Mercedes-Benz
entered India in 1994 and pioneered the luxury car market and was the best
selling car brand till BMW took the top spot. Now, with a new generation of its
luxury cars taking over the market, Mercedes-Benz has seen a spurt in recent
sales. Events like the LuxeDrive have been planned with the aim to increase
sales and overtake Audi (the current best selling brand) to reclaim the top
luxury car brand in India tag.
The
LuxeDrive event lets you get close to the star cars and experience them first
hand. The cars and your driving skills can be put to test through pre-set
courses. You can get to drive the cars
yourself or get a demo. A selection of Mercedes-Benz cars have been lined up
for display as well. These include the AMG models. An added attraction for the
foodies will be the star Indian chef, Vikas Khanna who will present world class
cuisine to enthral your taste buds. The LuxeDrive event will also include high
fashion from some of the world’s most luxurious brands. You can also buy
exclusive Mercedes-Benz merchandise on-spot.
The first
thing that greets your eyes when you enter is a line up of gorgeous
Mercedes-Benz cars. The line up in Bangalore included the A-Class, B-Class,
CLA-Class, GLA-Class, C-Class, E-Class, M-Class, GLA45 AMG and the ML63 AMG.
Next up was
the Slalom course to test the dynamic capabilities of the cars. You can choose
between the A-Class, the GLA-Class and the CLA-Class. You can test the car’s
handling by driving in a zigzag manner between obstacles and push the cars to
their limits.
The
off-roading section has been developed to test the SUV’s off-roading
capabilities. The cars available were the ML-Class and the GL-Class. The course
puts to test the 4matic all-wheel drive system available in these cars. The car
learns the amount of traction available for each wheel and distributes power
accordingly. This helps the car overcome any situation. The car is then made to
drive on a 30 degree incline that tips the car sideways. The angle of approach
and departure of the cars are then tested on a 30 degree inclination. This also
tests the hill hold system during the uphill climb. During decent, the speed
can be set between 2 to 18 km/hr and the car automatically maintains this
speed.
In the last
test, carried out by trained professional driver, the Pre-Safe system of the
cars are tested. The C-Class and E-Class were used for this test. The car’s ABS
and EBD functions are tested during emergency braking. The Pre-Safe allows the
car to swerve in a controlled manner to avoid a collision. When an emergency
situation is detected, it triggers the seat belt pre-tensioners. Any open
windows are automatically closed partially.
With a new
generation of fantastic cars that make you feel special, Mercedes-Benz is all
set to overthrow Audi and take over the Indian luxury car market. If the
Mercedes-Benz LuxeDrive is coming to your city, do not miss this unique opportunity
to go and experience these cars first hand.
Thanks to The Car & Bike Magazine for the opportunity.
