IAB Report - 2015 Mercedes C Class to be imported initially, only petrol for now

The C Class will get the LED headlight system in India and much more.

Mercedes-Benz India will launch the new C Class on November 25 after showcasing it at the CeBIT exhibition this week. While it may certainly come as good news that the brand has brought forward the launch of the car (from the earlier planned launch in early 2015), the news here may come as a bit of a disappointment.

Firstly, the initial set of cars will be imported into the country via the CBU route which is a sure sign that prices are going to be relatively higher than expected. Assembly of the new C Class would start at Mercedes-Benz India's plant next year.

Also, initially, the C Class will be sold only with a petrol engine. The engine in question is the 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbocharged motor producing 181 bhp and 300 Nm of torque. A 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox is paired to this motor, with the official fuel efficiency claim pegged at 14.74 km/l.

Also read: Mercedes GLE Coupe exterior and interior snapped

For the Indian market, the C Class will get features like LED headlights (segment first), PRE-SAFE, ESP, ASR, 7 airbags, Hill start assist, ambient lighting, a panoramic sunroof, keyless start, a 13-speaker Burmester audio system and an 8.4-inch infotainment display with a touchpad.

Competitors: BMW 3 Series, Volvo S60, Audi A4
Expected Price: INR 30-35 lakhs, ex-Showroom
Launch date: November 25