Mercedes-Benz Cars May Hike Price from May 2011

Mercedes-Benz India today indicated that prices of all its models will be revised upwards effective 1st May 2011.

"The rising input costs and challenging exchange rates as well as inflationary impacts are areas that have a bearing on the cost of the final product.

We have absorbed these to a significant level but moving forward we will have to pass on some portion of this impact to the customer.

The prices of all Mercedes-Benz models will be revised upwards effective 1st May 2011 for the Indian market." commented Peter Honegg, Managing Director and CEO of Mercedes-Benz India.

Source: Mercedes-Benz India

Mercedes-Benz India Sales Up by 89% in March 2011

Continuing its high octane growth story in the country, Mercedes-Benz India announced its best ever First Quarter sales performance with a whopping 2135 units. This remarkable performance translates into an impressive growth of 67% over the corresponding period last year (Jan-March 2010: 1282 units).

This growth was enabled by a stellar 150% year-on-year growth witnessed by the C-Class with 983 units (Jan-March 2010: 393 units), followed closely by the segment leading E-Class with 789 units, registering a year-on-year growth of 19% (Jan-Mar 2010: 661 units).

March 2011 provided a strong lever to Mercedes-Benz India’s quarterly results whereby the company netted total sales of 833 units making it the best ever month in the company history. The excellent growth performance for March 2011 was driven by the C-Class which with 356 units registering close to 300% growth over last year (March 2010: 90 units) while the E-Class recorded a strong sale of 307 units (March 2010: 255 units).

Reiterating the brand’s growing popularity in the SUV segment, the M-Class sold 104 units in March 2011(Mar 2010: 20 units). The M-Class “Grand Edition” with its aggressive looks, astounding performance and an aggressive pricing clocked the 3 digit sales number for the first time and earned the distinction of being the highest selling SUV (in its segment).

Peter T Honegg, Managing Director & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India commented, “Our recent introductions like the ultra premium Maybach, the iconic off-roader G55 AMG, the SLS AMG and the uber-luxurious E-Cabriolet among others, represent the sophisticated, sporty, and passionate DNA of brand Mercedes-Benz which are also reflected across our product offerings. The fascinating products, exciting design and aggressive performance of our products continue to enthrall our young customers and automobile aficionados… our sales numbers reflect this appreciation of our customers. ”

Source: Mercedes-Benz India

Mercedes-Benz India Celebrates 125th Anniversary with "Star Drive"

Continuing its 125th anniversary celebrations, Mercedes-Benz India today presented its power packed AMG lineup at the star drive. The drive featured some of the most exotic machines from the Mercedes-Benz stable including the C 63 AMG, the SL 63 AMG and the recently introduced iconic off-roader- the G 55 AMG. The show stopper at the drive was indeed the SLS AMG that captured everyone’s attention. Also debuting at the drive was the E 63 AMG, a car that impressed fans and enthusiasts alike with its superlative performance.

This unique driving experience was designed to display the prowess and the agility of the AMG range. It also gave the participants a rare opportunity to experience the AMG brand and understand why AMG’s are one of the most sought after machines in the world. Besides, the participants were also briefed on the key safety features of the cars, as also the cutting edge technology that makes the AMG’s a class apart.

Speaking on the occasion Peter T Honegg, MD & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India said “This has been a fantastic opportunity for customers and passionate motoring enthusiasts to experience the AMG brand first hand. This unique drive with the high performance AMGs continues our 125 years celebration.”

The AMG cars are some of the fastest production machines in the world bearing an aggressive rac-ing DNA that has always won applause from motoring enthusiasts. Each AMG engine is hand-crafted by one single engineer in line with the AMG philosophy of “one man- one engine”.

The SLS AMG one of the most beautiful and highly acclaimed cars features a 6.2 litre V8 engine producing a power of 571hp@6800rpm and torque of 600Nm@4750rpm.

The E63 AMG which made its first appearance in India at the Star Drive today, features a 6.2 litre V8 mill that produces 525hp@6800rpm along with a torque of 630Nm@5200 rpm. The E 63AMG is by far one of the most distinguished and sporty sedans available in the country. Bearing the tag-line of the ‘most iconic off-roader’, the G55 AMG with its 5.4 litre V8 engine surprises with its nippy acceleration and off-roading abilities. The SL 63 AMG, also one of the most exquisite cars in the country has always garnered fame for its raw power delivery with its aggressive V8 engine. The C63 AMG on the other hand with its naturally aspirated V8 engine delivers unrivalled per-formance in its class.

Mr. Debashish Mitra, Director Sales & Marketing, Mercedes-Benz India said “The Star Drive with our AMG range of cars has received tremendous response. It is a testament to the overwhelming admiration the AMG lineup has garnered over the years from its fans globally and in India. The enthusiasm for these cars has steadily increased and people are now aware of not just what per-formance these cars deliver but also the technology under the hood of each of these exquisite ma-chines.”

Source: Mercedes-Benz India

Mercedes-Benz G-Class SUV Launched in India; Price Tag of Rs 1.10-crore

German luxury car-maker,Mercedes-Benz, rolled-out its G-class sports utilityvehicle (SUV), G 55 AMG in the domestic market at a price tag of Rs 1.10-crore (ex-showroom Mumbai).

The company said that 20 bookings have already been madeby Indian customers, with the first vehicle expected to bedelivered to the domestic buyer by this month-end.

"Globally, we have sold around 2-lakh units of theG-class till date. At an aggressive price point of Rs1.10-crore, the iconic G-Class has received significantinterest from customers who want the highest capabilities fromtheir luxury SUVs," Mercedes-Benz India''s Director Sales andMarketing, Debashis Mitra, told reporters here today.

Dubbed as the fastest SUV in India, G 55 AMG sports thelargest engine and can reach 0-100 kph in just 5.5 seconds.

Source: news.oneindia.in

Mercedes-Benz India Launched Super-Luxury Car Iconic Maybach

Mercedes-Benz today celebrated its 125th anniversary and invention of the first automobile by its founders Karl Benz and Gottlieb Daimler by raising the bar of luxury motoring yet again, in India. Today it launched the iconic “Maybach” brand in two top of the line variants - Maybach 57 S & Maybach 62. The Maybach – symbolized by the double M in the curved triangle is considered to be the pinnacle of automotive engineering, technical excellence and timeless elegance and is a culmination of the company’s expertise in automotive development spanning 125 years.

Peter Honegg, Managing Director and CEO of Mercedes-Benz India said: “Designed with meticulous attention to detail, built in a state-of-the-art manufacturing factory and kitted out with 21st-century automotive technology, the Maybach 62 and Maybach 57 S are writing the next chapter in the history. These, along with Mercedes-Benz models made some of the finest examples of automotive excellence, worldwide. We are happy to offer this epitome of automotive excellence for the discerning Indian customer.”

The Maybach exhibits the dynamic and passionate genes of the Mercedes-Benz brand, clearly manifested from the very first glimpse. Its esteemed profile is emphasized by technological precision and intelligently conceived details. The LED daytime driving lights integrated in the front bumper coalesce striking aesthetics with enhanced safety, while the sporty design of the new-look 20-inch wheels alludes to the car‘s invigorating power and performance. The charismatic lower body is reinforced by the horizontally divided front bumpers and the wide stance of the car. These elite touches combined with the dual tone paint-job create an outstandingly sophisticated finish that has been meticulously designed, right down to the last detail.

The Maybach represents the quintessence of automotive luxury with its lavish and palatial interiors. The rear compartment provides a level of seating comfort that is unparalleled within the high-end luxury car segment. Finest leather in subtly elegant shades combined with the Alcantara roof lining and the warm hues of the wood trim elements evoke a feeling of wellbeing and calm. Master craftsmen realize even the most lavish of requests, and a remarkable selection of optional extras is available to suit the most discerning of tastes. The luxurious interiors immerse one in comfortable cocoon cushioning from the chaotic pace of the world.

Distinctive Lineage: The Mercedes-Benz and Maybach automotive brands have much in common besides a long and distinguished tradition. Wilhelm Maybach (1846-1929), a long-time associate of Gottlieb Daimler (1834-1900), held the post of technical director at Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft (DMG) and was the brains behind the construction of the first Mercedes, the template for all modern-day passenger cars, in 1901. For this reason, Maybach was much admired and known as the "king of the design engineers".

In 1907 Wilhelm Maybach - who took his place in the European Automotive Hall of Fame in Geneva in March 2004 - left DMG, joining forces with his son Karl in 1909 to build powerful engines for the airships produced by Graf Ferdinand von Zeppelin. In the years after 1919 Karl Maybach (1879-1960) - by then based in Friedrichshafen on the shores of Lake Constance - made quite a name for himself through the development and construction of exclusive and technically flawless luxury cars. By 1941, Karl Maybach had built around 1800 of these high-class vehicles, with the bodies painstakingly designed and equipped by specialist firms according to the customers' specifications.

The flagship Maybach model was the DS 8 “Zeppelin” of 1931. At some 5.5 metres in length, the “Zeppelin” ranked as one of the most prestigious German cars of its time “a car of the greatest elegance and power which you would give your last wish to own,” as a Maybach brochure put it.

Source: Mercedes-Benz India