MERC LAUNCHES NEW LUX SUV B-CLASS; HIGH VERSION OF A CLASS

Second largest lux carmaker Mercedes-Benz on Wednesday launched a new variant of its popular compact SUV B-Class with a higher diesel engine, making it the third roll-out this year. The Pune-based Mercedes-Benz India had earlier this year announced 15 launches in the year, to claw back its lost number uno position, which it had lost to compatriot Audi from the Volkswagen stable a few years back. Last year, the Merc narrowed the gap with only a few hundred units difference.

The new B-Class comes in both petrol and diesel variants --B 180 Sport (petrol) and B 200 CDI Sport diesel - which are available for sale at Mercedes-Benz dealerships across the country from today. Claiming that the B-Class, priced from Rs 27.95 lakh (for the B180 sport with a 1.8-litre petrol engine) and at Rs 28.95 lakh (for the B200 sport with new 2.2 litre diesel engine, both ex-showroom Mumbai) is the only luxury tourer in the country, company's managing director and chief executive Eberhard Kern said the new SUV combines dynamic sportiness with high degree of safety, comfort and practicality.

The new luxury features include a panoramic sliding sunroof, reversing camera, memory seats, steering wheel with shift paddles, and 7G-DCT dual clutch transmission apart from new safety features like seven airbags, attention assist, adaptive braking, and hill start assist.

The company also launched a new A-Class with a higher diesel engine of 2.2 litre at a price range of Rs 25.95 lakh (for the A180 Sport with a 1.8 petrol engine) and Rs 26.95 lakh for the A 200 Sport with a 2.2 litre diesel engine, both ex-showroom Mumbai. The new A-Class diesel offers more power and performance with a new powerful A 200 CDI engine. Kern said the new B-Class diesel engine provides 25 per cent more power while still offering higher fuel efficiency than its predecessor, while the new A-Class with a more powerful diesel engine provides an additional 25 per cent power and 20 per cent additional torque, and features a sliding sunroof as standard. Kern said the launch of the new B-Class is intrinsic to Mercedes-Benz India's '15 in 15' under which the company will roll out 15 models including some brand new models and add 15 dealers, taking its overall dealership network to over 80 by the end of the year.

Kern further said Mercedes pioneered luxury touring in the country with the B-Class and this paved the way for our success in the segment, helping it become the no. 1 player in the luxury SUV segment.