August 24, 2011

Mercedes-Benz opens Newer horizons in India with the launch of the New Roadster SLK 350 BlueEFFICIENCY


The New SLK-Class
• SLK pioneered the Roadster segment in the world. With the SLK, Mercedes-Benz reinvents the Roadster yet again; introduces the world’s first Magic Sky Control 
• Rated as one of safest cars in its class: Awarded the Euro NCAP 5 Star Safety Ratings
• Combines fun with responsibility: Powered by 3.5L engine; yet implementing BlueEFFICIENCY measures which ensures optimal performance and environment compatibility


Delhi– Mercedes-Benz India today unveiled the exemplary and stunning New generation SLK 350, showcasing its distinctively aggressive design and an impressive sporty architecture, mirroring the sharp lineage of the SLS-AMG and the SL Class. Adding another highlight to Mercedes-Benz India’s luxury car portfolio, this engineering marvel introduces the ‘MAGIC SKY CONTROL’ panoramic vario-roof for the first time ever. Blending sporty inspiration with unrivalled safety, the New SLK embodies the luxurious performance of trend setting technology.


Mr. Debashis Mitra, Director Sales & Marketing, Mercedes-Benz India: “The New SLK 350 is one of the most revolutionary products to come from the stable of Mercedes-Benz! Demonstrating the rich blend of sophistication with the latest in design and technology, the car is a testament to our continued endeavor to offer a thrilling experience to our customers. With its powerful innovative features and state of the art technology, the car proves not just to be an exhilarating experience to the driver but also a visual delight, consolidating its status as a benchmark product world over.”


For the first time ever - MAGIC SKY CONTROL
Proving yet again its leadership in technological advancements, this stunning roadster takes its pioneering concept of the vario-roof to a New level, with the introduction of the world’s first ‘Magic Sky Control’ panoramic vario-roof. The third generation of the SLK family offers its driver a never before advantage, as this meticulous design breakthrough transforms the roadster into a coupĂ© at the touch of a button. Blending harmoniously into the overall design, the roof offers a brighter and more natural interior, offering a spectacular view of the skies.


Supreme design mirroring leadership in technology
Designed to be thrilling, powerful and yet royal, the SLK 350 boasts of sleek lines and shapely contours demonstrating its supremacy with a bolder look. With symmetrically arranged headlamps and bumpers, the contours of the car invoke the car’s all powerful character, as the hallmark Mercedes V-Shape adds the final finishing touch. From the side and from the front, the car is sculpted to rise and glide likes a powerful machine, exuding its lively, sporty presence. With authentic sporty trimmings, sweeping lines and stylish seating mechanisms, the interiors of the SLK have been intricately crafted to offer the pinnacle in luxury and comfort. 


Ingenious material mix and high levels of safety 
The striking New SLK 350 impresses with the New BlueEFFICIENCY technology, unleashing a slew of revolutionary features for the most tempting driving experience. Designers and engineers have integrated superior maintaining the edge in new age technology accompanied with stylish designs. Safety is an important benchmark for every Mercedes vehicle. The SLK 350 has achieved the much coveted 5 stars in the Euro NCAP Crash Rating making it the epitome in safety. The third generation of the powerful trend-setter will make use of a whole host of the latest assistance systems to support the driver. These include the drowsiness detection system ATTENTION ASSIST which predicts the level of driver attentiveness to provide an early warning of overtiredness. The parking guidance system PARKTRONIC aids in representing the recommended parking manoeuver. 


SLK-Class: Engine specifications
The New SLK-Class is equipped with a V6 engine and a capacity of 3.498cc with a 306hp output and 360Nm torque making its engine a force to reckon with. The exemplary efficiency is coupled with a torque that offers a high level of responsiveness making this roadster impressive in every aspect.


Priced at Rs. 61.9 Lakhs (Ex-Showroom Delhi), the New SLK 350 will be retailed through Mercedes-Benz Dealerships across the country.

August 8, 2011

Three awards in the Automotive Brand Contest 2011


"Best of Best": the Mercedes-Benz design team is "Team of the year"

Stuttgart – It’s official: Mercedes-Benz design is outstanding. As confirmed by three first places in the Automotive Brand Contest 2011. The competition’s top-flight expert jury voted the Mercedes-Benz design team "Team of the year". They additionally awarded the ultimate "Best of Best" plaudit to the Mercedes-Benz CLS in the Exterior category. The Concept A-Class interior was also deemed "Best of Best", taking first
place in the Interior area of the Concept & Study category.

The Automotive Brand Contest is the first international brand and design competition for the automotive industry. It was launched by the German Design Council, which was established as a foundation by decree of the German Bundestag back in 1953. The independent institution organises
this competition dedicated exclusively to the automotive sector in order
to acknowledge outstanding achievements in brand management, brand communication and design.  In this way, the internationally reputed German Design Council highlights the great importance of design and brand image
to the success of an automotive company.

Mercedes-Benz design director professor h.c. Gorden Wagener and his staff of around 500 based in Sindelfingen and at four studios abroad were found to be in a league of their own. The expert jury of the Automotive Brand Contest 2011 awarded them the title of "Team of the year". "We are all delighted to receive this valuable award in recognition of a magnificent joint effort," says professor Wagener. "Everyone in our team works with great dedication day-in, day-out to ensure that the Mercedes-Benz models of the future retain their distinctive, hallmark Mercedes character in keeping with the very highest aesthetic standards."
The Mercedes-Benz design team, responsible for the design of products from the smart to the Actros, have been named "Team of the Year" at the Automotive Brand Contest 2011.

Two "Best of Best" titles in the Automotive Brand Contest 2011 additionally underscore the Mercedes design team’s efforts.  The Concept A-Class interior by Mercedes-Benz took first place in the Interior area of the Concept & Study category.  Bionic cell structures, echoes of aircraft design, an operating concept with fully integrated smartphone and unique and revolutionary graphic design featuring three-dimensional, dynamically growing glass elements provide a foretaste of a new generation of the A-Class.

The "Best of Best" title in the Exterior category saw the new generation of the Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class following in the footsteps of its predecessor, which has long enjoyed international renown as a design icon. The new CLS combines an elegant coupé silhouette with an expressive front. Its dynamic, athletic figure features a beguiling composition of lines and surfaces and a dropping line, drawing on the uniquely rich fund of design treasures to be found in historical Mercedes sports cars to embody a contemporary aesthetic statement.

The awards will be presented at the Automotive Designers Night which is to take place at the Frankfurt International Motor Show on 13 September.