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Tuesday, 27 April 2010
 We all know how privileged the Mercedes buyers are and Mercedes Benz India is trying to prove that. Yes Mercedes Benz India has conceptualised a special extravaganza to highlight the safety features, and engineering technology that all its cars are so famous for. The programme also presents an opportunity to prospective buyers and customers to learn critical road safety skills in a safe and controlled environment. This is a first-of-its-kind driving experience programme in India and Mercedes being a forerunner in the luxury car segment, it is not very surprising that it has beaten its competitors to it. The programme, named the StarDrive, started at the Juhu Aerodrome in Mumbai. The event was supported by presenting partners Michelin & Mobil 1. The cars participating in this programme were Mercedes ML-Class, GL-Class, C-Class and E-Class in this event. Through unique simulations, the dynamics of vehicles including safety, agility and performance in either conditions of off-road and on-road are brought to the fore. And the participants could experience the tangible advantages of some of the important safety technologies like Pro-Engineering Package, Airmatic, etc. during the course of the driving programme. Mercedes Benz has always been among the top leaders in introducing new technologies globally as well as in India. Customer safety has always been one of the main principles driving the company’s innovation and technologies. And, India being on the global map as one of the top car consumers, it is only very apt on Mercedes’s part to introduce such a programme, which is sure to lure new buyers. Over the years, Mercedes Benz has introduced a number of new technologies, the prominent ones being the Integral occupant protection system (PRE-SAFE), Neck-Pro, PARKTRONIC to the latest addition – Attention Assist System. All these technologies have set a benchmark in the automotive industry. Debashish Mitra: Director, Sales & Marketing, Mercedes-Benz India: “ Mercedes-Benz StarDrive Experience is aimed to give our customers and participants a one of its kind opportunity to personally experience the unmatched safety technology of our cars besides offering them an opportunity to further hone their driving skills. The StarDrive combines essential elements of driving experience with simulation of critical road situations; combines the Mercedes-Benz spirit of innovation with a genuine spirit of fun”. Presenting partner, Mobil 1 said: “Mobil 1” is the oil of choice of more than 55 car manufacturers including Mercedes-Benz. Mobil 1 is formulated for high performance engines, and is chosen for AMG specifically to enhance engine life, provide superior protection against harmful deposits, contribute to cleaner running engines and dramatically reduce friction as compared to conventional engine oils.” Labels: GL-Class, Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-Benz-C-Class, Mercedes-Benz-E-Class, Mercedes-Benz-India, Mercedes-Benz-ML-Class, Mercedes-Benz-Safety-Technologies, Mercedes-Benz-StarDrive, StarDrive-Experience
 Towards the end of last month there was speculation about the launch of the Mercedes A-Class in India. We had said that this entry level luxury car would finally be adorning the Indian roads and that it would be priced at Rs 16-20 lakh. Till date, 1.6 million units of the three or five-door hatchback have been sold worldwide and we hoped that all went well for the company in India too. What did you think? Would there be any buyers? Well, right now, there’s a twist in the story. Mercedes-Benz India denies introducing the A-Class in India. Mercedes Benz has positively denied media reports which claimed that the company is planning to launch its A-Class models in the Indian market. The Indian arm of the German luxury carmaker says that it has not set timelines for any new cars in the entry-level A-Class and B-Class models in the country. The question remains, if the cars are launched, will there be any buyers? Had Mercedes-Benz not considered the launch of the car in India at all? The company must have thought over the loss and profit possibilities after the car gets launched in our country. Then, it must have occurred that conditions at this point of time were sure unfavourable for the launch of an entry-level car with a luxury car price. The launch of both, the A-Class and B-Class models from the German luxury car maker would not be conducive for Indian aspiring car owners. A company official said that the company firmly denies any such plans and all speculation surrounding the A-Class model’s rollout in India was untrue. Not long ago, a couple of media reports had claimed that Mercedes-Benz India was looking at the possibility of introducing the A-Class in the Indian market, quoting Peter Trettin, president and CEO of Daimler, Central and Eastern Europe, Africa and Asia. As of now, Mercedes-Benz India calls it speculation. The Mercedes-Benz A-Class is a small car produced by the German automaker Mercedes-Benz. The first generation Mercedes-Benz A-Class was the W168. It was introduced in 1997 and the second generation model was the W169. These were launched in most of Mercedes’ worldwide markets except China, North America and India. The A-Class is available as a three or five-door hatchback. The B-Class is the entry model in China, Canada, Australia and Mexico, and the C-Class is the entry model in the U.S. In the A-Class, seven types of motors compliant with the Euro 4 emission norms are available. All are four-cylinders: four petrol (gasoline) (A150, A170, A200, A200Turbo) and three diesel (160CDI, 180CDI, 200CDI) mated with either 5 or 6-speed manual transmission. A continuously variable transmission system called Autotronic Constantly Variable Transmission or CVT is an optional feature. However, we now know that none of these variants are going to garnish the Indian roads. The car is designed according to Mercedes-Benz concept of ‘touch and feel’. The car can be controlled with a thumb’s touch on the multi-function power steering. It comes with the Mercedes COMAND APS, a navigation system for directions via GPS. The Parktronic system offers signals indicating how far the car is from an obstacle. When the car enters a tunnel or underground space, it goes into the tunnel mode, where the windows and panoramic sliding sunroof get closed. Amazing car, but the features are not quite affordable to Indian car buyers. Labels: A-Class, Entry-Level-Cars, Luxury-Cars, Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-Benz-A-Class, Mercedes-Benz-India
Wednesday, 21 April 2010
 Somewhere, BMW India is being all smug. Here is the explanation. Mercedes Benz is following the strip down trend that was started by BMW India. A few months back, BMW India launched a stripped out version of the BMW 320D and priced it attractively at Rs 24 lakh. As was predicted the BMW 320D Corporate Edition registered a never-before like sales and gave its rivals, Audi and Mercedes, many a sleepless nights. And all this happened even when the BMW 320D was in a stripped out guise. Mercedes feigned nonchalance and said that it was content to see BMW launching cheaper variants which would help it retain the “Premium” status in India. But that was a long time ago. Mercedes-Benz India has finally given a thought to the ‘Special Edition’ trend. Mercedes, in an effort to get a piece of the Indian pie, has announced the launch of a stripped out Mercedes Benz C220CDI. Named as the Executive Edition, the Mercedes Benz C220CDI has rid itself of a number of features. The Executive Edition C220CDI will not have the panoramic sunroof, Paramatric Steering Wheel, Multifunctional Steering Wheel and Mobile pre-installation. A few of the exterior features have been stripped too, including the xenon headlamps and the LED turn indicators. The Executive Edition has also excluded the Anti-theft Package, though the internal motion sensor & tow away protection are present. There have been a few replacements in Executive Edition C220CDI, including single CD changer, 7 spoke 16″ alloy wheels and Artico man made leather. But, the best part of the Executive Edition deal is the common rail diesel engine that can churn out 400 Nm or torque. And though, it is no match for the BMW 320D, it still makes for a powerful ride. The Blue Efficiency tag in the Executive Edition C220CDI carries a lot of value too. The constant competition (or rivalry) between these German luxury car manufacturers has always brought out the best results. And every time, the customers are the ones to benefit. So no one would hear us complaining. Brand name carries a lot of value for Indian car buyers and car manufacturers seem to have caught wind of that. For many Indians, the Merc logo carries more value than the actual features of the car. What about you? Would you buy a car just for the brand or for the features that should be there in a premium luxury car? Labels: Audi-India, BMW, BMW-320d, BMW-Executive-Edition, Executive-Edition-C220CDI, Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-Benz-Executive-Edition, Mercedes-Benz-India, Premium-Luxury-Car
Thursday, 8 April 2010
The war of Germans in India for the luxury car segment is getting hotter and better with each passing day and each car being sold out. Mercedes Benz India which held on to its Numero Uno position for two consecutive months of this year had to part its title to BMW for the month of March. BMW India on Wednesday reported 26.56 per cent jump in sales in March at 605 units, the highest ever sales that the company has recorded in a month in India contrary to the sale of 478 units the company sold in the same month last year. The outgoing BMW India President, Peter Kronschnabl who is all smiles on this milestone acknowledged that the previous March sales was the highest they had achieved in India but this month’s car sales is the highest ever monthly sales for a luxury car maker in India. During the month, the company sold 298 units of the 3 Series sedan, 183 units of 5 series sedan, 54 units of 7 Series sedan, 11 units of Gran Turismo and the Z4 Roadster sold 13 units. In the SUV segment, the X3 sold just 3 units, while X5 clocked 20 units and 23 units of X6. For the three month period between January and March, BMW's cumulative sales stood at 1314 units.
Kronschnabl said with the company's production at the Chennai plant running at full capacity, it will announce a decision on further expanding it by the middle of this year. "With the assembly of X1 scheduled to begin later this year at the Chennai plant, we definitely need to ramp up our capacity," he said. The company has set a target of selling over 4,000 units this calendar year, as against 3,619 units last year.He also said he was aware that the kind of sales they achieved in March will be difficult to maintain, they were looking at double digits growth this year. Labels: 5-Series, 7-Series, BMW-3-Series, BMW-India, BMW-March-sales, German-Luxury- Car-Maker, Mercedes-Benz, X5-suv, Z4-Roadster
 Well, this is for all the rich coupe lovers in India. Mercedes Benz India has finally given in to all your not-so-silent pleas to launch a coupe in India, and the result is that the E-Class coupe is up for grabs for one and all (of course, price may be constraint for a few). Last year Mercedes Benz India totally blew up its competitors with the launch of the E-Class sedan, and now is the time to bring on some heat in the coupe segment. Yesterday, Mercedes Benz redefined luxury, style and raw attraction when it launched the E-Class coupe in India. The E-Class coupe is a sporty interpretation of the E-Class sedan and boasts of unprecedented combination of power, performance and efficiency. Get behind the wheels and you can feel a power of 272hp at 6000rpm. The engine comes paired with a 7G-TRONIC automatic transmission that makes your ride totally effortless. The coupe, with a drag coefficient of just 0.24, is the world's most aerodynamically efficient series-production car. Beat that now! The E-Class coupe is totally loaded with features that make your driving experience a luxurious one. Your auditory pleasures are taken care by top-end 450 Watt Dolby Digital Harman Kardon® Logic 7® surround-sound system. You don’t have to worry yourself with setting the inside temperature of the car either. The THERMATIC 2-zone automatic climate control does just that for you. There are sensors which detect the outside temperature and adjust the heating, cooling or fan as necessary. Additionally, the E-Class coupe is loaded with safety features including ATTENTION ASSIST, PRE-SAFE® occupant protection system, Intelligent Lighting System and airbags. The ATTENTION ASSIST prompts you to take a break when you feel tired and drowsy on long trips. The new E-Class Coupé has won many international awards for its stunning design (Declared as the “Most Good Looking Coupé” by Chicago Athenaeum - Museum of Architecture and Design; received “The Good Design Award” by Auto Bilt, Germany). Also, a panoramic sunroof/moon roof adds to the dynamic looks of the car.  Now, let’s get to another important detail of the E-Class coupe. Well, you can make it yours by shelling out just about Rs. 54.83-lakhs (ex-showroom Mumbai). The pricing has been kept very competitive and is likely to sell well among the Merc loving rich Indians. Labels: ATTENTION-ASSIST, Mercedes, Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-Benz-E-Class, Mercedes-Benz-E-Class-Coupe, Mercedes-Benz-E-Class-Coupe-in-India, Mercedes-Benz-E-Class-Coupe-price, New-Car-Launch
Wednesday, 31 March 2010
 We have seen and heard of the most unusual things that have happened in the auto industry. We have seen Tata Motors buying loss maker Jaguar Land Rover unit from Ford Motors to spin out some quality products to find a place in the hearts of car connoisseur and churning out huge profits in the process as well. We have also seen GM crumble from top spot in the U.S automobile market during recession that made it sell three of its top brands and phasing out a couple of brands altogether. We have come across the mighty Japanese known for their technological prowess come to their knees when they recalled their cars citing life-threatening technical problems (Read Toyota, Honda and Nissan). Then we have also seen lesser known car companies like that of Spykar and Geely buying more prominent car brands like Saab and Volvo paying exorbitant sum of money to the amazement of other global car companies hit by global recession. But this story below can put every other unusual car related topics to shame. Imagine a newly cropped up Chinese electric car company called BYD showing interest in buying the legendary Maybach brand itself from the mighty German owners Daimler who also own Mercedes-Benz. Cannot believe your eyes? Believe it. In a so called rumor that’s doing rounds in the internet circles which was originally started by China’s largest auto-related websites called auto.sina.com, BYD, the electric car maker from China is interested in acquiring the Maybach brand from Mercedes-Benz within the next few years. The site reported that an undisclosed official from BYD confirmed the company’s interest in Maybach. The source stated that BYD would "launch the acquisition" when Mercedes finalizes its decision to end the Maybach nameplate. Mercedes and BYD have already joined forces in an effort to market electric vehicles in China, so the companies have a working relationship, but whether or not this relationship translates into the acquisition of Maybach is unknown. It seems unlikely that Mercedes would hand over the Maybach nameplate to another company, but it just might happen. BYD's expansion efforts have been strong and luxury cars such as the Zeppelin, pictured above, tend to sell well in foreign markets so it could be a fit for BYD. For now, we will just have to wait it out and see what develops. Daimler which heads the luxury German brands such as Mercedes-Benz and Maybach, in a bid to save its face, desperately pleaded that the rumors were false. Daimler states that Maybach is slow-selling as they could sell just 200 cars last year. They also admitted that the Maybach brand had failed to reach and achieve the appeal of the established classic ultra-luxury brands like Bentley and Rolls Royce, but it’s still important to Daimler and stressed the point that the brand was not for sale. A Daimler spokesman told Reuters that there is no truth to the recent speculation that Maybach could be sold to Chinese automotive firm BYD. In the meanwhile, BYD also denied the claims, according to the report; with a spokesman conferring with company chairman Wang Chuanfu to reach the conclusion the whole thing is merely speculation. BYD and Daimler are, however, cooperating on electric cars for the Chinese market.  Maybach’s sale is speculation that may eventually bear fruit, however, as the brand’s product lineup is stale–though due for an update soon, according to leaked patent images–and its tiny sales figures haven’t shown any signs of growing even as Rolls-Royce is nearly doubling production plans thanks to the new, smaller Ghost sedan. Bentley is also bustling with product news, primarily its somewhat controversial plans to go green with the addition of flex-fuel capability to its entire Continental range by 2012. Labels: Bentley, BYD, Classic-Ultra-Luxury-Brands, Daimler, Electric-Car-Maker, Ford-Motors, Geely, Jaguar-Land-Rover, Maybach, Mercedes-Benz, Rolls-Royce, Saab, Tata-Motors, Volvo
Friday, 26 March 2010
 Mercedes Benz took away the conspiracy of silence during the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show by unveiling the F 700 concept featuring the DiesOtto engine. The engine is a combination of HCCI and the spark ignition design just like the one demonstrated by GM. The difference was the addition of turbo charging to provide a 1.8L four-cylinder engine. This would give performance comparable to the 3.5L V-6 engine in the Mercedes Benz S Class with fuel economy of 5.3 litre of gasoline per 100 km. The carbon emissions of the F700 are only 0.127kg/km and this would put it below the proposed EU limit of 0.130kg/km. This engine technology is capable of taking the current S Class to a completely new level. Short extensions and the low nose make the car appear to have no bumpers. The body is supported on an electro-hydraulic active suspension system that uses front-mounted lasers to scan the road surface and proactively make adjustments. The F 700 research car from Mercedes-Benz gives a new approach to the idea of easy and finer improvements. It proves how fantastic the riding quality can be, when united with high levels of eco friendliness and high performance with very low fuel consumption. The 5.17-meter long F 700 with its roomy interiors permits an exceedingly comfy mode of travel. The well-designed exteriors provide this extraordinary space for the passengers.  The F 700 is the world's first car that can foresee the road condition and even out the irregular spots with its PRE-SCAN suspension. This further improves suspension comfort. The active PRE-SCAN suspension has two laser scanners to scan the road ahead. This new technology gives occupants a flying-carpet kind of feeling. The forward-pointing DiesOtto engine combines a low-emission gasoline engine with the consumption benefits of the diesel drive. The DiesOtto technology is an innovation in the internal combustion engine concept thought by Mercedes-Benz. The new controlled auto ignition (CAI), direct fuel injection and turbo charging combine the great power of the spark-ignition engine with the ideal torque and perfect fuel economy of a diesel. The four-cylinder drive system in the F 700 featuring two-stage charging achieves the efficiency level of a current S-Class car with a 3.5-liter naturally aspirated V6 gasoline engine or the 3.0-liter V6 turbo diesel. Coming to the seating, the F 700, with its reverse seat, breaks up the customary seat arrangement of usual sedans. It offers individual seating positions facing, or with one's back to, the direction of travel. Maximum spaciousness and utmost comfort comes standard. Mercedes-Benz dreams of making the gasoline-powered car as cost-effective in consumption as the diesel. The DiesOtto technology is helping them fulfill the dream. The F 700 is also reshaping India’s automotive future by setting new standards with respect to the noise, tire vibration and suspension comfort. Another striking concept in the F 700 is the SERVO-HMI. The display has just a few simple and self-explanatory controls. The more complex inputs like destination for navigation purposes can be discussed in dialogue with an avatar, a virtual operating assistant.  The outline of the F 700 is characterized by a long wheelbase. The design cordially blends the ideas provided by nature with technical modernization. With all the futuristic styling devices, the F 700 perfectly showcases the brand identity of Mercedes-Benz. Labels: DiesOtto, F-700, F-700-Car, Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-Benz-F-700, Mercedes-Benz-S-Class, PRE-SCAN-suspension, S-Class
Friday, 19 March 2010
 The fight for the top position among the auto manufacturers just gets better, and fiercer, by each passing day. As they put it, it is a number game after all. The latest to add competition in the luxury SUV segment is the New GL 350 CDI Blue Efficiency from Mercedes. With amazing sales in both January and February, Mercedes Benz India seems upbeat and unstoppable. The GL 350CDI BlueEfficiency is equipped with complete off-road package, 7 G-TRONIC gearbox, 4Matic Permanent all-wheel drive, Electrically folding third row seats, panoramic sunroof and a many other features that are bound to pull the customers to the showrooms. Mercedes always goes extra miles when it comes to adding features to its cars and it does not surprise us to see special features in the new GL Class, like Downhill Speed Regulation (DSR), hill-start assist, off-road ABS assist, standard-fit AIRMATIC air suspension, speed-sensitive power steering, ADS Adaptive Damper System, COMAND system with integrated 6–disc DVD changer and reversing camera, and 19-inch alloy wheels. The seven seater luxury SUV comes with a 3litre V6 diesel and has the Mercedes-Benz’s BlueEfficiency technology. Now this technology which makes the SUV fuel efficient, also goes on to confirm Mercedes’ environmental commitment. Dr Wilfried Aulbur, managing director and CEO, Mercedes-Benz India said, “The luxury SUV segment is hotting up in India and so introducing this vehicle comes at the right time. The size of the luxury SUV segment in India is currently around 1600units and has the potential of 9000-10,000 units. We are hopeful that the GL would do good numbers for us. The luxury SUV market is doubling at fast pace.” As of now, the new GL 350 will be imported as completely built unit and later when the sales have reached to at least 100 units, Mercedes will consider building it in India. Labels: Blue-Efficiency, GL-350CDI-BlueEfficiency, Luxury-SUV, Mercedes, Mercedes-Benz, New-GL 350, New-GL-350-CDI
Monday, 1 March 2010
Any guesses about the Mercedes-Benz car sales figures of February 2010 in India? If you were not aware, the numbers are going to surprise you. Yes, the company sold 439 cars in February alone. Compared to February 2009, the company has shown a 78% increase in February this year. Mercedes-Benz India had sold 246 units in February 2009. The total number of units sold this year is 842. Isn’t that great? So many cars have been sold in just two months. Last year, Mercedes-Benz managed to sell 328 units in the first two months. So, this implies that the company showed a 157% increase in car sales. So, what is the secret behind the magic? Indians have shown their favouritism towards the all-new Mercedes-Benz luxury cars; the E-Class and the new-generation S-Class. The new SLS AMG was showcased at the Auto Expo 2010. The car has not yet been launched and Mercedes fanatics have already shown their blind faith in the company’s luxury cars as there have been 6 confirmed orders already for the SLS AMG in India. The S-Class received a boost with the S 350L and the S 350 CDIL joining the top-of-the line S 500L. Towards the end of February, Mercedes India launched the S 600 Guard. This is the most expensive vehicle to be available in India and also the only factory-incorporated special protection vehicle found in India. The C-Class too witnessed a surprising rebirth with 172 units. Last year during the first two months, the cars were sold to 155 people in India. Out of this, 109 had been sold in the month of February. However, this year, the C-Class has surprised the makers. 302 C-Class cars have left the showroom in the first two months. The top-of-the-line C 250 introduced in January was the image driver for the existing models C 220CDI and the C 200 Kompressor. The same follows with the E-Class. While the company barely sold 105 E-Class vehicles in Jan-Feb 2009, this year a shining 406 figure was announced. 79 E-Class cars were sold in Feb 2009 and this year, Mercedes-Benz sold 161 cars of the same model. The S-Class showed a rise from 34 cars in Jan-Feb 2009 to 59 in the first two months of this year. The new E-Class continued to rush forward with introduction of the E 250V6 and E 250CDI to the existing line-up of E 350 and E 350CDI. Not just this. Mercedes also has its imported cars. Jan 2009 saw the sales of 5 cars while Feb 2009 sold 29 cars. This year, in Jan and Feb, the company sold 53 imported cars in India. 47 cars were sold in February alone. There surely seems to be some magic. Mercedes has introduced 10 new products this year. The Mercedes lifestyle percentage has been toughened with the 10th edition of the Mercedes-Trophy. They have not left the fashion industry behind. Manish Arora always guarantees thrilling fashion evenings with his exceptional designing “Fascination Collection”. So, are you wondering, “Where does Mercedes come in the picture”? Well, these exciting fashion evenings are inspired by Mercedes. With its network expansion and improvement programs, Mercedes-Benz is now present in 25 cities with more than 50 touch points. This is considered as the largest for any luxury player in India. To add to all this, Mercedes says that it still has a few projects pending. It is in the process having a 12-car display showroom in Hyderabad, a 16-car display showroom in Chennai and a 26-car display brand center in South Delhi. Mercedes plans to complete these projects in a few months and then set standards in their segment. Reaching a goal of any height can never really be enough, right? Mercedes-Benz proves it. Labels: C-Class, E-Class, Luxury-Cars, Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-Benz-India, Mercedes-India, S-Class, SLS-AMG
 Have you heard of the new Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG? I bet you wouldn’t have seen a better car from the brand. The SLS AMG from Mercedes will Formula 1’s new safety car. It will be launched on 27th of this month. And, believe it or not, the company has already received 6 confirmed bookings for the global heart-throb in India. Surprised? I too was dumbstruck for a while. The SLS AMG will make its first appearance when the new Formula-1 season begins in Manama/Bahrain, 12-14 March, 2010. This car will be the most stunning and powerful Official F1TM Safety Car of all time. Guaranteeing maximum safety in Formula 1 will be the SLS AMG’s main job. Earlier, in 2008 and 2009, the SL 63 AMG was considered as the Official F1TM Safety Car. However, this year, the car lost its job. The SLS AMG will be replacing the king of high performance cars. The official cars for safety and medical care for the Formula 1 races have been provided by AMG for the past 14 years. As in 2008 and 2009, C 63 AMG Estate will be used as the Official F1TM Medical Car for the coming season as well. However, the new gull-wing model, SLS AMG will replace the SL 63 AMG, the Official F1TM Safety Car of 2008 and 2009. The SLS AMG from Mercedes-Benz has been priced at Rs 2 Crore. With an aluminum spaceframe body and gull-wing doors, the car looks magnificent. AMG 6.3-litre V8 front-mid-engine developing 571 hp peak output, 650 Nm of torque and dry sump lubrication, seven-speed double-declutch transmission in a transaxle configuration, sports suspension with aluminums double wishbones and a kerb weight of 1620 kilograms based on the DIN standard are just a few other noteworthy features of the splendid safety car. So, when do you think the SLS AMG will come into action? Yes, the Official F1TM Safety Car will be positioned to take care of risky situations like accidents or bad weather that may come in the way of normal racing.  The SLS AMG, piloted by Bernd Mayländer from Germany, will be on standby in the pit lane during the entire race. When radioed by Race Control, the former DTM driver and his co-driver, FIA man Pete Tibbetts from the UK will zoom in on the SLS AMG and take to the track at the head of the field. The two amazing drivers in the truly amazing car will guide the Formula-1 race cars safely around the circuit. Formula 1 seems to be in safe hands with the SLS AMG prowling the F1 Race tracks. Labels: F1TM-Safety-Car, Formula 1, Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-Benz-India, Safety-Car, SL-63, SLS-AMG
Monday, 8 February 2010
 India in recent times has weighted against its counterparts in the west by becoming one of the preferred destinations for luxury car makers. We have heard of Aston Martin searching for opportunities to sell its wares in India, and Porsche outselling the quota of Panameras reserved for India, Rolls Royce planning to sell over 60 Ghosts in India and so on. But what actually catches our eye is Mercedes-Benz, one of the first luxury car makers now trying hard to regain its lost numero uno position to BMW. Mercedes-AMG GmbH, commonly known as AMG, which is a subsidiary of the Mercedes-Benz car company specialising in high-performance luxury cars, is betting big on the Indian market. AMG models typically have more aggressive looks, higher performances, better handling and better stability also comes with a much costlier price tag than their regular Mercedes counterparts. As per a report in popular news daily, Mercedes Benz has managed to bag as many as five confirmed bookings for the Rs2. Crore SLS-AMG within days after it was showcased in the 10th Auto Expo held in New Delhi. For those who came in late, Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG was showcased in the Mercedes Benz pavilion under the concept of ‘Pure Fascination” at the Auto Show 2010. This car which is a spiritual successor to the 300L has been developed by AMG, the performance division of Mercedes Benz. Following its world premiere at the International Motor Show in Frankfurt in September 2009, series production of the SLS AMG is now commencing in Sindelfingen, the largest of the Mercedes-Benz production plants. It is to be mentioned that the assembly lines and production facilities in Sindelfingen were brought up to the very latest standards for final assembly of the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG. This is where specially selected, highly qualified specialists produce the gullwing model substantially by hand. Premium quality is not only ensured by continuous monitoring of the ongoing production process. At the end of the production process, the entire vehicle is subjected to further, extensive quality checks. The unrivalled technology package of the SLS is an alluring proposition: aluminum spaceframe body with gullwing doors, AMG 6.3-litre V8 front-mid-engine developing 420 kW (571 hp) peak output, 650 Nm of torque and dry sump lubrication, seven-speed double-declutch transmission in a transaxle configuration, sports suspension with aluminums double wishbones and a kerb weight of 1620 kilograms based on the DIN standard – this superlative combination guarantees driving dynamics of the highest order. With a front/rear weight distribution of 47 to 53 per cent and the vehicle's low centre of gravity, this extraordinary combination guarantees performance figures at the highest level. The gullwing model accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds, and has an electronically limited top speed of 317 km/h. A fuel consumption of 13.2 litres per 100 kilometres (combined) makes it one of the best in the competitive line-up. A heavy emphasis on hand-production is a characteristic feature of the SLS – for the aluminum spaceframe, the engine and during final assembly. The chassis and aluminum bodyshell are produced by Magna Steyr Fahrzeugtechnik GmbH in Graz/Austria. This highly respected system partner is able to look back on many years of cooperation with Daimler, as the Mercedes-Benz G-Class has been in production there since 1979. Innovative joining techniques are used in the lightweight spaceframe of the SLS AMG, which tips the scales at only 241 kilograms. Hand-production is also the order of the day at the AMG engine workshops in Affalterbach, where the 420 kW (571 hp) AMG 6.3-litre V8 power unit is assembled on the ‘one man, one engine’ principle. Labels: 10th-Auto-Expo, Aston-Martin, BMW, Luxury-Car, Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-Benz G-Class, Mercedes-Benz-SLS-AMG, Porsche-Panamera, Rolls-Royce-Ghost
Thursday, 7 January 2010
It seems that Mercedes-Benz is changing its strategy globally. In fact it is trying to hold on to the tried and tested formula of building sports cars which is very much in vogue now. Mercedes-Benz is aiming to challenge the Porsche 911, with its new car design. Engineers and designers at Mercedes-Benz are reportedly working on a new sports car based on the shortened version of the 2010 SLS AMG’s platform which will challenge the Porsche 911 directly. It looks like Mercedes-Benz suddenly got a cue from its old revolutionary design model SLS gull wing. The new sports car from Mercedes-Benz will replicate the 2010 SLS AMG’s platform and aluminium construction minus the trendy gull wing doors. Bringing in the conventional front-hinged door is Mercedes-Benz’s effort to bring down the costs. The power unit in the new sports car will feature AMG’s next generation 5.5 liter V8 engine with direct-injection and turbo charging technologies which delivers a power output of around 500 bhp. This sports car is reportedly fast making 0-60 mph in 4.5 seconds. By the way this new sports car will probably called the SSK AMG and is due to be launched in 2014. Of course, Mercedes-Benz might as well bring in a open-top roadster version for those who would like to feel the fresh air in their hair. Mercedes-Benz while bringing out this sports car is also aiming to make AMG, the in-house tuner of Mercedes-Benz as a separate sports car manufacturer to challenge other smaller rival sports car and super car makers like Pagani and McLaren. Other models in the pipeline include an all-electric SLS AMG due in 2013 and a possible SLS AMG Black Series. Cross your fingers as we assure you that this car will certainly be India by 2014 as we are guessing India by that time would be a resourceful car market for all the luxury car and sports car makers. Labels: AMG, Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-Benz- SSK-AMG, Mercedes-Benz-2010-SLS-AMG, Porsche-911, SLS-AMG-Black-Series
Tuesday, 29 December 2009
With the launch of the GL-Class at the 2010 Delhi Auto Expo, India will add another crossover SUV to its market. The German car maker is pulling out all stops to regain its top position in the luxury car segment in India. A couple of weeks back, we carried a blog on Mercedes-Benz on a dealership opening spree. Introducing the GL-Class is another attempt to regain its lost Paradise. The GL-Class or the GLK is a full-size crossover SUV built by the German car maker since 2006. It made its world debut at the 2006 North American International Auto Show. It can be said that the GLK is designed keeping in mind the demands of the American market. The SUV’s large size attributes to this notion. The Mercedes-Benz GL-Class is likely to be imported as a CBU format and will come with a 110 per cent import duty. Air conditioning with dual-zone climate controls, interior air filter, tilt and telescopic leather-wrapped steering wheel with radio controls, cruise control, heated 8-way power front seats, 6-disc CD changer, outside-temperature indicator and universal garage door opener are some of the standard features of the GLK. Besides, it will have amazing off-roading capacity and will come equipped with an all-wheel-drive system. Though the Mercedes-Benz GL-Class will be launched at the Auto Expo, it will make into the showrooms by the end of 2010. Labels: 2010-Delhi-Auto-Expo, GL-Class, Mercedes-Benz
Thursday, 17 December 2009
 While we were speaking about Mercedes in the earlier blog, we also hit on this story that sounded equally amazing. Hope, you also will be amazed. Green is in and HOW? Just like Mercedes-Benz, its compatriot BMW seems like it had been working very hard to give something clean in return to the nature. We have known that BMW is already working very hard on its new “EfficientDynamics” engineering philosophy which if simplified means cleaner vehicle technology. BMW, in a move to make its cars more eco-friendly has announced that the upcoming 2011 BMW 7-Series luxury car will be available with a twin-turbo-six-cylinder engine in North America. This certainly is a big step ahead for BMW which has always vouched by its big V8 engine for 7-Series. BMW 740i and 740Li of 2011 will be available with BMW’s universally acclaimed straight-six engine that produces 315 horsepower at 5,800rpm and 440Nm of torque at 1,600-4,500rpm. BMW claims the 740i and 740Li will be among the most powerful six-cylinder luxury sedans in the world with this all-aluminium engine doubled with twin-turbos, features high precision direct fuel injection and double-VANOS variable camshaft technology. We guess, like the small cars which is gaining popularity amongst the people, smaller engines also is gaining popularity with the manufacturers of high-end luxury cars in Europe and America. This is in order to reduce fuel consumption and cut back on emissions, while still retaining the drivability that bigger engines offer. Labels: BMW, BMW- 740Li, BMW-7-Series, BMW-740i, Luxury-Car, Mercedes-Benz, Small-Cars
Thursday, 10 December 2009
Mercedes-Benz cars are known for style, sturdy build and reliability. These cars come with safety features with notable exceptions. Mercedes-Benz cars come with six driver and passenger airbags,4-wheel anti-lock braking system, Neck-Pro crash-responsive head restraints, 3-point driver and front passenger shoulder belts including height adjustment, emergency tensioning, adaptive belt force limiter, rear 3-point seat belts, including outboard emergency tensioning, outboard belt force limiter, and outboard automatic height. Compared to Mercedes-Benz’s rival, Audi cars, do not have 4 wheel anti-lock braking system. Moreover, both Audi and BMW cars have head airbags where the Mercedes-Benz cars have airbags and crash-responsive head restraints. It has been found out that head airbags do offer extra protection during crashes by deploying between the head and window, but head restraints are reusable and can be reset after being deployed. Besides, Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) provides extra control and improved safety in difficult braking situations. For the price range it falls into, Mercedes-Benz offers the added value of a unique standard safety feature not offered in other similar C-class sedans, even higher-priced models. When considering C-class sedan style, price, performance, and safety, the Mercedes-Benz provides a safety advantage to drivers and passengers. Labels: Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Safety-Features
Monday, 7 December 2009
Yes, the luxury car maker is on a spree! It’s on a dealership opening spree. Believe it or not it, Mercedes-Benz has been successful in opening three dealerships in just eight hours! Looks like the one-time number one luxury car company in India is trying its level best to affirm its supremacy at the luxury car segment. Ever since its home-town rivals BMW and Audi appeared on Indian car market scene, the three-pointed star stumbled down from its first place as a luxury car giant in India and gave way to BMW to shine. With three new dealerships in India, Pune, Delhi and Mumbai, the luxury car major is geared up with a whole load of initiatives. The car maker will introduce a wide of exciting new models in 2010 in India. The three-pointed star will shine bright in the upcoming 2010 Auto Expo with its new line-up of products. With these three new outlets, Mercedes-Benz now has close to 50 touch points all over India. This will help the three-pointed star's appeal and availability as it gets ready to start flexing its muscles for the first time in it’s over a decade and a half existence in this country. The company recently launched the advanced E-Class diesel BlueEFFICIENCY in India. It sells the C-Class, CL-Class, CLS-Class, E-Class, M-Class, S-Class, SL-Class and SLK-Class in India. Labels: BMW, Luxury-Car-India, Mercedes-Benz
Tuesday, 17 November 2009
 Mercedes-Benz certainly seems to know how to bet on the winning horse. Mercedes have bought a 75.1 percent share in Brawn GP while it sold their 40 percent holdings in McLaren, Brawn's Web site announced on Monday. The current Brawn shareholders retain a 24.9 percent stake in the team. The move means that Brawn will be branded as Mercedes Grand Prix for 2010, whilst the company will still supply engines to McLaren and Force India. Nico Rosberg is expected to be confirmed as a Mercedes driver soon, but there is now much wider discussion on whom world champion Jenson Button will be driving for, with many believing that McLaren is the more favourable option. With two places available between the teams (Rosberg seems a certainty), the drivers linked with the lucrative seats currently include Kimi Raikkonen, Jenson Button, Nick Heidfeld and Timo Glock. There is also the outside possibility that Heikki Kovalainen will remain at McLaren.  Button's current issue with Brawn/Mercedes is his salary, as discussions seem to have stagnated. However, some believe that McLaren is the more likely to be competitive in 2010, which could also be a factor in Button's decision. Kimi Raikkonen will only be in Formula One if he can secure a drive that gives him a car capable of winning. But in return for his services, he wants an awful lot of money, which has put McLaren off signing him straight away. Timo Glock and Nick Heidfeld's nationality could help them in securing a Mercedes drive, although Heidfeld has also been linked to McLaren. Both have seen their former employers leave the sport and are currently without a drive for 2010. Labels: Brawn-GP, Force-India, Formula-One, McLaren-Cars, Mercedes-Benz
German luxury car maker Mercedes-Benz which also is a pioneer in innovations has joined hands with Hughes Telematics, to launch a new feature that will allow owners of its vehicles access to an 18 different services via a nifty telematics system. The new feature which is called “ mbrace”, offers everything from a vehicle locator for crowded car parks, somebody to direct you if you get lost or even the ability to order online, all whilst sitting in the driver’s seat. This feature “ mbrace” is quite similar to Ford’s Sync system and GM’s OnStar which also enables pairing of smart phones like iPhones and BlackBerrys to the car’s electronic interface. Drivers can then use their phones to lock or unlock their cars remotely. Other services include automatic emergency service notification in case the car is stolen or in an accident, a vehicle health check function that goes live to the nearest dealership, real-time weather and traffic reports, and even a concierge service that gets you 24/7 access to a customer-service rep who will help you make dinner reservations, book a hotel or order a flight. The mbrace system is being offered as standard equipment on all Mercedes-Benz models except the GLK, C-Class, SLK and the new E-Class Coupe, where it is being offered as an option. A subscription to the service is free for the six months, after which it will cost $280 a year. An additional $20 per month is needed for the concierge service. What makes mbrace really stand out is that it is fully upgradable, with new applications easily installed as they are developed. Furthermore, most vehicle owners using the current Tele Aid telematics service can also upgrade to mbrace by visiting a Mercedes-Benz dealer. Labels: C-Class, Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-Benz-E-Class
Friday, 13 November 2009
Nothing is stopping this luxury car maker. It was reported that the company is having a dip in sales this year, but Mercedes-Benz still have hope that its world class model cars would never fail to conquer the hearts of the Indian car lovers. And understanding the fact that the company will have to face ups and downs in the business and the success lies in tacking and handling the situation well, Mercedes is ready for the war. And to reinforce its strong will the company has launched a new advanced version of its E-Class sedan in the country. The new E-Class sedan will have a diesel engine.
The diesel E-Class is powered by a 2,987 cc 6-cylinder engine, the new E350 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY would reduce fuel consumption, the company said in a statement.
The company has high hopes on its advanced version of its E-Class sedan. And it is hoping to register impressive growth from next year onwards. Last year, the company had sold 3,625 units in the Indian market. It had launched a special edition of its C-Class sedan in August.
The advanced E-Class with the diesel engine will be available to the customers priced at Rs 48.08 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). Labels: Diesel-Cars, Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-Benz-Cars, Mercedes-Benz-E-Class, New-Car-Launch-In-India
Monday, 5 October 2009
 It looks like German luxury car maker BMW is going for the kill. BMW India, which currently holds the Numero Uno position in the multi-crore Indian luxury car market pushing Mercedes-Benz to an uncomfortable second place, is trying its bit to gain a strong foothold for itself in the competitive Indian Market. BMW India will launch its most awaited car, the Z4 convertible, on October 12 in Mumbai in an attempt to further bolster its presence in the multi-crore Indian luxury car market. This would be the company's third offering in the convertible segment where it also sells the M3 and M6 Convertibles. BMW Z4 will carry a price tag of Rs 50-60 lakh. BMW is hopefull of selling 30-40 units of the car in the first year of its launch. All though details regarding the specification of the car are not yet revealed by BMW India, however sources say that Indian consumers will get the straight 6-cylinder petrol, 258bhp, sDrive 30i. The sDrive 30i can accelerate from 0-100 km/hr in 5.8 seconds with a top speed of 250 km/hr. BMW India, which until the end of last financial year was trailing Dailmer Benz-owned Mercedes in India, has so far this year, gained a comprehensive lead over it. In the five months ended August, BMW sold 1,313 units, a growth of 12.62 per cent over same period last year. In comparison, Mercedes recorded sales of 1,128 units, a fall of 19.02 per cent during the same period. BMW has set a target of selling 3,000 units in the current calendar year, up from 2,908 units sold last year. Labels: BMW-India, BMW-M3, BMW-Z4, German-Luxury-Car-Maker, Mercedes-Benz
Tuesday, 29 September 2009
The new Mercedes SLS AMG is still able to enchant the onlookers the same way it did in 1954, five decades back. The W198 300SL of the past was a crowd snatcher and had pioneered in launching the famous gull wing doors. The history is set to repeat itself. The new Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, which has been unveiled at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, is not a very pretty model like its predecessor though, but the legendry gull wing reminds of the legend, the 300SL. Together with the classy features such as the long bonnet or the oversize front grille, which it has borrowed from the 300SL it also has a LED lights, huge alloy wheels, and extendable rear spoiler. The whole being of the SLS AMG is being inspired from an aircraft. And so, not only the wing-shaped doors but also the interior features and facilities of the car stems from the avionic insights. The most striking factor of the car, its doors, will certainly take your breath away. The doors of the car can be opened at 70 degrees vertically and when opened it looks like a flight that is getting ready to take off. The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG is powered by a naturally aspirated 6.3-litre V8 engine. It also has a 7-speed double clutch gearbox and claims a 0-100 kph time in 3.5 seconds. The car also has a top speed of 313 kilometres per hour. The car with its all aluminium chassis and the weight saving engineering techniques the car weighs only 1620 kg. The interiors are rich with leather, carbofibre, and aluminium and also have eight airbags for additional safety. The car is scheduled to launch in 2010. The expected price of the sedan would be 1.24 crore in the UK. If the car is to be launched in India, it will be having a heavier price tag because of the high import duty. Labels: 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-Benz-W198-300SL, New-Mercedes-SLS-AMG
Friday, 25 September 2009
 “Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of all?” The mirror answers, “Merc E550 (Coupe) is the fairest of them all.” Well, the Mercedes-Benz 2010 E550 Coupe has been voted as the most beautiful of all the E-Class models. The E-Class is the company's bestselling model worldwide. The E-Class model has a poised fascia with sleek and graceful contours. But the Mercedes-Benz 2010 E550 Coupe is exceedingly beautiful. The 2010 E 550 Coupe carries accent lines on the body with roofline arches exquisitely over a pillarless canopy. All these impart a jar dropping drop-dead gorgeous look. Moreover, its not just looks, Mercedes claims this coupe is the most aerodynamically efficient car in the world. The E550 Coupe with a 5.5-liter, 382 bhp V-8 engine can sprint to 100km/h in five seconds only. It has a seven-speed automatic transmission with manual-shift buttons on the steering wheel. This coupe can pass on anything on the road. Moreover, the E550’s cabin conjures a hushed purr at relaxed speed. How does it feel? The steering wheel is like a stitched-leather barbell. The tactile feedback through the seat and floor is one of heavily damped, cold steel structure attenuated through the fine-grain leather. The 2010 E 550 Coupe's interior gets a dose of high-end upholstery which is usually associated with Mercedes' premium AMG-edition models. The Mercedes-Benz E-Coupe is the replacement for the long-lived CLK Coupe and is based on the smaller C-Class chassis. Loaded with new standard features -- pelvic and knee air bags, driver drowsiness sensor, panoramic roof -- and kitted with ample Mercedes luxury, the E-Coupe is fast, athletic and beguiling. The E-Coupe comes in two flavours. The other version is the E350 that comes with a 3.5-liter, 268 bhp V-6 engine and can dash 0-100km/h in 6.2 seconds. Labels: 2010-E550, 2010-E550-Coupe, Aerodynamics, AMG-Edition, C-Class, CLK-Coupe, E-Class, E-Coupe, E350, E550, E550-Coupe, Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-Benz-2010-E550-Coupe
Wednesday, 23 September 2009
 Seems like all the car makers are in a car launching spree in India these days! We all know the reason behind it, right? We, here at Carazoo.com, are there to help make our readers select a car from the wide collection of latest launches. Now we have another luxury car in the market. German car maker Mercedes-Benz India has introduced an all-new version of the 2010 E-Class sedan in India. The new 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class is priced at Rs 46.98 Lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). The new variant of the E-Class can boast a 3.5 litre V-6 petrol engine under its bonnet. The engine can tap 268 bhp at 6000rpm and can deliver a hefty torque of 350 Nm. The twin-trapezoidel headlamps and the uber cool upright grille are borrowed from past cars. Same is the case with the square-out bumpers, flanks and rear view mirrors. The new E-Class is an enormous car with ample of space in the interior. The posh cabin has wood inserts for a classy feel. Moreover, the electric seat adjustments are on the door for easy access. This sedan has been assembled very much in India. The luxury car maker has sold a total of 11,000 units of the existing E-Class in the country till date. Labels: 2010-Mercedes-Benz-E-Class, E-Class, Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-Benz-E-Class, New-2010-Mercedes-Benz E-Class, New-E-Class
Tuesday, 15 September 2009
During this festive season, many new cars will be launched or reintroduced with a makeover in the Indian car market. Festive season is the busiest time for the car makers as they try their level best to woo customers with new cars, attractive discounts and special offers. Coinciding with the festive season is the target of the car makers which they have to meet by year end. To compete with their fellow car manufacturers, the car makers come up with hefty price cuts and revised looks as they apprehend an up in sales during the festive season. This year, there has been a steady growth in sales of cars at 11 per cent with 4.38 Lakh cars sale in the April-July period. This led by a sharp 30 per cent jump in sales in July and carmakers point similar spike in August too. Car sale is anticipated to remain strong for a couple of months. There is a line-up of new car launches and reintroductions coming up in the next few months. We have the Maruti Suzuki O2 that is build on the Versa platform. The car company has already launched the Estilo with a new look and strapped it with the fuel-efficient K-Series engine. Mercedes-Benz will roll out in India the ninth generation of the E-Class after selling over 40,000 units of the car globally since its inception in March this year. In the way same, Porsche will bring in the Panamera in the upcoming months. Mercedes-Benz’s archrival BMW will unleash the convertible roadster Z4 to India next month and the iconic Beetle is all set to for the discovery of India. Chevrolet will lift the curtains for the Cruze in India and Honda will unveil the new variant of its most popular sedan, the City, with alloy wheels, fog lamps besides other high-end accessories. General Motors will also let the Chevrolet Tavera and the Aveo re-enter the Indian car bazaar with refreshing looks. Nissan Motors plans to debut its next generation Teana sedan and the XTrail SUV shortly. Tata Motors is also not lagging behind besides it’s loses with Jaguar Land Rover. The Indian car maker will launch the Indigo Vista with a new heart from its Italian partner Fiat. Labels: Maruti-Suzuki, Mercedes-Benz, Tata-Motors
Friday, 11 September 2009
 The Vision S500 is a Plug-in Hybrid concept car from Mercedes-Benz. This is another car that is going to be displayed at the 63rd Frankfurt Motor Show that will begin next week. The German car maker claims that its S400 Hybrid is currently the most fuel-efficient petrol-engined luxury saloon in the world and that it is a glimpse at the future shape of things to come from the car manufacturer. The Mercedes-Benz Vision S 500 will be the first 3-litre car in the full sized premium class. It can cover 30 km on electric power alone and consumes just 3.2 liters of petrol for every 100 kilometers. This is possible as the engineers at Mercedes-Benz have managed to combine a powerful direct injected 3.5-litre petrol V6, a 60 bhp electric hybrid module and a next generation lithium ion battery pack with more than 10 kWh of storage capacity, which can be recharged at charging stations. The Vision S500 is powerful enough to sprint from 0 to 100km/h in 5.5 seconds and hit a top speed of 250km/h. The Vision S500 is a Plug-in Hybrid is a luxurious and safe car belonging to the next generation S-Class. It offers superior driving performance while eco-friendly compared to car in the same segment. The car will go into production in near future; a tentative date for production has yet to be mentioned by the luxury car company. Mercedes-Benz India sells the S-Class in India and hence we expect the Vision S500 to be India bound. Labels: Concept-Cars, Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-Benz-Vision-S-500, S-Class
Monday, 17 August 2009
 Mercedes-Benz has slipped down from the competition as the going for the brand in India seems tough with BMW already surpassing it as a new market leader in its class. The growing sales of BMW have really put this luxury carmaker into deep thought of how to stand on par with it. Mercedes-Benz has been showing a decline in sales for the past few months while the sales of BMW is shooting high and has a whole range of new cars that will be launched by the company in the next few months. Currently in the number two position, Mercedes-Benz has high hopes set on its upcoming model, W1212 also aptly called as the new E-class which is a ninth generation car. Having had launched a new M-class model in the country this year; the E-Class model is expected to hit the Indian roads by the end of September this year and will share its looks with its predecessor W1210. Both the diesel and petrol variant of the car will be available, but the diesel variant will follow the petrol variant only by the end of the year. And the company really needs to speed up on this as the diesel variants are gaining more popularity than the petrol engine cars. The petrol version of the car will be powered by 3.5 liter 24valve V6 direct injection gas engine delivering a power of 292 bhp. And the diesel version of the car will have a 320CDi engine. As of now, neither the price nor any other specifications of the car is available. Labels: BMW-Cars, Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-Benz-E-Class
Wednesday, 5 August 2009
 It’s just a week since BMW officially bade farewell to the Formula 1 circuit, and now the rumour mill is working overtime with the reports that it would the Mercedes-Benz backed McLaren F1 team which is next in line to say adios to F1. This has been inferred as a result of the ongoing global economic recession and the conflicts encompassing Formula One. Mercedes Benz is yet to confirm its engagement with F1. Honda quit the F1 racing track citing economic recession last year in December followed by BMW last month. Recently, the automakers have questioned the relevance and benefits of competing in F1. Perhaps if relevance is what Mercedes is looking for, it may go back to sports car racing which is increasingly embracing alternative drive trains, particularly in the American Le Mans Series. Mercedes Benz owns 40 per cent of the McLaren team and supplies engines to both McLaren and Brawn. If Mercedes does decide to pull out, it is not clear how that would affect McLaren. McLaren was an F1 stalwart long before Mercedes came on board and could conceivably continue, perhaps using engines from Cosworth. Interestingly, the withdrawal of automakers could take F1 back to the 1970s when most of the teams were independent and aside from Ferrari and Renault most used Cosworth DFV V8 engines. McLaren-Mercedes won several constructors’ world titles over the past years and three drivers’ crowns from Mika Hakkinen (1998, 1999) and Lewis Hamilton (2008). Labels: BMW-Cars, Formula-One, Mercedes-Benz
Monday, 8 June 2009
Ever since their arrival to the Indian car market, German luxury car manufacturers have locked horns with each other to grab a share of the lucrative market. This time, BMW has gone one up in the battle of titans by beating Mercedes-Benz in sales. BMW sold 466 cars compared to Mercedes’ 371 in the month of May. Despite economic recession and slowdown in the auto industry, the market has remained profitable for luxury car manufacturers which have posted handsome sales figures over the past few months. BMW’s surging success can be attributed to lacklustre performance of Mercedes-Benz when it comes to new car launches. Though the latter has introduced renewed and refreshed versions of its top selling car models, no new models have been brought in over the last six months. Compare that with BMW’s four new model launches this year the innovative X6 sports activity coupe, Z4 roadster, and the very expensive upgraded 7 Series. Mercedes-Benz also failed to effectively combat BMW’s innovative marketing strategies like zero percent schemes, loyalty programs, and exchange programs. Though Audi’s car sales aren’t far behind in the race to conquer the Indian car market, BMW and Mercedes-Benz are almost head to head. BMW started off in the lead at the start of the year but then lost out to Mercedes-Benz in subsequent months. After the brief lull, BMW has taken the lead again with astounding sales last month. Labels: BMW-Cars, Car-Sales-India, Luxury-Cars, Mercedes-Benz
Monday, 6 April 2009
There is competition in every segment and we can clearly see the rift between the two luxury car manufacturers from Germany. The two giants of luxury cars, Mercedes-Benz and BMW, are competing very closely to be top in the Indian car industry. Merc, one of the oldest players in the Indian car market is slowly loosing its number one position to its rival BMW. BMW in the first two months of 2009 recorded higher sales than Mercedes. This is said to be the result of the attractive discounts offered by BMW to push the sales. The company stroke a heavy discount on the older version of 3-series with the launch of the new version. Earlier Mercedes was the only luxury car manufacturer to assemble its models locally in India and this offered a competitive price to Indians compared to other luxury models. But now with BMW and Audi who have also started the local production the competition level for Merc went very high. In order to strengthen their position in the Indian car market, the luxury car manufacturers are launching new models and introducing expansion plans. When BMW launched the all new 3-series and 7-series, Merc did not lag behind and introduced the super luxury famed AMG range of cars and also the new M class from the SUV segment. The competition between the car manufacturers is nothing new. It is a part and parcel of life. Every one wants to be the best and are willing to can go to any extend to prove their worth. The competition would be still tougher as Mercedes will fight to retain it number one position in the Indian car market. Labels: Audi, BMW-Cars, luxury car, luxury car manufacturer, Mercedes-Benz
Mumbai streets were more sublime and warm on April 5, 2009. The sunny Sunday when people normally desire to stay within the shelters of their homes because of the prickling heat and humidity had transformed into a sublime Sunday because of the Parx Super Car Show held at Kala Ghoda in Mumbai. The show was an excellent and exhilarating parade of finest sports and luxury car. Infact the key aim of introducing such a kind of event was to bring together all like-minded individuals and car enthusiasts who own and have a passion of cars especially cars that lead admiring glances and envious stares. The event was flagged by former Formula One driver Narain Karthikeyan. The Managing Director of Raymond Mr Gautam led the entourage of supercars in his Lamborghini Gallardo. Other participating cars in the show were from top brands like AMG, Audi, Bentley, BMW, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Mercedes, Porsche, and Rolls Royce. And all these were driven from Kala Ghoda to Siddhi Vinayak Temple and back through Walkeshwar and Breach Candy. For the onlookers the parade of the most scintillating and impressive cars was the most spectacular sight. Organized by Autocar India and Bellset, the Parx Supercar Show is expected to travel to other cities including Delhi and Bangalore. Labels: AMG-Cars, Audi, Bentley, BMW-Cars, Ferrari, Formula-One, Lamborghini, Mercedes-Benz, Narain-Karthikeyan, Porsche, Rolls-Royce-Cars, Super-Car-Show
Friday, 13 March 2009
For all those who rejoice a joyful ride in stylish and powerful SUVs, Mercedes-Benz has launched a new M-Class in India. The new Mercedes-Benz M-Class delivers a perfect symphony of elegant styling, best-in-class performance, enhanced safety, and engineering excellence. Do you know when was the first M-Class introduced? It was launched in 1997 in U.S and after it received an overwhelming response there it was brought to India. Mercedes took 10 years to bring this powerful to India but when it was actually launched it carved its own niche. 
Now the car manufacturer has launched a new M-Class to deliver more to its valued customers. The new car features a 7 speed 7G-TRONIC automatic transmission for improved performance and handling and 4MATIC permanent all-wheel drive system with a start-off assist & a Downhill Speed Regulation (DSR). Moreover, the 19 inch alloy wheels enhance the visual appeal of the car and the luxurious interior exudes warmth and elegance. It is elegantly designed with a host of technologies to mark a significant milestone in the history of M-Class. Labels: Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-Benz-M-Class, New-Car-Launch, New-M-Class
Wednesday, 4 March 2009
Force India unveils its last car ‘VJM02’ for the 2009 season. The car has given bright shades of orange and green to reflect the Indian connection and team energy. It is embalmed with extra logos. This season Force India cars will use McLaren and Mercedes-Benz engines instead of the Ferrari engine. The VJM02 also gets a McLaren-Mercedes engine, gearbox, and kinetic energy recovery. The team drivers Giancarlo Fisichella and Adrian Sutil test drive the car during the launch followed by a press conference for sharing their views. Motivated, excited and not to forget the vibrant Vijay Mallya (the team boss) made key changes to the team for this season to boost up the Force India to score regular points in 2009. The team had failed to come into the top eight last year. Let’s hope this year we get to see our Force India team celebrating the victory with a Champaign and a trophy. Labels: Force-India, Mercedes-Benz, New-Car-Launch
Wednesday, 11 February 2009
BMW and Mercedes-Benz are competing with each other to conquer the Indian car market. Though both the car manufacturers hold the same position and brand image in the country, Mercedes-Benz has outshined BMW in terms of car sales. Surprisingly, the sales figure of Mercedes-Benz saw a positive growth even in the time of financial meltdown in 2008. All Mercedes cars including the E-Class, C-Class, SLK-Class, and the recently launched high-performance AMG cars have winning characteristics that has taken the brand name to the top position. Comparatively, even the new BMW cars like the 3-Series and 7-Series have set new benchmarks in the industry. Then why the sales figure of Mercedes is high? Is it the brand name or the competitive bar posed by performance, luxury, fuel efficiency, and ride quality making the rivalry more strong? BMW also has no clue for the reason of low sales report. But still the company aims to climb higher and take over its biggest rival Mercedes-Benz. BMW is gradually expanding its roots on the Indian soil to plant the seed of success in the country. After the launch of new 3-Series and 7-Series, BMW has even planned a slew of launches in near future which include the models Z4 and X6. It is also. It seems that the competition between the two car giants is aggressively building and it is yet to see who will dominate the promising Indian car industry in future. Labels: BMW-Cars, Indian-car-industry, Mercedes-Benz
Wednesday, 4 February 2009
The Sportback concept unveiled by Audi at the Detroit Auto Show 2009 in January is the true personification of its vision for future car models and a glimpse of its new design vocabulary. The technology epitomises a pure combination of elegance, sportiness, and variability. It is a perfect example of company's stern determination to push design and technology beyond all limits. The new innovative concept will be seen in the soon-to-arrive Audi A7. This four-door coupe is to ride with world's cleanest diesel technology, the 3.0-litre V6 TDI which meets all the emissions norms of 50 U.S. states and also the EU6 standard that is scheduled to be effective by 2014. Audi has taken all possible measures to ensure an impressive fuel efficiency of 16.9 km/l. The car carrying this new concept is also not lacking behind in terms of appeal. Sporting elegance of the coupe is reflected by a flowing silhouette, dramatic lines, frameless doors, and impressive roofline. In the car's interior, sophisticated technologies and futuristic features augment the car's sporting intentions and versatility. With all these, the Sportback concept car (Audi A7) is speculated to take on Porsche Panamera and Mercedes-Benz CLS. Labels: Audi-Cars, Auto-Shows, Mercedes-Benz
Monday, 2 February 2009
Current challenges in the car industry due to growing mobility requirements, stringent emission norms, and declining crude oil are gradually making the green cars a focus of public attention. Thankfully, major advancements and innovations have given birth to fuel-efficient engines, hybrid cars, and battery-electric drive systems and options of alternative fuels like CNG, LPG, Hydrogen and biofuels. These can be an answer to future needs to sustain mobility. The fascinating BlueZERO concept is a trio of green concepts designed by Mercedes-Benz with an aim to overcome challenges and meet new market needs. It displays three unique and interesting concept cars. The sandwich floor design used in these cars makes them even more attractive and inspiring. Sandwich design is a unique and impressive architecture that sandwiches the drivetrain partly in front and partly underneath the passenger compartment in a sloping position. This is done to ensure improved safety, better packaging, and optimized usage of space. Interestingly, the first concept of the trio houses a liquid-cooled high-voltage lithium-ion battery that powers an electric motor linked to the front wheels. This powerful battery runs to about 200km in a single charge and can reach a top speed of 150 km/h without expelling any amount carbon dioxide. The second concept accommodates a new generation fuel cell which generates a peak power output of 121 bhp in association with the hydrogen tank and a high voltage battery. The most interesting part of the concept is that during slow speed manoeuvres energy is used exclusively from the battery and while accelerating, the energy is drawn from both the battery and the fuel cell. The final concept holds a conventional 67 bhp turbo-charged petrol engine as well as a petrol tank. This works as a hybrid car that provides a maximum range of 600km on a tank full of petrol. With the battery power, the car can run up to 100 km in one charge. With unique architecture, engine technologies, and efficient drive systems, the Mercedes-Benz BlueZERO concept is speculated to become the future of mobility which will definitely reshape the car industry. Labels: Concept-Cars, Hybrid-Car, Mercedes-Benz
Thursday, 29 January 2009
At the time when Mercedes-Benz and McLaren were nearing the end of the SLR exotic car range, Mercedes announced a final-run edition dedicated to the legendary British racer Sir Sterling Moss. And excitingly it is the second devoted to Moss, the first being the Stirling Moss 722. Stirling Moss is considered to be the most unfortunate driver of the Formula One race. This is because he never won any championship but is arguably the greatest all-round racing driver of all time. Mercedes-Benz and McLaren are now delightfully adding a new car named as SLR Stirling Moss to the SLR supercar range. The new car has no similarity in style and look with the SLR range. Unlike them, the new SLR has no roof or windscreen protecting the occupants and also carries two deflectors that provide some sort of protection to the car passengers. It is developed using sophisticated technology and designed with a legendary style. The SLR Stirling Moss is powered by a powerful V8 supercharged engine that generates 650 bhp. The top speed reaches 350 km/h and makes it one of the world's fastest open top cars. Production is limited to 75 cars and is scheduled to end by mid 2009. Labels: Formula-One-Race, Mercedes-Benz
Friday, 9 January 2009
AMG is known as the performance brand of Mercedes-Benz. These high power and super-efficient cars are tuned Mercedes cars that define the brand image of the company. Recently, Mercedes has introduced a bunch of AMG cars in India to satisfy the luxurious needs and demands of Indian car buyers. AMG cars have carved their own niche in the global car market. And the best part of these high-end super-luxurious and powerful cars is that every engine is assembled by just one engineer. That's the company's philosophy, 'One Man-One Engine'. With the increasing number of cars in the market, Mercedes also plans to establish more AMG centres across the world to provide their easy availability for its customers. As the cars are unique so would be the centres. Each AMG centre is known to be designed with distinctive surrounding that will reflect the powerful characteristics of AMG cars. About 175 centres are to be established with high quality materials, exclusive furnishings, and an assortment of colours. Labels: AMG-Cars, Car-Market, Mercedes-Benz
Thursday, 8 January 2009
It's incredible that cars would now be made of coconut. Researchers at Baylor University have introduced a innovative way to transform coconut husk into automotive interiors. Researchers believe that the coconut husk can be used to design the trunk liners, floor boards, and car door interior covers replacing the synthetic polyester fibres. Most of the people will wonder that why only coconuts were selected among a long list of plants grown across the world. But the leading researcher, Walter Bradley, has the answer. He says that coconuts has been picked up from the long list because it is grown in abundance. And about 96% of the total coconut production is taken over by poor farmers who don't even manage to earn their basic living requirements with this plantation. The idea to utilize coconut fire to build automotive interiors will create a viable new market for these poor farmers along with making the cars more environment friendly. In addition, coconuts having better mechanical properties not only preserves natural resources but are also cost effective and comparatively reduces a car weight. Adding to the green concept, coconut do not emit toxic fumes and are thus light on environment. Though this concept is new for the Indian car industry, in the global car market Mercedes-Benz is know to be the first to use natural fibre in cars. The exterior of Mercedes-Benz A-Class Coupé is manufactured using the abaca banana plant replacing the traditional glass fibre. Labels: Car-Market, Indian-car-industry, Mercedes-Benz
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We all know how privileged the Mercedes buyers are and Mercedes Benz India is trying to prove that. Yes Mercedes Benz India has conceptualised a special extravaganza to highlight the safety features, and engineering technology that all its cars are so famous for. The programme also presents an opportunity to prospective buyers and customers to learn critical road safety skills in a safe and controlled environment.
