Pune: The new Mercedes-Benz E-Class celebrates its premiere at the DaimlerChrysler India plant in Pune. It replaces a preceding model, which has established itself as India's most successful luxury class saloon.

As with its predecessor, Mercedes-Benz continues to demonstrate its worldwide technological leadership with the new E-Class. This saloon redefines the standards in the automotive luxury class and assumes an exemplary position in all major engineering disciplines.

''The new E-Class represents the heart of the Mercedes brand and embodies the fusion of high performance, cutting-edge technology, latest design and sum total of 115 years of automotive passion in one car. In short: the new E-Class points the way to the automotive future. The new E-Class reflects the basic values of our brand: safety, comfort, innovative engineering and individuality packaged in an exciting design,'' says DaimlerChrysler India managing director Hans-Michael Huber.

''With an even more dynamic bristling with trailblazing innovations, with even more extensive standard specification and an even larger measure of individuality, the new E-Class has the potential to extend its market leadership. With the exciting design and styling, dynamic character and handling like sports car, the new E-Class provides customers true value for money,'' adds Huber.

The design of the new E-Class continues the elegant lines of the preceding series and emphasises the dynamic character of the saloon more than ever. With the new Mercedes E-Class Mercedes-Benz engineers have once again made significant advances in several technological areas. Safety has always been the core value of Mercedes brand and the new E-Class is not an exception.

The first large-scale series use of the SBC brake system and the new, adaptive belt force limiter are just a few examples of path-finding innovations which make the new Mercedes model very special and distinguish it from other cars in this class.

With the launch of the new E-Class in India in a record time of just 10 months after its world premiere at the International Brussels Motor Show in January 2002, DaimlerChrysler India has lived up with its promise to provide the latest Mercedes models, cutting-edge latest technology and design to our valued customers in India. At the same time, it also reflects the long-term commitment of its parent company, DaimlerChrysler AG has for the Indian market.

The new Mercedes E-Class, E240 petrol version will be available at the 15 authorised Mercedes-Benz showrooms across India from November 2002. The ex-showroom price Mumbai for the new Mercedes E-240, Elegance line, with standard fitted equipment (excluding octroi registration, insurance and other levies) is Rs 33.9 lakh.