It is not every day that you get to experience an entire line-up of cars with the three-pointed star on the hood. This is something Mercedes knows only too well, which is why the company - like competing luxury car makers - periodically organises events to invite prospective customers to try out their line-up.
The latest edition of the Mercedes-Benz Luxe Drive that was held off Nice Ring Road saw the car maker’s offerings, from the entry level A,B and CLA class all the way up to the uber-luxury S-Class on display for attendees to poke and prod around in. Parallel to the long line of cars put on display ran a track that was divided into three sections. The short first section was devoted to self-driving, with a series of cones creating a short track around which a team of professional drivers took attendees for a tyre-squealing spin before handing over the wheel. While having full license to throw the automobiles around the tightly-constructed bends is a hoot, it wasn’t exactly the kind of drive environment that would help with a purchase decision. Perhaps given the nature of the track, it was the shorter, sportier, A.B, CLA and GLA models that were available for this segment.
Helping with purchase decisions were the next two segments, the first of which demonstrated the capabilities of the Mercedes SUVs. The GLE and GLS models - the latter of which I clambered into - had no trouble dispatching scenarios where the car had only three wheels on the ground or was tilted at a mildly-precarious 30-degree angle. This segment and the next, which was designed to display the cars' safety features, sadly restricted attendees to the passenger seats.
I wasn’t complaining about this decision a few minutes later, as our driver - who assured us he was a professional rally racer - threw the E-Class we were in into a dangerous zig-zag straight towards a bunch of parked cars. The idea was to make the on-board electronics think the car was heading for a crash, and deploy its arsenal of safety features, which Mercedes calls ‘Pre-Safe’. Thankfully, the E-Class responded, with the seat belts immediately tightening, the seat contours adjusting a little to lock the occupant in place and even the windows rolling up.
While we are on the subject of the E, the event also had the new long-wheelbase version of the car - which is replacing the traditional variant in India - on display. With oodles of legroom, super premium interiors and that 13 speaker Burmester surround audio system, it does make a strong case for itself on sheer luxury, even compared to the top-of-the-line S-Class.
Mercedes clearly has a lot of faith in their current India lineup, and with good reason, since they were on a launching spree throughout last year. With main rivals Audi and BMW also aggressively focusing on the India market, it's a good time to step up to luxury.
