Mercedes-Benz has launched the new 2012 M-Class in India. We are at the launch right now and will update you with more details in the a short time. Mercedes-Benz says that it grew by 30% in 2011 and sold 7430 units. The company has 70 outlets in 31 cities which is the most amongst premium brands. The German automaker says it plans to bring the A-Class to India in the near future. The company is bringing in the Mercedes M-Class through the CKD route, while the AMG kitted models are brought in as CBUs. Mercedes-Benz has given fuel efficiency high priority and has fitted the new M-Class with low resistance tyres, electric power steering and a start-stop system.
The new Mercedes-Benz M-Class is now in it third generation and is longer and wider than its predecessor. The company has sold 1500 units in India till date. The Mercedes M-Class is powered by a 3.0-litre diesel engine which produces 258 PS of peak power output at 3600 RPM and 620 Nm of peak torque output between 1600-2400 RPM. The engine is mated to a new 7-speed 7G-Tronic gearbox and the ML350 CDI reaches from 0-100 km/h in just 7.4 seconds, while top speed is 224 km/h.
The M-Class SUV features ECO start stop function, Attention Assist, Active Parking Assist, Airmatic Air Suspension, 9 airbags, intelligent light system, speed limit assist, blind spot assist, lane keep assist, night view assist plus with person recognition, distronic plus adaptive cruise control, autonomous braking, ABS, ESP, electronic TCS, designo leather interiors, easy pack tail gate with mini spare wheel and has received EURO NCAP 5 star rating. The M-Class is offered in two variants – a normal variant priced at Rs. 56.9 lakhs (available from July) and an AMG variant (with 20-inch AMG alloy wheels and AMG body kit) priced at Rs. 66 lakhs (all prices ex-showroom, Delhi). The AMG variant is limited to 100 units.
Pictures shot by Devinder Singh Bagga.
