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Witness the Mercedes-Benz legend as it enters the future, Gong Zhengzheng reports.
China's position as the world's largest passenger car market remains unchanged as both the overall passenger vehicle market and the premium market evolve to meet the needs of an increasingly diverse Chinese customer base.
Nowhere is this more evident than at this year's Auto China in Beijing, where Mercedes-Benz is continuing its multi-pronged product offensive with a strong lineup of groundbreaking new vehicles.
No vehicle better demonstrates the German automaker's confidence in and commitment to the Chinese market than the All New Mercedes-Benz Long-Wheelbase E-Class, which sits at the core and backbone of the Mercedes-Benz brand and is positioned as the most intelligent executive sedan in the world.
The All New Long-Wheelbase E-Class is very much China-facing, and the vehicle's overall "Made in China, For China" concept was introduced at the very beginning of the vehicle's research and development phase, which resulted in the addition of personalized appointments tailored for local consumers.
In terms of the basic differences between the All New Long-Wheelbase E-Class and its standard-wheelbase variant and predecessor, the vehicle has a wheelbase of 3,079 millimeters, which is 140 millimeters longer than the standard wheelbase version and 65 millimeters longer than its predecessor. As a result, the total body length has been increased by 39 millimeters to 5,063 millimeters.
As "the most intelligent executive sedan in the world", the All New Long-Wheelbase E-Class fuses state-of-the-art Mercedes-Benz intelligent technologies with its extraordinary design philosophy, opening up a whole new landscape within this segment.
"The All New E-Class is at the core of Mercedes-Benz. And this is the most 'grown-up' and sophisticated E-Class we've ever built," said Dieter Zetsche, chairman of the board of management Daimler AG and head of Mercedes-Benz Cars.
"It provides all you can expect from a true Mercedes-Benz. It is the most efficient, most interactive and most autonomous series-built car ever made by Mercedes," he said.
As the third generation Chinese-manufactured model, the All New E-Class is not only "Made in China", but "Designed for China" as well, meeting customers' expectations for quality and comfort as the "Master of Intelligence" while underscoring Mercedes-Benz's commitment to China.
Well-positioned as a technologically sophisticated vehicle, the All New Long-Wheelbase E-Class is Mercedes-Benz' bid to redefine the executive sedan segment, and will be available in China starting this autumn.
'Year of the Dream Car'
"Life is too short to drink bad wine," said Thomas Weber, member of the board of management, Daimler AG, responsible for the Group Research and Mercedes-Benz Cars Development, who quoted a poet as saying. "I think this can also be applied to boring cars. That's why we are putting our focus on dream cars this year."
It is with this spirit in mind that Mercedes-Benz announced 2016 as their "Year of the Dream Car". To give substance to the thought, the company has brought two exciting dream cars to this year's Auto China in Beijing - the Mercedes-AMG C 63 and SLC 300 Luxury, both of which are premiering in Asia - to give customers and car fans a glimpse of what to expect.
First and foremost is the Mercedes-AMG C 63 Coup, which is the latest heavyweight product from Mercedes-AMG and represents everything a dream car should be. With a design influenced by motor-sport and showcasing advanced technology, the vehicle perfectly merges Mercedes-Benz' "sensual purity" design philosophy with the sportiness which defines AMG.
The Mercedes-AMG C 63 Coup fascinates at first glance with its impressive proportions. Aside from the vehicle's doors, roof and boot lid design, the car's expressive exterior design differs significantly from the standard Mercedes-Benz model.
Like the AMG GT, the new C 63 Coup embodies the independence of the Mercedes-AMG brand, offering longitudinal and lateral dynamics at an extremely high level along with improved fuel economy. All these high-performance features are encased within a muscular design, delivering customers an unparalleled driving experience.
The powerful 8-cylinder engine, as well as the wider track of the front and rear axles, called for a redesigned front end, a model-specific rear assembly and new side walls. Furthermore, its flared wheel arches make the Mercedes-AMG Coup 64 millimeters wider at the front and 66 millimeters wider at the rear, providing the vehicle with better road traction.
The C 63 also stands out as the only vehicle in its segment to boast an 8-cylinder biturbo engine, thereby meeting the desires of customers who desire a combination of emotional appeal, roaring output and high-torque power delivery. With a 0-100 km/h sprint time of 4.0 seconds (3.9 seconds for the C 63 Coup S) and a top speed of 250 km/h, the Mercedes-AMG C 63 clearly adheres to the brand spirit of "Driving Performance" and effectively demonstrates the unrivaled power of performance cars.
Furthermore, in order to ensure that a larger swathe of motorsport fans can get behind the wheel of their dream car, Mercedes-Benz is making a concentrated effort to deliver dream cars across all segments of the brand. For example, the Mercedes-Benz SLC 300 Luxury Sport offers Mercedes-Benz style, functionality and high performance in a compact format.
The face-lifted SLC, which is also appearing at the show in Beijing, flaunts its role as the long-awaited successor to the legendary SLK. The vehicle's new nomenclature acknowledges its relationship with the C-Class, from which much of the roadster's technology is derived, and relative to the SLK the SLC has been further optimized in terms of both technology and aesthetics.
Taking their cue from the brand's adrenaline-fueled customers, the Mercedes-Benz designers have further honed the roadster's sporty look.
The vehicle features an aggressive new front section with a diamond radiator grille as standard, and dynamically modeled contours and high-quality chrome trim at the lower edge that give the vehicle a muscular yet refined look.
But the SLC 300 does not just look sporty, it is. The vehicle is capable of a maximum power output of 180 kW (245 hp) with a 9G-TRONIC automatic transmission fitted as standard.
In addition to offering a streamlined driving experience, the SLC 300 features stylish touches such as sumptuously textured sports seats and a new-generation sports steering wheel.
The SLC 300 represents the ideal combination of passion and common sense, comfort and technology, and will hit the China market later this year, fulfilling Mercedes-Benz's promise of a thrilling "Year of the Dream Car".
Continuing SUV offensive
2016 is Mercedes-Benz' "Year of the Dream Car", but equally important is the company's continuation of its "Year of the SUV" this year, with a slate of new SUVs.
In 2015, one new SUV model was launched each quarter, covering the full spectrum from compact, mid-size to full size SUV segments and resulting in an impressive 40 percent year-on-year growth rate and over 149,000 units sold by the end of last year.
This year, momentum continues to pick up speed, with first quarter SUV sales reaching an impressive 72 percent year-on-year growth, accounting for 45 percent of total sales. Mercedes-Benz kick-started the year with the launch of the GLS SUV in March, and the company is now debuting the long-anticipated GLC Sport SUV at Auto China, as well as launching the GLE 500 e 4MATIC.
With the unveiling of the GLC Sport SUV, Mercedes-Benz is revolutionizing a design philosophy which favors sensual purity and a modern aesthetic over the SUV's classic off-road look. But while the GLC represents a departure from the G-Class in terms of appearance, its off-road capabilities remain as outstanding as ever, and on a technical level it sets new benchmarks in all disciplines.
"Our new GLC represents a further, systematic step in the implementation of our successful SUV philosophy," said Weber. "It combines the ultimate in driving comfort with a sporty touch, impresses on the road and - more than ever off road as well - and appeals to the eye with the new design and equipment line."
The model also signals a marked upgrade for the interior, which features high-class materials imbued with a hand-crafted character, meticulously finished details and an appealing overall touch and feel. The large, one-piece console panel sweeps elegantly from the central air vents to the armrest, with clear-cut lines that create a feeling of open space and establish a purist, modern vibe.
On a technical level the new SUV clearly makes its mark with the excellent safety standards that characterize the brand hallmark, with COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST PLUS, CROSSWIND ASSIST and ATTENTION ASSIST on board as standard. The GLC is also the only model in its segment to offer the option of fitting the chassis with a full-support multi-chamber air suspension system.
The All New GLE 500 e 4MATIC, which is launched at the show, features a plug-in hybrid drive that combines the power and refinement of a V6 engine with the fuel consumption of a three-liter car and the versatility of a premium SUV.
The highly efficient GLE 500 e 4MATIC is the first Mercedes-Benz SUV with plug-in hybrid technology that the company has introduced to China. Seamlessly combining outstanding efficiency and performance with plug-in hybrid technology, the GLE 500 e 4MATIC features a 3.0-liter Twin-turbo V6 engine with direct injection with an electric motor, raising the bar for clean, efficient drive transmission.
The GLE 500 e 4MATIC is available in four power options, including pure electric, and features DYNAMIC SELECT with five driving modes, allowing customers to adjust their driving experience accordingly. The vehicle is capable of reaching 130 km/h and has a range of 30 kilometers in electric mode. For added convenience, the GLE 500 e 4MATIC is capable of fast charging in two hours.
As plug-ins continue to play a key role in the company's larger strategy to reduce emissions and promote environmental responsibility worldwide, vehicles like the GLE 500 e 4MATIC set a positive precedent and lay the groundwork for future efforts in sustainability and responsible car ownership.
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E-Class sits at the core and backbone of the Mercedes-Benz brand. Photos Provided To China Daily |
