Mercedes-Benz launches new E-Class sedan at Rs 41.5 lakh [Pictures]

New Delhi, June 25: Luxury car maker Mercedes-Benz has launched a refreshed version of its E-Class sedan starting at a price of Rs 41.5 lakh (ex-showroom). Available in three variants, the new E-Class sports a starting price of Rs 41.5 lakh for the E200 CGI petrol variant, Rs 44.48 lakh for the E250 CDI and Rs 49.9 lakh for a special launch edition.Mercedes-Benz' E-Class lineup offers all the virtues associated with - luxury, performance and cutting-edge technology - in a good midsize package.The new E-Class is basically a mid-life facelift and only has some cosmetic upgrades. The front fascia of the new E-Class gets a new grille, redesigned headlights with LED daytime running lamps, making it look more aggressive than before, a softer nose. The rear end of the new E-Class adorns a revamped tail lamp cluster and exhaust tips.On the inside, the new E-Class gets some design upgrades, including Nappa leather upholstery, a revamped dashboard, a panoramic sunroof and a new multi-function steering wheel with gear-shift paddles (standard), redesigned aircon vents and control knobs. The command system has a new screen and gets a satellite navigation and a DVD player as well.The new Mercedes-Benz E-Class gets two engine options - petrol and diesel. The E200, the petrol variant comes with a 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder engine that delivers 184bhp @ 5500rpm and 300Nm of top torque. The E250 CDI, the diesel variant, comes with a 2.1-litre, 4-cylinder engine that churns out 204bhp @ 4200Nm and 500Nm of top torque at 1600-1800rpm. Both the engines are mated to the Mercedes's 7G-tronic automatic transmission. The car offers an excellent fuel economy of 18.6kmpl and 22kmpl for both petrol and diesel model, respectively.The carmaker has also raised the overall safety standards by offering a combination of eight airbags, Brake Assist system, standard Pre Safe technologies, an Active Bonnet mechanism, Acceleration skid control (ASR) and Electronic Stability Program. What's new in 2014 E-Class model is an active parking assist feature, which will certainly improve the overall convenience factor, especially within city limits. The car can attain a top speed of 242 km/h (acclaimed) and 0-100 km/h in 7.5 seconds. Mercedes Benz said it expects India to be among its top ten global markets by 2020, as it continues to bring latest models and spread sales network in the country. "Today the Indian market is not in the top ten global markets in terms of volumes for Mercedes but we believe in the potential of the market. Our expectation is that it will be in the top ten by 2020," Mercedes Benz India Managing Director and CEO Eberhard Kern said. Commenting on the potential of the Indian market, he said: "The base on which we are working is that by 2020 the overall car market in India will be 7 million units, up from 2.6 million last year." Of the total, the share of the luxury segment will be 4 per cent by 2020, as compared to 1.2 per cent last year, he added. "So the potential is huge in India and we are preparing ourself for the future although 2013 will not be a good year for the auto sector here," Kern said. The company has been focusing on new product launches and network expansion. "The new E Class is yet another example of our efforts to bring the latest global product in India at the shortest possible time. It was showcased globally in January at Detroit auto show and commercially launched in Europe in March and in June it is in India," Kern said. Going forward, the effort will be to reduce the time further, although "for the Indian market we have to have a right hand drive car and diesel is a must", he said. He said the E Class has been the company's flagship model and with the launch of this new model, the company expects sales to grow further. "Globally 11 million units have been sold across five generations of the E Class and in India we have sold over 23,000 units since it was launched in 1995," Kern said.

Mercedes-Benz launches new E-Class sedan at Rs 41.5 lakh [Pictures]

New Delhi, June 25: Luxury car maker Mercedes-Benz has launched a refreshed version of its E-Class sedan starting at a price of Rs 41.5 lakh (ex-showroom). Available in three variants, the new E-Class sports a

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