Mercedes Benz launches “most premium SUV in Indian market” GL 350CDI BlueEfficiency

19 Mar 2010

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German automobile major Mercedes Benz yesterday launched its ''most premium sport utility vehicle in the Indian market'' in Baner, near Pune, yesterday.

The GL 350CDI BlueEfficiency comes in two variants - GL Executive and GL Luxury priced at Rs63.57 lakh and Rs68.48 lakh (ex-showroom Mumbai).

The seven-seater luxury model features a 7 G-Tronic gearbox, 4Matic permanent all-wheel drive, electrically folding third row of seats and a panoramic sunroof. Speaking to journalists on the occasion, managing director and CEO of Mercedes Benz India Dr Wilfried Aulbur said, ''In its segment, the GL-Class is the largest SUV and the only one that offers full-size third row seats with independent AC vents. It has exemplary head and leg room. The BlueEfficiency tag is a statement of its environmental compatibility.''

He added that safety had been given special attention in the design of the SUV and the models have been equipped with the pre-safe preventive occupant protection system, a world first in this market segment. The crash-responsive head restraints allowed for fast response from the safety system to support to the heads of driver and front seat occupants in case of a rear-end impact.

The car reaches a speed of 0 to 100 kilometres per hour in 9.5 seconds. It reaches a top speed of 210 kmph and has a consumption 9.7 litres of fuel per 100 km. The SUV boasts of special off-road features such as 'downhill speed regulation' and hill-start assist.

Aulbur said, ''The model is aggressively priced as we would like to occupy the luxury SUV sector in India, which has a space for 9,000-10,000 units a year.'' He said the luxury car maker had plans to expand with showrooms and dealerships in Tier-2 and Tier-3 markets like Goa, Bhubaneshwar, Indore, Aurangabad and Surat.

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