The 2018 Mercedes S-Class has been unveiled in India to keep the luxury brand’s promise of introducing BS6-compliant vehicles before the 2020 deadline.
Looking forward to a greener future with more efficient cars and cleaner air, India’s automotive segment will graduate to BS6 emission norms two years from now. Mercedes-Benz, the leading luxury car maker in the country, had promised to launch BS6-compliant vehicles ahead of the deadline provided they receive proper support from our agencies. With more than two years to go for the April 2020 deadline, the German giant has unveiled the 2018 Mercedes-Benz S-Class which gets the crown of the first-ever BS6-compliant vehicle to be assembled in India.
Making its global debut at the 2017 Shanghai Auto Show last year, the 2018 S-Class has been spotted on Indian soil as well with emission testing apparatus. It comes as a facelift to the sixth generation S-Class that was introduced four years back in India. BS6 motors in the new S-Class are compatible with BS4 fuel and produce around 82% lesser particulate matter while emitting 68% lesser Nitrogen Oxide. The two upcoming models, S350d and Maybach S560, will be assembled at the brand’s Chakan facility and will be showcased at the 2018 Auto Expo.
BS6 norms are much more stringent and compatibility testing includes RDE (Real World Driving Emission) data, PM (Particulate Matter) number and engine power test. Coming to the car, the 2018 Mercedes-Benz S-Class gets revised exteriors and interiors along with an updated set of engines. Exterior changes are minute and consist of redesigned bumpers, headlights and tail lamps apart from new alloy wheels and front grill. The overall shape and several cuts and creases on the bodyline remain unchanged.
Changes are more prominent inside the cabin as the car now gets a new steering wheel with more functions and two 12.3-inch colour displays adorning the cabin to serve up as windows for COMAND infotainment and to view the car’s various parameters. Apart from new seats with Fragrance function, touch controls and a rotary controller can also be seen on the centre console. Under the hood, it gets new 3.0-litre, 6-cylinder petrol and diesel engines which come mated to a 9-speed automatic gearbox. There’s also a top-of-the-line 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 that develops 463 BHP of power and 700 Nm of torque.
In the global markets, the S-Class also gets a host of radar-based sensors to support autonomous driving but it remains to be seen what features make their way to the manufacturer’s India-spec flagship sedan. The Mercedes-Benz S-Class remains the pick of many luxury car buyers due to its brand value and image. It goes against the likes of the BMW 7-series, Audi A8 and Lexus LS 500h.
2018 Mercedes S-Class
– India-made 2018 S-Class showcased, first BS6 compliant car to be assembled in India
– Gets BS6-compliant V6 engines that are also compatible with BS4 fuel
– Rivals the BMW 7-Series and Audi A8 primarily
