With diesel cars accounting for over 80 per cent of sales across its portfolio, Mercedes Benz today launched two diesel variants of the new C-Class, introduced in a petrol engine in the Indian market late last year.
It has also begun local assembly of the petrol C-Class at its plant in Chakan.
The diesel C-Class is the second of 15 new products that MBI has said it will launch in the Indian market during the year. “I can share that the Mercedes AMG GT, the hero performer, will be amongst these,” Eberhard Kern, Managing Director and CEO, Mercedes-Benz India, said.
“The local assembly of the C-Class petrol was because of overwhelming demand after the launch last year,” he said, adding that a new body shop line for the car has been set up at Chakan. While the diesel avatar is currently being offered as a completely built unit, the company plans to also go into its localisation.
The C 220 diesel C-Class comes at a price of Rs 39.90 lakh for the lower Style version and at Rs 42.90 lakh for the fully loaded Avantgarde variant. The locally made petrol avatar is available only in the Avantgarde variant and is priced at Rs 40.90 (all prices ex-showroom Delhi).
The highlights of the cars launched today include aluminium body, brake energy recuperation system, and five driving modes — Comfort, Economy, Sport, Sport+, or Individual driving — that Kern avers practically offers five different cars in a single car.
The new C 220 CDI has a 4-cylinder diesel engine with a fuel efficiency of 19.27 km per litre and torque of 400 Nm @1400-2800 rpm. It accelerates from 0 to 100 kmph in 7.4 seconds, with a top speed of 233 kmph.