Mercedes-Benz redefines Luxury Touring in India

Mercedes-Benz continues to aggressively pursue its strong growth strategy in 2015 with the launch of its third product of the year, the all new B-Class. The launch of the new B-Class is intrinsic to Mercedes-Benz India’s ‘15 in 15’ product strategy, which is aimed at providing fascinating products and services to customers. The new B-Class was launched by Eberhard Kern, Managing Director & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India in Mumbai, today. The new B-Class, launched in the petrol and the diesel variants – B 180 Sport and B 200 CDI Sport, is available for sale at Mercedes-Benz dealerships across India.

The new B-Class has an attractive and dynamic design idiom which is accentuated by LED High Performance headlamps. The only luxury tourer in India features exterior and interior enhancements over the previous model and offers great overall product experience. The new B-Class luxury tourer is the perfect combination of sporty design, impressive driving dynamics, pure practicality and unmatched safety levels making it a valuable proposition for young families.

Eberhard Kern, Managing Director & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India said, “Mercedes-Benz pioneered luxury touring in India with the B-Class and this paved the way for our success in the segment. The new B-Class provides an unmatched value for young families, at the same time accentuating sportiness and driving dynamics which leads to the car’s unmatched popularity in India. Whether manoeuvring through city streets or driving down the highway, the perfectly matched stylish design and comfort features of the new B-Class exude self-assurance and individuality. Apart from the new B-Class, today we are also introducing our popular A-Class with a new diesel engine which provides more power and superior performance to the customers. In addition the A-Class also features an India specific suspension that enhances driving comfort manifold. These launches reiterate our continued endeavour in providing the maximum value to our discerning customers. ”

Mercedes-Benz India also introduced the A-Class Model Year 2015 featuring a new powerful diesel engine offering more power and performance for the customers. The A-Class is now available in A 180 SPORT and A 200 CDI SPORT variants, both of which now feature a panoramic sunroof as standard, offering even more luxury to customers. The enhanced new A 200 CDI Sport produces an impressive 100 kW (136 hp) of power at 3600-4400 rpm and a torque of 300 Nm at 1600-3000 rpm. The new A-Class ensures an enhanced and comfortable ride quality as it now features an India specific suspension developed specifically for the Indian roads conditions. The MY 15 A-Class now features stylish 40.6 cms (R16) 5 twin spoke light alloy wheels. Additionally, seat comfort package featuring electrically adjusted lumbar support for passenger seat, a matrix look trim, beltline trim strip in chrome, sport seats with ARTICO Messancy fabric and a contrasting top stitching will enhance the luxury quotient to the MY ’15 A-Class.

“Our A-Class and B-Class compact cars have been a proven success story and have captured the imagination of the young and affluent Indians. The New Generation Cars continue to play a significant role in our product strategy and we are confident of winning new customer groups for the brand. Mercedes-Benz’s aggressive product offensive in sync with our ’15 in 15’ approach will continue throughout the year with exciting launches across the portfolio, keeping the customers fascinated with the brand.” Mr. Kern further added.

The new B 180 SPORT is priced at Rs. 27.95 lakhs, and the new B 200 CDI SPORT is priced at Rs. 28.95 lakhs (prices ex-showroom Mumbai) and available for sales in dealerships across the country.

The A 180 SPORT is priced at Rs. 25.95 lakhs and A 200 CDI SPORT is priced at Rs. 26.95 lakhs (price ex-showroom Mumbai) and available for sales in dealerships across the country.

The New B-Class

Exterior

Mercedes-Benz MD CEO Eberhard Kern at the launch of the New B-Class in MThe easiest way to recognise the new B-Class is from the front: a new bumper, wide radiator trim with two louvres and now integral daytime running lamps in the headlamps give the vehicle a more organic and dynamic appearance. The rear bumper has also been modified and now features a contoured covering and an additional chrome trim strip.

In addition to the striking look, the LED High Performance headlamps provide more safety at night due to wide light distribution. Thanks to the LED technology used in the low-beam and main-beam headlamps, the road is illuminated for better visibility in the night. The tail lights also feature LED technology and create a visual highlight at the rear while improving visibility. The luminosity of the brake lights varies depending on the light conditions so as to avoid dazzling other road users.

Interior

A high-grade, functional interior underscores the B-Class’s premium quality claim. The facelift gives the vehicle a more exclusive, up-to-date feel. The new B-Class comes with stylishly coordinated combination of high-quality appointments and materials. The multifunction steering wheel features a 3-spoke design with shift paddles.

The interior for the new B-Class adds individuality that gives the vehicle a self-assured, distinctive character. The new B-Class seats feature comfortable upholstery and ergonomic contours. Attractive seats covered in full ARTICO leather, exude a sense of modernity. Seats in the rear comes with 60/40 splits which allows more storage space (488 to 1547 litres). The cockpit with its futuristic look and high-class appeal provides the ideal conditions for pure, unadulterated driving pleasure in the new B-Class.

Engines, Transmission and Suspension

The 4-cylinder B 180 petrol engine boasts direct injection via piezo injectors and a turbocharger. The 4-cylinder powerplant with a displacement of 1.6 litres, direct petrol injection, variable valve timing and a turbocharger offers excellent torque and power and exemplary quiet-running characteristics, not to mention appropriately low fuel consumption and emissions. And last but not least the petrol engine has the ECO start/ stop function and ECO display fitted as standard. Both help the driver to reduce consumption even further.

The petrol engine has an impressive fuel efficiency of 14.8 kmpl (under standard conditions); at the same time it delivers a remarkable power of 90 kW (122 hp) at 5000 rpm with a maximum torque of 200 Nm between 1250-4000 rpm. It accelerates from 0 to 100 kmph in 9.1 seconds with top speed of 200 kmph.

The 4-cylinder 200 CDI diesel engine combines high levels of torque with low fuel consumption and reduced emissions. The engine is installed transversely in the vehicle. The single-stage turbocharger ensures a high power and high torque output at low engine speeds. The VTG turbocharger’s electrical adjustment ensures fast, precise charge-pressure control. The charge-air ducting has been designed to minimise pressure loss and noise.

The engine produces 100 kW (136 hp) at 3600-4400 rpm with a maximum torque of 300 Nm between 1600-3000 rpm. It accelerates from 0 to 100 kmph in 9.8 seconds with a top speed of 210 kmph while still offering an impressive fuel efficiency of 19.7 kmpl (under standard conditions).

The 7G-DCT Dual Clutch Transmission consisting of two sub-transmissions provides faster bursts of speed on tap. The two sub-transmissions come with their own clutch, with three shift programmes. Economy: Early up and downshifting keeps engine speeds low, thus ensuring a particularly fuel-efficient driving style. Sport: Higher revving gears deliver a more agile driving experience. Manual: Manual gear changes using steering-wheel shift paddles, with monitoring of gear selection within permissible engine speed range and gearshift is recommended for fuel-efficient driving.

Mercedes-Benz India, as part of integrating the customer feedback into products, has introduced an India specific suspension in the B-Class providing increased comfort and enhanced driving performance to customers.

Comfort and convenience

Panoramic Sunroof: With its large glazed areas, this roof system ensures a particularly bright and welcoming ambience in the interior of the new B-Class making especially the rear more spacious. The panoramic glass rear section brings light and even additional head room to the passengers in the rear. Varied opening positions allow fresh air ventilation of the interior as required. Multimedia system NTG 5*1 Audio 20 CD: This multimedia system combines entertainment, information and communication: the Audio 20 CD with pre-installation for navigation, radio and CD player also enables networking with mobile devices via Bluetooth®. Some of the salient features are, high-resolution colour display with a screen diagonal of 17.8 cm (Two USB ports in the centre armrest for external audio, picture and video devices), Digital video transmission of the reversing camera, CD player, MP3/WMA/AAC/WAV-compatible, Speed-sensitive volume control, volume increased gradually from 20 km/h and Preinstallation for Garmin® MAP PILOT via SD Card slot.

Reversing Camera: Reverse parking and manoeuvring is made much easier and safer by the reversing camera. It is switched on automatically when the driver selects reverse gear, and shows the driver the area behind the vehicle with dynamic guide lines. The stationary and moving objects are marked in the camera image. Rear armrest: The armrest in the rear opens up to reveal cup holders. There is also a through-loading function when the armrest is opened up.

Safe driving

The drowsiness detection system ATTENTION ASSIST serves to enhance driving safety, especially on long trips and at night. It monitors the steering behaviour of the driver to recognise typical signs of drowsiness and severe loss of attention, and gives a visual and acoustic warning of impending micro sleep. In an accident, the intelligently coordinated restraint systems and the structure of the vehicle’s body shell make an effective contribution towards optimum protection for the vehicle’s occupants. First and foremost the airbags: front airbags for the driver and front passenger each triggered in two stages depending on the registered severity of the impact, side bags for the driver and front passenger, window bags between the A- and C-pillars, a knee bag for the driver.

Tyre Pressure Monitoring System continuously monitors the tyre pressures improving driving safety and increases the operating life of the tyres. The tyre pressure of all four wheels is monitored by sensors and indicated in the multifunction display of the instrument cluster. Adaptive Brake: The braking system improves driving comfort and safety. With the anti-lock braking system (ABS) as a base function it helps the driver to master critical braking manoeuvres more safely. Hill-Start Assist enhances comfort and safety and prevents the driver from rolling back in the opposite direction to the engaged gear as the driver moves his foot from brake to accelerator while moving up on uphill gradients.