DaimlerChrysler's new Mercedes-Benz S-Class (S 350 L) will be cheaper by about Rs 15-20 lakh by the end of calendar 2006 when the company starts assembling the luxury sedan in the country. | |
| At present, S 350 L (petrol version) is imported as a completely built unit (CBU) and is priced in the range of Rs 70.4 lakh-Rs 90 lakh (ex-factory Mumbai). The car was launched in Mumbai on Friday. |
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| "We are making some modifications at our Pune assembly plant to fit in the new S-Class. Once that is completed by the third quarter of 2006-07, we will start assembling the car in India, which would make it cheaper by 20 per cent," said a senior DaimlerChrysler India official. |
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| The all-new S-Class, considered the benchmark for luxury sedans, was launched at the Frankfurt Auto Show in September 2005. |
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| "The company expects to sell about 180 new S-Classes in 2006," said a source close to the company. Last year, DaimlerChrysler sold 144 old variants of S Class (S- 320), priced at about 68 lakh. |
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| Daimler also plans to introduce the diesel variant of new S-Class by the second quarter of this year. "We do not plan to asseble the diesel variant in India," said a senior DaimlerChrysler official. |
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| The new S-Class marks the debut of a new feature - the night view system that uses infrared lights (invisible to human eye) to illuminate the road ahead and beam back an image on the instrument cluster. |
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| This makes it easier to see pedestrians, animals or any other obstacles that are not illuminated by headlights. The powerful V8 engine accelerates the vehicle to a speed of up to 100 km per hour within 5.4 seconds. The older S-Class took 6.3 seconds to reach the speed. |
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| There are also other optional features such as advanced radar system, automated acceleration and braking controls. |
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| DaimlerChrysler is also set to launch its new M-Class, the sports utility vehicle this week. The M-Class diesel will be imported as CBU and priced at about Rs 70 lakh. |
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| "We have no plans to assemble the M-Class in India, unless significant volumes are sold in the country," said a DaimlerChrysler official. |
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