Launch of the SL 350 & GL 500: Setting new benchmark in Luxury Motoring

Delhi: Mercedes-Benz India today launched the SL 350 and the GL 500 4MATIC,  further re-iterating their position of offering the widest product portfolio for the Indian luxury car market. The SL-Class, one of the most legendary cars in the Mercedes-Benz stable, derives its DNA from the legendary 300 SL ‘Gullwing’ and has always been a favourite among automobile aficionados across the globe. The GL 500 is amongst the most powerful SUV in Mercedes-Benz’s portfolio and it strengthens the company’s presence in the increasingly popular SUV segment.

Mr Peter Honegg (Managing Director & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India)
at the National launch of the SL 350 and GL 500 in New Delhi on 3^rd May, 2011. 

The SL 350

The SL 350 features a high-revving 3.5 litre V6 sports engine that produces a power of 315Hp and torque of 360Nm giving an enhanced performance & reduced fuel             consumption. The SL 350 features the Direct Steering with Variable Servo Assistance which is available as standard. The Direct Steering incorporates the speed-sensitive power steering coupled with added sportiness. The steering features an all-new rack with a steering angle-sensitive ratio that reduces the need to turn the wheel and increases agility.

The SL-Class offers "Sports package" which comes as standard, is one-of-its kind in its segment. Under this package, the interior features the exclusive silver-coloured          contrasting topstitching on the Exclusive NAPPA leather seats and aluminium prism trim among others.  The SL-Class has Multi-Contour climatised seats ensures a perfect     balance between sportiness and excellent seating comfort for its passengers.

Further the instrument cluster sports attractive dial graphics, 3D dial surrounds and   hanging needles. The SL 350 also sports a three-spoke steering wheel with matt chrome decorative inserts along with silver paddle shifters. The cockpit is superbly styled and gives a commanding feel to the driver. The AIRSCARF neck level heating maintains neck level temperatures even on colder days to ensure a comfortable ride. The Mercedes-Benz SL 350 also features a high resolution 6.5 inch colour display COMMAND with DVD changer and media interface with extended functionality and improved menu navigation. The Intelligent Light System also available as standard in the SL offers improved illumination while driving. Other standard features include:  KEYLESS-GO and Harman Kardon® Logic7® sound system with Dolby Digital 5.1 with 10 high-performance loudspeakers.

The interiors are matched by top-notch enhancements in its exteriors. The SL 350  roadster sports a unique design idiom which is a part of the current Mercedes-Benz design philosophy. The front grille has been radically revised to grab one’s attention and the prominent louver on the radiator grille gives it an even wider and dominant look. The power domes adorning the bonnet and Gill-like trim panels are reminiscent of the SL’s history. The front end has a more prominent V-shape. Besides this the SL sports attractively designed main and auxiliary headlamps.

As a part of the SL-Class’s “sports package” the exteriors flaunts attractive 18 inch 5-twin-spoke light-alloy wheels; front brake callipers with Mercedes-Benz lettering, darkened tail lights; headlamps with dark surrounds and Sports air filter among others.

The New GL 500 4MATIC

The GL 500 4MATIC one of the most powerful SUV’s in the world featuring a 5.4 litre V6 engine produces a power of 388hp along with a staggering torque of 530Nm. This mammoth accelerates from a standstill to a 100kmph in just 6.5seconds all thanks to its light weight construction resulting in improved engine smoothness and higher torque in the mid-engine speed range.

The GL 500 comes with the 7G TRONIC 7-speed automatic transmission as standard,   allowing adept engine speed at all times, in turn cutting down fuel consumption. The shorter gear shifts make the ride smooth and also reduce the noise levels. It also has manual gear shift paddles on the steering to further enhance driving please when needed. The 4MATIC all wheel drive system in the GL 500 provides excellent traction and enhanced driving stability even on poor road conditions. Additionally the GL-Class comes with the unique off-road pro engineering package that is a boon for those interested in having some serious off-roading and the AIRMATIC suspensions make sure that ride quality is not compromised even on the harshest terrains.

The GL 500’s intimidating size is further complimented by the brilliant silver coloured louvers in the radiator grille that impart a striking appearance to the car. The LED tail lights add a distinguishing feature to the rear view of the car which is further enhanced by the stainless steel, chrome look underguard. The LED day time running lights combined with the Intelligent Lighting System regulate the headlamp range and light distribution of the car, making night time driving easier than ever. The 20-inch alloy wheels further add to the sporty appeal of the car.

On the interior front, the GL 500 4MATIC has a luxurious feel that further compliments its spaciousness. The steering wheel has elements of wood and leather that combine to add a rich feel to the interiors. The NAPPA leather seats further enhances the luxury quotient of the car. The front seats have memory package, so that each driver can set up the   seating as per convenience.

Another new feature of the GL-Class is its electrically folding third row seats, a first in its segment. The GL 500’s rear seat entertainment system with its 8-inch colour screens and Harman Kardon system is ideal for a back seat movie viewing or gaming experience.    Although the GL’s size is intimidating, parking it is one of the easiest tasks as it comes equipped with PARKTRONIC and COMAND system with Linguatronics and a reversing camera that help manoeuvre the car easily in tight parking spaces. The THERMOTRONIC luxury automatic climate control helps maintain different temperatures for the driver, front and rear passengers giving each their own comfort zone. Third row passengers can also enjoy the comfort of fresh air, as the third row comes with rear   electrical vent windows.

Mr Peter Honegg, Managing Director & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India: “The SL 350 and the GL 500 are two of the most popular offerings in our portfolio. Both the cars have unique USP’s. The SL-Class with its styling, performance and handling abilities has won hearts globally. We are glad to introduce the SL-Class which is sportier, aggressive and of course packed with benchmark Mercedes-Benz safety features and technology. On the other hand the GL 500 being one of the most powerful SUV’s in the world, is ideal to suit the tastes of the growing number of off-roading afficionados in India. I am confident that both the vehicles will woo auto enthusiasts, critics, customers & media alike.”

The Best or Nothing! - From Cars to the Golf Greens

(LtoR: Gary Savage, Marcel Siem, Mohammed Juma Buamaim, Anders Sundt Jensen and Michael Tate)

From this year Mercedes-Benz will become patron of The Open Championship, a tournament with roots dating back to 1860. As a result of this move, Mercedes-Benz is now represented at three of the four major golf tournaments as the exclusive automotive partner. “Our global golf strategy is based on the Mercedes-Benz principle of "The best or nothing". The Open Championship complements this strategy, and therefore Mercedes-Benz, perfectly”, explained Anders Sundt Jensen, Vice President Brand Communications, Mercedes-Benz Cars. “We want to make use of this major golf tournament in particular for our various marketing activities as well as customer care measures. In addition, we will also link the MercedesTrophy, a worldwide premium amateur series, with The Open Championship, for example the programme "Drive to the Major", a global competition to win the opportunity to qualify to play at the Monday Foursome.”

(L-R: Marcel Siem, Gary Savage, Anders Sundt Jensen and Michael Tate in Dubai)

Mercedes-Benz has been involved in the professional sport of golf since the 1980's. From 1990, it also took over as title sponsor of the Mercedes German Masters, the first professional golf tournament in Germany featuring international participation. In addition, the premium brand from Stuttgart was also title sponsor of the Mercedes-Benz Championship in Cologne from 2007 to 2009 and Hawaii from 1999 to 2009.

(L-R: Michael Tate, Anders Sundt Jensen and Gary Savage)

Since 2008, Mercedes-Benz has been the exclusive automobile partner of another of golf's most prestigious tournaments, The Masters in Augusta. Thanks to the connection which has existed with the PGA of America since 2010, the brand with the star is also represented at the PGA Championship and the Senior PGA Championship, as well as the 2012 Ryder Cup. This year Mercedes-Benz's commitment to golf will increase with the addition of the partnership with The Open Championship. Furthermore, Mercedes-Benz also supports a variety of both professional and amateur tournaments around the world at national level.

(The new SLK with the claret jug)

In amateur golf, Mercedes-Benz is represented with the MercedesTrophy, the company's own global premium tournament series for amateurs, which in 2011 is taking place for the 22nd time. More than 58,000 players, in more than 43 countries, tee off each year in the MercedesTrophy. The aim of the participants is to reach the MercedesTrophy World Final at the end of September, at which the best individual players and the best team are honoured in Stuttgart, the "birthplace of the motor car", and at the same time receive an exclusive insight into the world of Mercedes-Benz.

Celebrating 125 Years of Innovation

The 1886 Benz patent motor car: the world’s first car.

If truth be told, before this date there had already been “auto-mobiles” powered by steam or electricity. But not only did Carl Benz hit upon the brilliant idea of using an internal combustion engine as the drive system for a “self-mover”; he was also the first to have the tenacity to secure success for the invention. On 29 January 1886 he presented his stroke of genius at the Imperial Patent Office – the car was born. His single-cylinder 4-stroke engine with a displacement of 0.954 of a litre anticipated elements still found in every internal combustion engine to this day: a crankshaft with balance weights, electric ignition and water cooling: enough to generate 0.55 kW and a top speed of 16 km/h, virtually corresponding to the power of a whole horse. Snorting loudly and hissing terrifyingly, the newfangled motor car must have seemed like the work of the devil to some back then.

Anyone brave enough to try out Benz’s invention was a true pioneer, for there was no road network, there were no workshops, and they had to forge their own replacement parts. Nevertheless, no less than 25 production-version units of the patent motor car were sold. Daimler built his “motorised carriage” that same year.
Benz initially had a slight edge over Daimler, but then Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft designed a car that was a model for the industry, going down in history as a “Mercedes”.

So, to celebrate the 125th anniversary of such an epic event in History, we're going to take a drive down memory lane with the 'Back to the Future' contest.

Dedicated to the Mercedes-Benz enthusiast, the 'Back to the Future' contest is all about our 125 years of innovation. So, if you think you know all there is to know about your favorite automobile brand, why not test your knowledge against other fans across the country? Then, if you can beat out the best of the best, you can travel back in time, with Mercedes-Benz as your guide. The lucky winner will have the chance to visit the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart, Germany, where they can experience for themselves the magic of years gone by and the fascination of future wrapped by.

For the automobile fanatic, this is a dream opportunity & definitely not one to be passed up so easily. So, if you think you have what it takes, just head on over to your nearest Mercedes-Benz India dealership or connect with us on our official Facebook page. Answer all the questions correctly & you will be in the running for the adventure of a lifetime.

125 years down the line & we're still just as committed to bringing you the latest & best in innovative automobile technology. And, with your continued support & friendship, we promise to bring you 125 more!