The Mercedes E400 Cabriolet and the CLS 250 CDI are targeted at those who want to make a statement without having to compromise on practicality.
Bringing the fourth and fifth of 15 models as part of the 15 in ’15 strategy, Mercedes-Benz India has officially launched the E400 Cabriolet and the 2015 CLS facelift diesel in the country priced at Rs. 78.5 lakhs and Rs. 76.5 lakhs respectively (all prices, ex-showroom Delhi). While both the models are striking opposites of each other, they are targeted at a similar demographic that seeks to stand out from the crowd whilst craving for power, performance, oodles of style and a hint of practicality in a compelling package.
Starting with the 2015 Mercedes E400 Cabriolet, the model is essentially an open-top version of the E-Class and also shares its styling traits with the executive luxury sedan. The E400 gets an aggressive new bumper with larger air intakes, split grille and LED DRL equipped headlights while things are extremely subtle at the rear, save for the marginal reduction in boot space to accommodate the soft top. The E400 comes as a CBU in the country, like the outgoing version making it a tad bit expensive over the four-door sedan.
In terms of power, Mercedes is offering the E400 Cabriolet only with the 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine under its hood that is tuned to produce 333 HP and 480 Nm of torque, paired to the 7G automatic transmission with paddle shifters. In terms of performance figures, the E400 is easily the driver’s delight with the 0-100 km/hr dash coming up in 5.3 seconds while the top speed is an electronically limited 250 km/hr. You also get a host of driver aids and safety features on the E400 that are standard across most Mercedes models while the weight has seen a marginal increase due to the absence of a hard roof.
The second launch for the day is the absolutely stunning 2015 Mercedes CLS four-door coupe facelift that offers exquisite styling with loads of subtlety. The visually striking design is played up by the bold front fascia updated with the new diamond grille, optional Multibeam LED headlights (regular LEDs are standard) and enhanced by the sloping roofline that meets the petal shaped LED tail lights at the rear. In addition to its elegant external presence, the cabin of the CLS facelift gets updated with a new 3-spoke steering wheel, an 8-inch display unit and a more clutter free centre console. There is also the Harman Kardon Logic 14-speakers unit with a custom tuned 610-watt Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound system on offer along with ambient lighting and a variety of grades of leather to upholster the seats.
In terms of power, the 2015 Mercedes CLS 250 CDI uses a smaller and more efficient 2.2-litre diesel engine under the hood and is tuned to produce 201 HP of power and 500 Nm of torque, paired to the 7G-Tronic Plus automatic transmission. The four-door coupe also comes with start-stop system, cruise control, braking intervention, attention assist, air suspension and a lot more to keep the ride comfortable and safe at all times. Competing against the BMW 6-Series four-door coupe and the Audi A7 in the segment, the CLS is positioned between the E-Class and the S-Class in Mercedes’ lineup and offers oodles of style for those who like to flaunt, while the diesel engine will also help win volumes on the new model.
