Mercedes Benz launches “most premium SUV in Indian market” GL 350CDI BlueEfficiency

German automobile major Mercedes Benz yesterday launched its ''most premium sport utility vehicle in the Indian market'' in Baner, near Pune, yesterday.

The GL 350CDI BlueEfficiency comes in two variants - GL Executive and GL Luxury priced at Rs63.57 lakh and Rs68.48 lakh (ex-showroom Mumbai).

The seven-seater luxury model features a 7 G-Tronic gearbox, 4Matic permanent all-wheel drive, electrically folding third row of seats and a panoramic sunroof. Speaking to journalists on the occasion, managing director and CEO of Mercedes Benz India Dr Wilfried Aulbur said, ''In its segment, the GL-Class is the largest SUV and the only one that offers full-size third row seats with independent AC vents. It has exemplary head and leg room. The BlueEfficiency tag is a statement of its environmental compatibility.''

He added that safety had been given special attention in the design of the SUV and the models have been equipped with the pre-safe preventive occupant protection system, a world first in this market segment. The crash-responsive head restraints allowed for fast response from the safety system to support to the heads of driver and front seat occupants in case of a rear-end impact.

The car reaches a speed of 0 to 100 kilometres per hour in 9.5 seconds. It reaches a top speed of 210 kmph and has a consumption 9.7 litres of fuel per 100 km. The SUV boasts of special off-road features such as 'downhill speed regulation' and hill-start assist.

Aulbur said, ''The model is aggressively priced as we would like to occupy the luxury SUV sector in India, which has a space for 9,000-10,000 units a year.'' He said the luxury car maker had plans to expand with showrooms and dealerships in Tier-2 and Tier-3 markets like Goa, Bhubaneshwar, Indore, Aurangabad and Surat.