Mercedes adds petrol-powered GLS 400 to SUV range
08 Sep 2016
Mercedes-Benz India has added a petrol-powered variant to its full-size Mercedes GLS SUV range – the GLS 400, which joins the diesel-powered GLS 350d. The GLS range was recently given a mid-cycle refresh along with the new name GLS which was earlier called GL-class.
Like the GLE 400, the GLS 400 will be a fully-imported unit for now with local assembly to begin later. But at Rs82.90 lakh, the GLS 400 petrol is only Rs1 lakh more expensive than the locally assembled GLS 350d, priced at Rs81.90 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).
The GLS 400 comes with 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol engine churning out 333hp and 480Nm of torque. This is the same engine that also powers the Mercedes S400 sedan, the E400 Cabriolet and the recently-launched GLE 400. With the launch of the GLS 400, Mercedes now has a petrol variant available for all its models sold in India. The sedan is one of the eight models launched by Mercedes in India this year.
The company was hit hard by the ban on diesel engines of over 2000 cc capacity, and although the embargo has been lifted, the uncertainty around the fuel has prompted it to launch petrol variants of all its models.
Currently, the GLS 400 does not have a direct rival in India; however, unconfirmed reports suggest that Audi is readying a petrol-powered Q7 for India.