Mercedes is pulling all the tricks up its sleeve to make sure it regains the lost share in the Indian car market. In the latest strategy, the German manufacturer announced local manufacturing of the new S-Class 350 CDI at its plant in Chakan, Pune. In line with company’s Year of Excellence strategy, the decision to commence the local production of the new S-Class 350 CDI will help Mercedes price the vehicle competitively.
In terms of engine, the new S 350 CDI features a 3-litre V6 diesel engine that produces 258 bhp of power @ 3600 rpm and 620 nm @ 1600-2400 rpm. The car hits the ton mark from a stand still in 6.8 seconds and has a top speed of 250kph.The power is transferred to the wheels with the help of 7G-TRONIC PLUS 7 speed automatic transmission. The new S-Class 350 CDI also features Direct Select Lever with Paddle Shifters which, the company claims, provides rapid gear shifts and smooth operations.
Mercedes has also ticked all the boxes in terms safety and ride quality. The AIRMATIC suspension takes care of bumpy roads while the Active Park Assist comes handy while parking the vehicles. ESP with eight airbags and PRE Safe assure driver and passenger safety. The feature list also packs Adaptive Brakes with HOLD function, ASR and Hill Start Assist.
Local manufacturing has enabled the German car manufacturer bring down the prices considerably as the new S-Class is cheaper by almost Rs 43 lakh. Mercedes has brought the competition to a whole new level and other manufacturers in the segment will have to find ways to deal with such competitive pricing. Whatever they do, the deal is getting sweeter by the day for Indian consumers.
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