Merc S-Class to get cheaper by Rs 15-20 lakh

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.

"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.

The all-new S-Class, considered the benchmark for luxury sedans, was launched at the Frankfurt Auto Show in September 2005.

"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.

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.

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.

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.

There are also other optional features such as advanced radar system, automated acceleration and braking controls.

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.

"We have no plans to assemble the M-Class in India, unless significant volumes are sold in the country," said a DaimlerChrysler official.