Mercedes-Benz might have lost market share to BMW and Audi, but the Stuttgart based automobile company is still the leader in the high-end luxury car segment, with its flagship S-Class. We have already informed our readers about Mercedes-Benz’ upcoming launches in a scoop story last year and the company has just confirmed the same to us on the sidelines of the launch of Mercedes-Benz Performance Drive in India. Mercedes-Benz’ strategy to tackle its German peers is simple, product blitzkrieg.
The first vehicle to be launched by Mercedes-Benz will be the updated G-Class on 19th February, 2013. The G63 AMG will replace the G55 AMG but Mercedes has no plans to bring in the G65 AMG. The G63 AMG uses a 5.5-litre twin-turbo V8 to produce 536 HP and 760 Nm. The company will launch the new GL-Class in June, which will initially be a CBU. By the end of the year, Mercedes will start local assembly via the SKD route. The updated GL-Class sports Mercedes’ new design language and has been spotted on test in Pune already.
Mercedes-Benz’ will try to claw back market share from its fellow German rivals with the launch of the B-Class diesel and A-Class. The launch of both these vehicles will take place in June 2013. Both cars are based on the MFA platform and the A-Class will be offered with both diesel and petrol engines since the day of launch. Local assembly of the A-Class and B-Class will take place in India, resulting in aggressive pricing of these hatchbacks. The CLA compact sedan will be launched in 2014 and Mercedes is planning to offer AMG variants of it.
The updated E-Class is set for a launch in the second half of the year, while the next generation C-Class and S-Class will arrive on our shores next year. The GLA compact SUV will also arrive next year while work has already commenced on the MLC (BMW X6 rival), which was spotted with heavy camouflage in Europe recently. The current generation GLK is available in left-hand drive configuration only but the next generation GLK, due in 2015 will be available in right-hand drive and is set for an India entry.
