well, the long-wheelbase E-Class sold in China remains 14cm longer than the standard car; obviously the addition of space between benefits the rear passenger only. But as that car is of the Left-hand drive category, snagging it in the Right-hand drive markets like India, Japan and South East Asia is impossible. In fact, there do seems many buyers demanding such a version from the latter set of markets, the reason they prefer to be chauffeur-driven, concreting the case for Merc to build a long-wheelbase E-Class for them as well.

The cost and engine options cannot be obviously worked out as it is quite early to talk about them. But it can be expected the long-wheelbase E-Class will have a niche upper-hand for the buyers in this segment.

Source: Autocar India

November 23, 2014

Mercedes-Benz Maybach Will Not Go AMG: Report

Mercedes-Benz’s hunger of going luxury will not mix performance, not at least for now, claims a report.

The Maybach S600 which will soon hit the sales floor of USA and other countries – will be sold in the same luxurious avatar only, with no plans of the company to put AMG variants accompanying it in the future.

Dr. Hermann-Joseph Storp, Director of Development for S-Class has confronted the previous sales of Maybach hasn’t harnessed the brand image of Mercedes. Instead, customers even ask for more of them those who have a possessed a one. So, no AMG will be lined-up, rather we would leave the task of adding more horses upto the aftermarket brands to do their best.

Well, speculations are there for 5.5-litre twin-turbo V8 or a 6.0-litre twin-turbo V12 of 630PS and 1,000Nm to be under the hoods.

Hence, it will be interesting to see how this new league of Mercedes will battle the tattering competition of luxury.

Source: CAR Magazine

November 10, 2014

Mercedes-Benz Classic Car Rally Held In Mumbai

A Sunday is well spent when you get to see what isn’t possible on other weekdays. In the month of November to commemorate the beginning of winter and Mumbai’s season for flocking tourists in town, Mercedes-Benz hosted the classic car rally in financial capital of India. The rally seen participation only of Mercedes and was flagged off from NCPA by MD of Mercedes-Benz India, Mr. Eberhard Kern. It was then carried through Peddar Road – Horniman Circle – and all the way to Mumbai’s new landmark Bandra-Worli Sea Link.

The models included Pontons W120, Fintails like W108, W110, W111, and W124. All of them were enticing enough to cater the panging hunger of classic lovers, where some of them even managed to make heads turn of ongoing traffic. All the models displayed made a revision of the company’s 120 years of motorsport history.

Speaking about the event, Kern’s excitement and the fascination clearly flowed through the words. The celebration of Mercedes’ motorsport is special even today because the company has won first title of FIA F1 ‘World Constructor’s Championship. History of more than 120 years shows three-pointed Star isn’t stopping at all.

September 15, 2014

Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG 6×6 Scale Model Is Here

Those who think Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG 6×6 isn’t affordable and needed to have an efficient version off the ones like Dacia and such, for them the scale model is out which too looks like the original vehicle!

Restricted only to 299 units for each of the paint shade, new toy company called Great Lighting Models has rolled it out two colors: Black and Silver.

A German website has listed it for a price of €109.

Admitted quality is not up to that mark, and the model is scaled down to ratio of 1/43 instead of 1/18 which means some disappointment shall always prevail. So, gifting this over the festive season sounds a good idea, replicating the behemoth is now conquerable but in the pint-size, but not in its actual avatar.

June 26, 2014

Mercedes CLA 45 AMG – What To Expect?

Say goodbye to the old visual conventions: the all-new Mercedes CLA 45 AMG breaks all the rules – not just those governing the conventional concept of beauty. The proud radiator grille, the honed spoiler lip and the profile charged with energy combine to create an exceptional form with breathtakingly low wind resistance. Engine technology concentrated and refined to the maximum allows the AMG to reconcile restrained fuel consumption with effortlessly superior performance. The interior also breaks with the traditional idea of a sedan with avant-garde design options and contrasting, sporty appointments. The CLA 45 AMG sets out to challenge the known ideas of taste and design. Is it a challenge you’re ready to take up?

Well…no sooner has the Mercedes CLA 45 AMG attracted your attention than it breaks your resistance. Its flowing lines give visual expression to its exemplary aerodynamics. Actually, its flow resistance is so low that it sets new standards for series production vehicles. The design evokes movement even when the vehicle is stationary. The high beltline and frameless windows create a strong profile that flows into the muscular tail end. Not everyone will appreciate such expressive details, but those who do will understand that they are the consequence of the uncompromising pursuit of the CLA 45 AMG design philosophy.

Radical change needs energy. In the Mercedes CLA 45 AMG, highly concentrated engine technology extracts maximum power from the lineup of 4-cylinder engines. A standard AMG SPEEDSHIFT DCT 7-speed sports gearbox offers this output straight on the road. The interior also exerts a powerful fascination, thanks to the integral-look AMG Performance seats that are standard in both the rear and the front. The air nozzles design recalls the form of a jet engine, whereas the red illumination of twin-tube instrument cluster adds to the ambience. Equally striking is the designo seat belt in red and free-standing, large display with TFT technology that can show content from your iPhone and forms a high-speed interface to the digital world.

There is one area in which the Mercedes CLA 45 AMG will always shun confrontation and play it safe. The protection offered by the high structural strength of its body and its array of up to 9 airbags is complemented by groundbreaking safety and assistance systems that can intervene when required. Adaptive Brake with Hold feature, in addition to Attention Assist are fitted as standard. One thing you won’t require any assistance! Just so you know, the automaker has removed the existing C63 AMG from the list on its official Indian website, which further assures us of the new C63 AMG arrival in India.

June 26, 2014

Mercedes, Carzonrent Launch Self-Drive Luxury Car Rental Service In India

This is the first time in India that customers can drive their rented Mercedes-Benz! Thanks to Carzonrent, a car rental service provider, to offer luxury cars on rent. Unlike the chauffer driven luxury cars provided by any other service provider, this service called ‘Myles’ is like driving your own rented car, which is now added with the Mercedes-Benz to the list.

Earlier, the Carzonrent would provide only Maruti Swift VDI, Toyota Innova and Etios for the self-driven customers. Mercedes-Benz is the first luxury carmaker to join its line up.

With this initiative, Mercedes is entitled to take on the youth customers at a jiff. Under the hat of Myles service, customers can avail the service of Merc with C-class and E-class models for a day for Rs 6,500 and Rs 9,500 respectively. Alternatively, those who wish to be having them only for some hours can have enjoy the feast for Rs 900 in C-Class and for Rs 1,200 in E-Class per hour for a maximum of 25km inclusive of fuel cost (paying for additional hours will get you additional kilometers).

If this seems to be successful, the Mercedes-Benz is then wishful of introducing more models too in this service.

Eberhard Kern, MD and CEO, Mercedes-Benz India, said, “This unique hassle free mobility solution will extend our luxury experience beyond our existing customers. We have always introduced newer products and services for the satisfaction of our customers.”

Those who wish to have a good yet luxury drive with Carzonrent Myles service can avail the flamboyance via online, on the mobile or by calling the reservation centre.