Mercedes Benz, the German luxury car maker, has presented the latest edition of its M Class off-roader in the country amid heavy anticipation. The 3rd generation model of Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) comes with a host of new features as well as revamped styling that add to its appeal. Two variants of the car have been introduced in the country, which have attracted as many as 150 bookings on the first day itself.
The AMG body kit variant of the ML350CDI Bluetec comes at a price of Rs. 66 lacs in India; only the first 100 buyers can get this variant, which will come to India via the Completely Built Unit (CBU) route. Standard variant of the model, which has been priced at Rs. 56.9 lacs, will be assembled locally using Completely Knocked Down (CKD) kits. The German auto maker will begin making deliveries of the car from July 2012, though it has already received 150 orders for the vehicle.
Dimensions of the new M Class have been altered significantly as the car is wider and longer, while its height has been trimmed, thus making it look more solid without appearing bulky. The new model stands 4804 mm long, 1926 mm wide and 1796 high, an increase of 24 mm and 16 mm in length and width, whereas there has been a 19 mm reduction in height. Looks of the car have also been modified to a large extent, as the model now bears a curved design theme. The grille has been replaced, daytime running lights have become independent and headlamps now sweep back towards the sides. On the other hand, the rear features LED tail lights that begin from the side and end on the tail door. The spare tyre of the vehicle is now placed inside the car on the fifth door and the interiors have now become more inviting and plush.
Technically speaking, the car offered in India features the same 3.0 L, 24 valve, V6 turbo Bluetec diesel engine that was present in the predecessor. However, it has now been tuned to deliver 258 bhp of maximum power at 3600 rpm and 620 Nm of peak torque at 1600 to 2400 rpm. Mercedes Benz chose to use the tried and tested seven speed 7G-TRONIC gearbox in the model. The powerful engine helps the facelifted M Class to traverse from 0 to 100 kmph in just 7.4 seconds and reach top speed of 224 kmph. Safety features like Active Park Assist, nine airbags, Attention Assist drowsiness detection, Lane Keeping Assist, Blind Spot Assist, PreSafe pre-collision protection are also present in the car.
