Category: Mercedes

Luxury Car price hike inevitable, thanks to Rupee devaluation

Luxury cars have always been something we love thanks to the comfort, quality and class they provide. But soon, one would have to pay more than before in order to own any luxury machine in Indian market.

Even after seeing a robust increase in sales on the back of new product launches, Mercedes is all set to increase prices on its models to offset the impact of rupee depreciation.

Price hike is inevitable. We can’t cover (rupee depreciation) and part of it (increase) would have to be passed on to customers,” said Eberhard Kern, managing director and CEO, Mercedes-Benz India.

The company would take a call on the hike and the quantum within the next few weeks. This comes close on the heels of other German luxury carmakers BMW and Audi announcing 4%-5% increase in prices.The rupee has tumbled by about 12% since the beginning of May.

“We are getting future-ready. India is on our strategic roadmap and is one of the strategic markets,” Kern said. Bookings for the newly-launched GL class luxury SUV (sports utility vehicle) has been good and the diesel version of the B-class has a two-month waiting list, he said.

Mercedes GL Class

While sedans will continue to be an important part of Mercedes-Benz’s product portfolio, SUVs and compact cars will grow and expand, he said. The luxury car segment, which accounted for just 1.2% of the overall market for cars in 2012, would grow to 4% by 2020 when the Indian market is expected to produce 7 million cars, Kern said.

Not only Mercedes other manufactures like Audi, which has increased price last month by 4% across its model range available in India. It led to an increase of 1.52 lakh on the Q5 price and the price of Audi A6 sedan increasing by 1.80 lakh. While the top-end Audi R8 price increased by about 4.42 lakh.

Market conditions are challenging, but luxury segment has seen some propelled demand due to fresh launches. A depreciating rupee and the rise in input costs have made increase the prices of the entire range, though we are offering customised and innovative finance options from Audi Finance to make the purchase more attractive for our customers,” said Michael Perschke, head, Audi India.

While, BMW India has not decided the quantum of the hike. “Following a path of sustainable growth, BMW Group India has always been built on long-term thinking and responsible action. We are making price decisions with all due care and consideration ensuring that they pay off in the long-run and the real quantum would be announced in next few days,” Philipp von Sahr, president, BMW Group India, said.

BMW

We will have to see if price hike can be something that decreases sales for these giant manufacturers. However, considering the new launches and the increase of luxury cars on Indian roads we don’t think that 4-5% of price hike would stop anyone to buy the car they admire.

August 10, 2013
Aston Martin, AMG Announce Technical Partnership

Reports from a little over 2 months ago spoke of talks between Daimler and Aston Martin, about “supply and technical-cooperation agreements.” Now, Aston Martin has announced that it has signed a Letter of Intent which looks “towards a technical partnership” with Mercedes-AMG GmbH. The two companies aim to have definitive agreements done by year’s end.

The proposed deal will allow Aston Martin access to AMG’s resources for the development of bespoke V8 powertrains for the next generation of the British marque’s models. AMG, which is owned by Daimler, will also assist Aston Martin with electronic architectures. In return for the technical assistance, Daimler will get a non-voting stake of up to five percent of Aston Martin and will join existing shareholders including Investment DAR and Investindustrial.

Aston Martin sources cutting-edge technology from key suppliers around the globe and the opportunity to include content from Mercedes-AMG GmbH in our next-generation sports cars is, clearly, good news. Working with Mercedes-AMG in this way while, of course, remaining independent and preserving the unique character and style of Aston Martin that has been the mainstay of the company throughout its 100-year history, points to a very bright future for the company as it starts its second century in business.

– Ian Minards, Director, Product Development, Aston Martin

Even though part of the deal ensures a supply agreement between AMG, Daimler and Aston Martin, the British automaker will continue to manufacture all of its sports cars at its Gaydon facility.

We are proud to work with Aston Martin and provide them with powertrain and electric/electronic components for their forthcoming sports cars. This is proof of AMG’s technological and performance expertise and a real win-win situation for both sides.

– Ola Källenius, CEO, AMG

July 26, 2013
Mercedes Benz launches E63 AMG

German automotive giant Mercedes Benz has launched the high performance E63 AMG variant of its E-Class luxury sedans in India.

The E63 AMG is basically an E-Class underneath, however a few modifications make it unlike any other E-Class on the market. Tuned by Mercedes’ high performance division, AMG, the sedan packs some serious power. It is powered by AMG’s 5.5-litre twin-turbo engine, which churns out a massive 557 bhp and 73.4 kgm of torque. Those numbers lie somewhere in Lamborghini Gallardo territory. To handle all this power, the E63 AMG also comes with larger brake discs as standard.

The E63 AMG’s exterior is modified as is typical of all other AMG’s. Featuring a new body kit with an aggressively styled front bumper, splitter, AMG sports exhaust with quad-pipes, AMG wheels and AMG badging, the car improves on the elegant base model’s looks.

Directly in competition with Audi’s S6, BMW’s M5 and Jaguar’s XF-R, the Mercedes Benz E63 AMG seems to be quite a promising performance sedan, and we can’t wait to see it on Indian roads. It retails for Rs. 1.29 crore (ex-showroom, Delhi).

July 26, 2013
Mercedes Benz now offering a ‘9G-Tronic’ 9-Speed Gearbox

Mercedes-Benz has introduced a new nine-speed automatic gearbox as standard equipment on the Mercedes Benz E350 BlueTec, which is the diesel version and is sold internationally. The new ‘box has been developed in-house, and is known internally under the name 9G-Tronic. According to reports, Mercedes has been working on the 9G-Tronic for a long time, and even denied its existence officially until this past weekend.

Now though, Mercedes-Benz’s German language website configurator has gone live with various updates for the E-class line-up and the 9G-Tronic is shown to be available on the standard rear-wheel-drive E350 BlueTec. It replaces the older seven-speed ‘7G-Tronic’ automatic gearbox.

The 9G-Tronic gearbox does not affect the 6.6 seconds 0-100 km/h acceleration time of the E350 BlueTec. However it improves the stop/start function and helps increase fuel efficiency while reducing emission levels.

July 22, 2013
Mercedes Benz S63 AMG Officially Revealed

The Mercedes Benz S63 AMG has finally landed, and officially this time. Mercedes Benz gifted the world an unofficial and unintentional peek at the high performance variant of its flagship luxury sedan last month but the German automaker has now released photographs ahead of a planned public debut at the Frankfurt motor show in September.

Mercedes Benz seems to be pacifying the exteriors of its high performance AMG range of late. The 2014 CLA45 AMG and E63 AMG seemed slightly restrained as compared to earlier models, and the S63 AMG has gone down a similar route. There’s a new front apron and splitter, side sill panels with 3D inserts in silver chrome, a black rear diffuser with chrome trim and a pair of twin exhaust pipes. “Twin-turbo V8” badges along its flanks and lots of AMG badges both outside and inside more or less sum up the the features visually distinguishing it from the base “non-AMG” variants.

The list of features distinguishing it mechanically however, goes on for a while. It’s powered by the same twin-turbocharged 5.5-litre V8 which is found in other big AMGs like the E63 and CLS63. The unit produces 585bhp and a massive 900Nm of torque. That makes it faster than a manual Porsche Carrera 911 4S in terms of acceleration, and that makes it properly quick. The twin-turbo engine is hand-built by one man – as is written in AMG’s rules – and comes with an aluminium crankcase, direct injection, an air-to-water intercooler, and a lightweight composite oil pan.

A new AMG sports exhaust is found in the powertrain as well. It has special flaps that automatically open and close depending on the transmission selection on the seven-speed gearbox. In ‘controlled efficiency’ mode (‘C’), they’re closed, but switch over to ‘Sport’ (‘S’) or ‘Manual’ (‘M’) and the S63 AMG may just scare the neighbourhood kids.

It will also be available as a four-wheel-drive version, the 4Matic, which will get it to 100 kmph in a blistering 4.0 seconds. In comparison the rear-wheel drive S63 AMG still gets to 100 kmph in 4.4seconds. Top speed remains limited to 250 kmph, but can be increased to 300km/h in combination with a optional driver’s package. All this has been made possible due to extensive weight-saving measures which have resulted in a kerb weight of 1995 kg for both RWD and 4WD models. That is a genuine achievement by Mercedes Benz.

A retuned version of the standard S500’s air suspension complete with Mercedes’ new ‘Magic Body Control’ system find their way on to the luxury sedan. A camera mounted within the windscreen scans the road and alters the settings of the air springs according to the conditions for maximum levels of comfort or sportiness, depending on the chosen mode. Other options for the Mercedes Benz S63 AMG include carbon ceramic brakes for the first time, a chauffeur pack, a ‘first-class’ rear suite, an air-balance pack, coloured calipers among many other expensive extras.

So what do you think of the 2014 S63 AMG? Let us know in the comments below!

[Images source: Mercedes Benz]

July 17, 2013
Edit: The Best of the 2013 Goodwood Festival of Speed

For the uninitiated among you, The Goodwood Festival of Speed (FoS) is an annual hill climb featuring historic motor racing vehicles, held in the grounds of Goodwood House, West Sussex, England, every June/July. Visitors can expect to see lots of cars and motorbikes from over 100 years of worldwide motor racing history as well as newer models take a shot at the hill run. An immensely popular event, 1,50,000 people regularly attend the FoS. Here are some of the newer cars which were seen at the 2013 FoS, which was held over the last weekend.

Peugeot RCZ R

Dubbed the RCZ R, this striking coupe is the most powerful production Peugeot in history and was unveiled at the 2013 Goodwood FoS. The RCZ R uses an updated version of the 1.6-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder engine found in the standard RCZ, which produces an impressive 270 hp and 243 lb-ft of torque. It can hit 100 kmph in 5.9 seconds and sports a beefier twin-scroll turbocharger, as well as a racing-derived steel exhaust manifold. Lots of mechanical upgrades have been done to the pistons, connecting rods, dampers and anti-roll bars making it a very capable little car. The Peugeot RCZ R will get its auto show reveal at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show in September before hitting European showrooms in early 2014.

McLaren P1

McLaren’s latest offering and part of the new breed of hyper cars, the McLaren P1 is the spiritual successor to the legend which was the McLaren F1. Unveiled at the 2012 Paris Motor Show, the P1 packs some serious performance under the extremely aerodynamic carbon-fibre body. With a 903 hp hybrid powerplant which will slingshot the P1 from a standstill to 100 kmph in under 3 seconds, and to 300 kmph in 17 seconds, the P1 is a member of a very small and elite group capable of crunching numbers like those. If you haven’t noticed yet, the body is styled with the McLaren logo making multiple appearances all over the car’s sleek construction. McLaren really wants you to recognise this car when you see it fly past on the expressway. And if you want another number to feed on, the base model retails for a cool US $1,150,000.

Citroën DS3 Cabrio Racing

We at iGyaan love hot hatchbacks. Brimming with character and ambition, they really epitomise everything that’s wonderful about car culture. The Citroën DS3 Cabrio Racing is one such sporty little car, and was shown for the first time to the world at the FoS. A roll-top version of the DS3 Racing that was introduced three years ago at the Geneva Motor Show, it keeps the same 1.6-liter four-cylinder with 202 horsepower and 19-inch wheels. The entire package is coated in a stunning textured Moondark matte grey with black chrome, Carmin Red and DS-pattern accents. In fact, according to a few reputed sources, this isn’t just a concept anymore and is expected to go on sale in the UK next year. Unfortunately, it seems like we’ll have to wait a couple years more for the hot hatchback segment to really hit Indian markets.

Porsche 918 Spyder

Another member of the new group of hyper cars, the Porsche 918 Spyder is truly an engineering marvel. The 918 is testament to Porsche’s belief that hybrid supercars will not only successfully exist, but they will dominate the automotive industry. By far the most complex vehicle ever to come out of the Stuttgart-based automaker’s labs, the 918 Spyder is propelled by a hybrid gasoline-electric unit making use of a race-spec 4.6-liter V8 engine producing 795 hp, supplemented by two electric motors drawing power from a liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery pack. It starts up with the hum of a small electric fan, gently floats about without any combustion, and then takes off like a fighter jet when you put the pedal to the metal, onto a top speed in excess of 320 kmph. The base price is US $845,000 and considering the top-mounted exhaust pipes like the flare launchers on the 1966 Batmobile, we think its worth every penny.

Ferrari F12 Berlinetta

The successor to the Ferrari 599, the ~~F12berlinetta~~ F12 Berlinetta is one of the fastest production Ferraris ever built. The 6.3-litre V12 produces an unadulterated 740 hp and 509 lb-ft of torque propelling the big grand tourer from nought to 100 kmph in just 3.1 seconds. But the true measure of any Prancing Horse is the lap time around the Ferrari-owned Fiorano circuit near Ferrari’s hometown, Maranello. Ferrari claims that the F12 can go around the test track in 1:23. To put things into perspective, the previous record-holder was the 599 GTO at 1:24, while the Enzo clocked in at a ‘slow’ 1:25. A 0.299 Cd and 76 percent more downforce allows a top speed of over 337 kmph.

Ferrari SP12 EC

The only one of its kind in the world, the SP12 EC was specially built by Ferrari for legendary guitarist, Eric Clapton, who was happy to let them use his initials in the name. Based on the chassis of the 458 and the bodywork of the 512 BB, the SP12 EC was designed by Centro Stile in Maranello, in collaboration with Pininfarina, the famous Italian car design firm. Mechanically, it utilises the important bits of the 458 Italia, including a 4.5-litre V8 engine and seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, but not many people know what the technical specifications of the one-off supercar really are. It reportedly set Mr. Clapton back by US $4.7 million.

Rolls Royce Wraith

On to the maker of the ‘best car in the world’, the Rolls Royce Wraith made its dynamic debut at the Goodwood FoS. The most powerful Rolls ever, the Wraith was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show. Although we’re wildly guessing that most people who end up buying the Wraith won’t be plowing it down racetracks too often, they very well could if they wished to. The 6.6-litre twin turbo V12 engine under the long hood of the luxury coupe produces 625 PS of power and a massive 800 Nm of torque. This along with Rolls Royce’s unique Satellite Aided Transmission technology fitted eight-speed ZF gearbox means that you go from nothing to 100 kmph in 4.4 seconds. Keep in mind that this is a 5.3m long car weighing 2.36 tons and those figures become a whole lot more impressive. The interiors are typical Rolls Royce, providing the ultimate in luxury making use of all the features of the Ghost while also flaunting ‘premium’ creature comforts like the “Starlight Headliner” cabin ceiling southern French wood panelling featured in the superior Phantom models.

Mercedes Benz A45 AMG

The Mercedes Benz A-Class was recently launched in India, and its AMG variant may soon be on its way as well. The striking A45 AMG hatchback had an impressive showing at the FoS as well, and unsurprisingly so. The potent little Benz only has a 2.0-litre engine under the hood but turbocharging helps it attain the highest specific output among production car engines, an astonishing 355 bhp. The hot hatch features a four-wheel-drive system for greater traction which helps it get from a standstill to 100 kmph in 4.6 seconds onto a top speed of 250 kmph. Those are some serious numbers for a hatchback. The car is expected to be priced upwards of Rs. 50 lakh if it finds its way to India.

The coveted spot on the lawn of the Goodwood House was given to Porsche this year, where a sculpture is erected annually to serve as a backdrop to the FoS. This year, Porsche has put up three 911s, new and old, in celebration of 50 years of the iconic car’s existence.

Other eye-catching cars at the Goodwood Festival of Speed included the stunning Jaguar Project 7 Concept, which is based on the new F-Type as well as the Bentley Continental GT3 race car. The FoS also saw the record-breaking auction of a Fangio-driven Mercedes Benz W196R Silver Arrows F1 car, at an unbelievable price of US$ 29.65 million. The 285 hp sub-700 kg Mexican Vuhl 05 as well as the eyecatching Alfa Romeo 4C were on display, as was the new Caterham 620, which may look like a small buggy to those who aren’t aware of it, but has a 0-100 kmph time of 2.8 seconds, making it one of the most fastest cars in the world in terms of acceleration. The Pikes Peak record smashing Peugeot 208 T16 also got a run around the much less challenging Goodwood hill and the Volkswagen XL1, known as the world’s most fuel-efficient car (at a truly staggering 132 kmpl) was on show as well.

July 15, 2013
Fangio-driven Mercedes F1 car auctioned for record $29M at Goodwood

The Bonhams auction at the Goodwood Festival of Speed is known for hosting some iconic race cars in its history. The race car in the picture above adds to that list, and how. This Mercedes W196R was driven by legendary F1 driver, Juan Manuel Fangio, to wins in the 1954 German and Swiss Grand Prix races. When the hammer fell at the auction yesterday, it was sold for $29.65 million, making it the most expensive car ever sold at an auction. With that sale, It also earned the honour of being the most expensive F1 car ever sold and the most valuable Mercedes Benz in the world.

Fangio’s wins gave Mercedes its first back-to-back post-war Grand Prix victories, and it introduced F1 cars to fuel-injection, tubular spaceframe chassis and inline eight-cylinder engines.

The most important historic Grand Prix racing car ever offered for sale.

– Robert Brooks, Bonhams Chairman

The Mercedes W196R came close to the record price for a car sold privately, with the current holder being a 1962 Ferraro GTO built for Sterling Moss that went for a reported $35 million in a private sale last year.

July 14, 2013
Mercedes Benz launches Diesel B-Class

The Mercedes Benz B-Class is now available with the option of a diesel engine, at a price of Rs. 22.6 lakh (ex-showroom Mumbai).

The B-Class was launched last year in India with only petrol options, but now can be purchased with a 107 bhp 2.2-litre diesel unit under the hood. This engine comes mated to a seven-speed DCT gearbox with two drive options, Sport and Manual. The hatchback returns a claimed fuel efficiency of 18.98 kmpl and goes on to a top speed of 190 kmph.

The B180CDI will be available in only one trim, called ‘Style’. A fully powered driver’s seat, leather upholstery, seven airbags, a COMAND interface with a variety of media connectivity options and a whole lot of safety tech comes standard with the diesel B-Class. However, it misses out on features such as the dual-sunroof, parking camera and sat-nav which are available on the more expensive petrol variant.

It still gets 7 airbags, ABS, EBD and ASR. The Audio 20 CD player, 14.7cm screen. It gets bi-xenon headlamps and even paddle shifts are standard. It rides on 16-inch wheels compared to the 17-inch ones which come with the petrol variant.

July 11, 2013
New Mercedes Benz E-Class launched at Rs. 41.50 Lakh

Luxury car giant Mercedes-Benz has launched the 2014 E-Class in India. The new E-class (codename W212) gets a refreshed design with this mid-cycle facelift and has gone back to a single headlight unit for the first time in 18 years. The headlamp is now encased in a single flowing lens with LED elements for the low beam and daytime running lamp.Mercedes will also be offering the E-class with the option of full LED headlamps. Other changes include a bigger, more aggressive grille flowing into a restyled bumper devoid of fog lamps. The rear sports new taillights and a new bumper as well.

Inside, you’ll find a new sportier steering wheel as well as minor updates to the central console. The dials are new, the COMAND system gets a new screen and Merc is bringing in a sat-nav and a DVD player as well.

The E-class will be offered in India with a choice of two engines – a 2.0-litre, direct injected petrol unit making 184bhp and a 2.1-litre diesel mill putting out 204bhp. Both are four-cylinder engines and will be mated to Merc’s 7G-tronic automatic transmission.

Slightly surprisingly, Mercedes Benz has done away with the cheaper Classic and Elegance variants for the E-class. Both versions are available only in the top-spec Avantgarde trim, unlike its predecessors. Additionally, the German manufacturer has also introduced a ‘launch edition’ spec of the E 250 CDI, of which only 100 units will be sold. The launch edition E 250 CDI gets a panoramic sunroof, rear tyres that are larger than the front (245/40 R18 (F), 265/35 R18 (R)), a space saver and Merc’s illuminated central star.

New Mercedes E-Class Prices (ex-showroom, Delhi)

E200 Petrol: Rs 41.50 lakh

E250 CDI: Rs 44.8 lakh

E250 CDI launch edition: Rs 49.90 lakh

June 25, 2013
Cheaper Audi Q3 Sport variant coming soon to India

While BMW and Mercedes Benz are busy attracting customers with high-end hot hatchbacks, Audi has devised a clever plan of its own to take its share of the market. Instead of rivalling the BMW 1-series and Mercedes Benz A-Class with its A3 Sportback or its A1 supermini, Audi is taking on the BMW X1 and Mercedes Benz B-Class with a cheaper, lower-spec variant of the Q3 called the Q3 Sport.

The Q3 Sport will be assembled in India as a CKD (Completely Knocked Down) unit at Audi’s assembly facility in Aurangabad, Maharashtra. The Q3 Sport loses a lot of features in order to keep the price relatively low. It comes with a downgraded 2.0 TDI engine, producing 140 bhp and 320 Nm of torque instead of the 177 bhp and 380 Nm of torque put out by the 2.0 TDI in the standard Q3. The Q3 Sport will have to do without the more common 7-speed dual clutch auto transmission, and the all-wheel drive Audi Quattro system. Instead, the front wheels will be driven through a six-speed manual. Also missing on the ‘budget’ baby SUV, will be the daytime running LED lamps which have come to be a symbol of brand recognition for the German auto giant.

However, Audi knows the business well enough to offer all the kit which one expects from a luxury car. Creature comforts such as leather seats, cruise control, voice dialog system, climate control, MMI with Bluetooth connectivity and 18-inch alloy wheels amongst others, will be standard on the Audi Q3 Sport.

The entry level Q3 is expected to be priced at around Rs 25 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) courtesy of the toned down performance and the CKD assembly. At this price, the Q3 Sport will be cheapest Audi to be sold in India, and should give the Merccedes-Benz B-Class and the BMW X1 a run for their money.

June 25, 2013
2014 S63 AMG ‘unintentionally’ revealed by Mercedes Benz

Just a day after starting production of the 2014 S-Class at its main plant in Sindelfingen, Germany, Mercedes Benz has unintentionally given the world a sneak peek at the 2014 S63 model. An official promotional video showing the production line of cars has gone viral, after it was noticed that one of the featured cars just happened to be the high performance S63 variant.

[youtube id=”OyPEQYkZmTY” width=”100%” height=”300px”]

The latest S63 AMG model is yet to be officially revealed, though clearly the cars are already in production. This video, posted up by Czech website Auto Forum, shows the S63 AMG with its front fully revealed.

The enlarged air intakes in the front bar, and bigger AMG-spec wheels are a clear indication of the focus on performance. The V8 bi-turbo lettering on the sides and the S63 badge on the trunk lid leave no doubt that the AMG spec variant of the luxurious sedan will soon hit the markets. Other upgrades such as quad-exhaust pipes, larger brake discs and lowered suspension were quite evident in spy shots released earlier this year.

However, in line with other recently launched AMG models like the 2014 CLA45 AMG and 2014 E63 AMG, the 2014 S63 AMG too seems slightly restrained. None of the visual upgrades seem as aggressive as those of older AMGs. Have no doubt though, the 2014 S63 AMG is still a gorgeous car.

Official details aren’t available yet, but we expect the S63 AMG to pack Mercedes Benz’s twin-turbo 5.5-liter V8 producing about 550 hp in the base model. Like the new E-Class, an S model will likely be offered. The seven speed AMG Speedshift dual-clutch transmission and all-wheel drive will likely be part of the S63 AMG package, too.

[autoforumCZ via YouTube, Motor Authority]

June 15, 2013
Mercedes SLS AMG Electric Drive Breaks Nurburgring EV Lap Record

The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Electric Drive set a new speed record for a production electric car at the Nurburgring.

The electron-drives Mercedes SLS AMG managed to get round the ‘Ring in seven minutes and 56.2 seconds, which also makes it the first EV to break the eight-minute barrier on the infamous German track.

Last year the R8 e-tron came close with a lap time of 8:09.099 minutes after Audi engineers raised the standard car’s speed limit from 124 mph (200 km/h) to 155 mph (250 km/h).

The four motors powering the SLS Electric Drive deliver thrust to all four wheels. That’s a good thing, since the powertrain serves up a mind-blowing 737 lb.-ft. of torque. Mercedes-Benz estimates the SLS Electric Drive needs less than 4.0 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph. Top speed is electronically-limited to 155 mph.

In addition to its brute force, the Mercedes SLS AMG Electric Drive also features a unique carbon fiber structure built around its battery system that helps improve overall stiffness and dynamics. Then there are the racing-style pushrod shocks and carbon ceramic brakes to harp on about, but the aspect that draws the most attention is the sophisticated torque vectoring system of the car developed using Formula One technology.

The Mercedes SLS AMG Coupé Electric Drive celebrates its sales launch in June 2013. The purchase price is approximately $550,737 USD. (Don’t count on us reviewing it.)

[Motor Authority, NYDailyNews]

June 9, 2013
Mercedes Benz offering new Illuminated 3-pointed Star Accessory

Mercedes Benz has offered the 3-pointed star on their vehicles for decades, and it has now evolved into a symbol which goes beyond the idea of brand recognition. The 3-pointed star has come to stand for a guarantee of excellence for the customers of the German manufacturer, one which every Mercedes Benz owner would flaunt with pride.

Well, now Mercedes Benz is making it easier for owners to flaunt their cars with a new accessory. An illuminated 3-pointed star emblem will now be available in a number of Mercedes Benz vehicles including the 2006+ CLS-Class, 2012+ M-Class, 2013+ GL-Class and the 2014 E-Class. A dealer-fitted option, the accessory utilises LED and light tube technology to light up the 3-pointed star in the radiator grille of the car when the car is unlocked, its engine is turned off or its doors or trunk are opened – remaining on for 15 seconds. It does not work while the car is being driven.

If this accessory takes off, expect other OEMs to come up with something similar for their cars soon. Is the illuminated 3-point star accessory cool and classy, or too blingy and garish? Let us know in the comments section.

[youtube id=”Il5-uuSXpDk” width=”100%” height=”300px”]

Image courtesy: Mercedes Benz

Video courtesy: mbusa

June 7, 2013
Mercedes Benz A-class Launched at Rs. 21.93 Lakh

The striking Mercedes Benz A-class has been launched in India in two variants, the petrol A180 CGI and the diesel A180 CDI. Representing the younger face of the German auto giant, the new A-class is a breath of fresh air, bringing with it a revamped design and a new outlook to the market. There has been a lot of hype surrounding the smallest and cheapest member of the Benz family, and when it comes to looks, Mercedes has definitely matched the hype.

The A-class is very easy on the eyes. The low and sloping roofline along with the long hood impart the hatch an athletic stance and the ducted rear bumper as well as the diffuser add character to the well sculpted rear end. The new metallic grille flanked by swooping LED headlights are the cherry on top of a sumptuous little treat.

The A-Class range internationally gives buyers a range of models to pick from, but for now India gets just the A 180CGI and the A180 CDI. The petrol A180 CGI is powered by a 1.6-litre unit producing 122 bhp and the diesel A180 CDI features a 2.2-litre powerplant pushing out 109 bhp. Both engines send power to the front wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. The diesel A-class reaches a top speed of 190kph while the petrol tops out at 202kph.

The A 180 CGI comes equipped with a panoramic sunroof, black diamond pattern trim seats, contrasting topstitching on the door centre panels and armrests. The instrument cluster comes with silver-finish dials. The car also has 17-inch smoked grey alloy wheels as standard as well as Bluetooth connectivity, seven airbags, an ECO start/stop function, adaptive brakes, Attention Assist system, ESP, bi-xenon lamps, and USB and iPod connectivity.

The large and imposing hatchback may be the cheapest Benz on offer, but at Rs. 21.93 Lakh for the A 180 CDI Style and Rs. 22.73 Lakh for the A 180 CGI Sport(both ex-showroom Mumbai), it may still be quite heavy on the wallet for most Indians, especially for a hatchback.

[Autocar]

June 1, 2013
2014 Mercedes Benz S-Class Revealed
If you’re a CEO or a high-ranking government official, your new ride is here. The 2014 Mercedes Benz S-Class has finally been unveiled, with Merc boss Dr Dieter Zetsche, describing it as “the best automobile in the world”. Packed with stunning technology and a completely revamped design, the best of the Benz sedans has managed to improve upon its predecessor massively, and that’s much easier said than done.

The new S-Class reinforces Benz’s new direction in design, taking cues from the new E-Class and CLA-Class. The front has a new, larger radiator grille, flanked by well-shaped feline-like LED headlights. Reception to the new front-end and the LED headlights has been mixed, but we’re leaning towards the positive side with this one. The front fender reminds us of the A-Class with an aggressive bottom end. Distinct character lines run down the sides and the sloping roofline makes another appearance here, along with sharp taillights. All in all, Mercedes Benz has maintained the elegance of the S-Class with wholesale changes resulting in a pleasing, simplistic design.

As always the new S-Class features the best and newest technology Merc’s engineers have developed over the last few years. With luxury nearing that found in a private jet, and technology like that of a fighter jet, the new S-Class comes with a very fair share of goodies, not limited to the following:
- The cabin gets two 12.3-inch TFT screens for the instrument cluster and the navitainment, a touch-sensitive telephone keypad, rear climate control with two more zones, access to infotainment media from any seat in the car – rear seat passengers can even see the Google Maps display to make sure the driver is going the right way
- Roughly 300 LEDs in the cabin offer seven hues, five dimming levels and four dimming zones will be standard and the LED brake lights dim at night or while waiting at lights so as to be kinder on the eyes of drivers behind
- Five different options in rear seating, the uppermost of which offers a backrest that reclines nearly 45 degrees, does so independently of the bolster, and has calf support and a heel rest. Get the First Class Rear package and avail yourself of a console that allows control of the center console from the rear, and thermally-controlled cupholders
- Magic Body Control that uses stereo cameras to scan the road surface and adjust the suspension in advance of road imperfections
- Massaging seats based on the “hot stone principle” for front and rear using 14 cushions in the backrest and six massage programs
- An Air Balance Package that ionizes and filters the air and emits five choices in fragrance
- Grouped under “Intelligent Drive,” the next generation of features like Active Parking Assist, Active Lane Keeping Assist, Night View Assist Plus, Distronic Plus with Steering Assist, Brake Assist Plus with Cross-Traffic Assist, Pre-Safe Brake with pedestrian recognition
- A Warmth and Comfort package with heated steering wheel and armrests, seats with active ventilation, and power heated rear seats with memory
The 2014 S-Class will be offered with a choice of four engines, including two hybrids – the S 400 petrol and S 300 BlueTEC diesel. The conventional petrol and diesel models badged S 500 and S350 BlueTEC respectively complete the lineup. Powered by a 449bhp 4.7-litre twin-turbo V8, the S 500 is by far the fastest, covering 0-62mph in 4.8 seconds, while the S 300 BlueTEC Hybrid combines a 201bhp 2.1-litre diesel engine with a 27bhp electric motor for a combined fuel economy of 64mpg and CO2 emissions of 115g/km. AMG models are expected to be announced in the coming year as well.

Ever since Daimler-Chrysler announced the discontinuation of the Maybach brand, the S-Class has assumed the mantle of being its most luxurious offering. The 2014 S-Class is really tough to fault, with a majestic presence, efficient German engineering under the hood and the interior worthy of a Rolls-Royce. Everyone may not love the look of the new S-Class, but there’s no doubting that it still is one of the best cars available in the market today.
May 16, 2013