Mercedes delivers a full luxury lineup for expo
Mercedes delivers a full luxury lineup for expo
By Russell Williamson
VISITORS to the Jakarta Auto Expo in the market for a luxury car will have a perfect opportunity to evaluate all the options with Mercedes lining up its full model range.
Pride of place will no doubt be given to the new E-Class mid- sized sedan which was launched into the Indonesian market last month.
The distinctive oval-eyed E-Class is recognized as being among the best luxury sedans in the world.
Offered with a choice of two engines, the four-cylinder 2300cc and six-cylinder 3200cc, the new E-Class features all the luxury appointments customers have come to expect in a Mercedes, including climate-control air-conditioning, availability of leather trim, quality sound system and ride and handling to match.
However, safety and environmental concerns have also been a major priority in the new car which has received numerous awards around the world.
The E-Class is the first car in Indonesia to incorporate side air bags, in addition to driver and passenger air bags, to help reduce the injury potential for occupants in the event of an accident.
Large crumple and deformation zones with greater energy absorbing properties as well as rigid body and strong passenger cell also improve passive safety.
However, passive safety is only part of the equation, with active safety -- the means of avoiding an accident in the first place -- also playing a significant role.
Electronic technology such as an antilock brake system, which stops the car's wheels locking and therefore, enables the driver to maintain control in heavy braking, and electronic traction support to stop the driving wheels spinning when moving off on a slippery road are standard equipment.
An acceleration skid control, which operates at all road speeds and is activated when either one or both driving wheels lose traction, is available as an option.
On the environmental front, a lower vehicle weight and improved aerodynamic styling have allowed the new E-Class to return fuel consumption of 6 percent lower on average than the previous car.
All plastics are labeled for ease of recycling and a number of recycled and natural materials are used.
Also on display is the flagship S320, which slipped quietly onto the market earlier in the year.
As the largest Mercedes-Benz on sale in Indonesia the S-Class is a truly imposing vehicle and offers outstanding comfort and accommodation.
The S320 is a huge presence, with all the equipment needed to justify an equally huge price tag that sits comfortably in competition with its BMW counterpart, the 730. All S-Class models have the on-road composure typical of the marque, although it cannot be said they have a sporting flavor. Noise levels, due to tricks such as double-glazing on the side windows, are particularly low.
The third passenger car on the Mercedes stand is the baby of the lineup - although this is no small car - the C200.
The C200 features a powerful 2000cc engine, which is a bored version of the C180's power plant.
This engine develops 100kW at 5500rpm (10kW more than 180) and 190Nm at 4000rpm (a 20Nm gain).
Despite the smaller size of the C-Class, it still carries with it all the prestige and luxury features that are expected of the marque behind the three pointed star.