Mercedes-Benz launches Sport Editions of C-Class & E-Class sedans

As Audi and BMW race their way to the top of the luxury car segment in India, they have left Mercedes-Benz far behind to even try and put up a fight. But Mercedes-Benz cannot let its fellow German brands hog all the limelight. The company is doing all it could to maintain the interests of its existing and potential customers and also to keep the media buzzing. The latest on that line is the launch of 'Sport Edition' of two of it's best-selling sedans, the C-Class and E-Class. The launch has been timed perfectly to coincide with all the excitement generated by the oncoming Indian Grand Prix, in which Mercedes AMG Petronas cars would be racing, piloted by the legendary Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg.

So, what is new in the Sport Edition? The major buzz in the market is that Audi and BMW are Gen-X Brands that cater to the young, while Mercedes-Benz is mostly aspired by executives in their forties and fifties. This is an image that Mercedes-Benz wants to shred, given the fact that youngsters in rich families play an important role these days in influencing the buying decisions.

The Sport Editions thus gain exterior visual add-ons like the AMG Style Package that includes aprons in the front and rear bumpers and side skirts, sportier alloy wheels, a black-top roof and a 'Sport' badge. Needless to say, both cars look a whole lot more sexy with all these visual embellishments, that are further accentuated by the brilliant 'Polar White' body colour that they come coated with. The interiors also get a slight makeover with Artico upholstery, combined with a black piano lacquer trim in the C and a burr walnut wood trim in the E. While there are a few additional features, the full complement of safety features and other creature comforts that are trademarks of Mercedes-Benz models, are carried over in the Sport Editions.

Both the cars are powered by the same 2143 cc common-rail diesel engine with a rated power of 170 hp at 3000-4200 rpm and a rated torque of 400 Nm at 1400-2800 rpm, mated to a 7G-TRONIC automatic transmission. That is a sensible move, given the ever-rising gasoline prices and the ever-soaring demand of diesel cars in the market. The C220 CDI Sport Edition is priced at INR 29.9 Lakhs and the E220 CDI Sport Edition is priced at INR 39.9 Lakhs, ex-showroom Delhi. With close to 16000 and 21000 units respectively running on Indian roads till date, the C-Class and E-Class contribute a lot to the bottom-line of Mercedes-Benz India. The Sport Editions are sure to bolster the lineup even further.