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The Performance Drive 2013 is a way to have customers and enthusiasts get an experience of Mercedes Benz cars.



The initiative started with:

- The Star Drive program in 2010:

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Thread 2

- It went on with the AMG driver training academy in 2012:

Thread Link



2013 has CEO Eberhard Kern taking charge; the focus areas as per Mr. Kern are:

- Launch of new products.
- Potential owners & enthusiasts experiencing Mercedes Benz cars.
- Stronger retail network.
- More training and consulting.
- Cost of ownership.



Mr. Kern wants Mercedes Benz customers, enthusiasts, aspiring owners etc. to be able to get a real world feel of Mercedes Benz cars. Mercedes launched www.mercedesbenzperformancedrive.in as a single touch point for all of the six programs.

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Stardrive experience

A weekend program that a participant can complete in two hours. Entry is by invitation only. The program has been enhanced from previous years by introducing a slalom course this year onward. The Stardrive experience would be conducted in 21 cities covering metros, tier 1 and tier 2 cities.

To be an invitee, register yourself at the portal.
This program covers the following four areas.

Stardrive:

You get a chance to drive a Mercedes on a course set out by experts.

Safety demonstration:

Through 'experience safety', participants get a brief demonstration of the safety package Mercedes calls "PRE-SAFE". You get a demo of safety systems in action by professional drivers. The course shows the behavior of a Mercedes while it's on a collision course, or when the driver loses control.

The E350 on a slalom demonstrating the PRE-SAFE package:


EPS and ABS on display:


Experience Expertise:

Participants are put through a slalom course in each Mercedes Benz model series to experience different suspension setups, as well as characteristics of direct-steer systems and Airmatic. Participants will be trained to put in use these technologies on the slalom. Finally, the participant gets behind the wheel of a Mercedes to put the training to use.

SUV Demonstration:

In this demonstration, a professionally trained driver will take you through a staged offroad track that is custom built for these mammoth SUVs. A 40 degree climb and a 40 degree descent gives you a demo of hill assist and downhill speed regulation : Detailed Thread.

The schedule for 2013 is out on their website.

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AMG Driver training academy

The AMG driver training academy takes a step forward this year. 2013 brings in the advanced training course, in addition to the basic course that was introduced in 2012.

Basic Training:

A foundation course at Buddh international circuit covering theory and practical aspects of the AMG range of cars. Day 1 covers theoretical briefing, followed by an interactive session with former Motorsport drivers. Day 2 is action packed. Participants get trained by instructors on various aspects of driving a high performance car on a race track. The course also covers training on slaloming, braking and handling over / under steer. On completion of the course, you get guided drives on the handling course. Finally, there is a ride in the AMG racing taxi.

The basic course will be divided into six batches each, with a maximum of eight participants per batch. Anyone above 18 years of age can accompany a participant.

Participation fee: Rs. 75,000/- per person per session (Rs. 50,000/- for Mercedes owners).

Advanced Training:

A theory course on day one followed by a two day intensive track session, under the guidance of professional instructors. An option to use an AMG provided by Mercedes (or your own Merc). Professional training shows you the limits of AMGs in any situation.

Onboard computers will be set up for data recording and video analysis to fine tune your driving skills. The focus of this program is handling high performance cars around a race track and improving your driving skills. Currently, advanced training is only available in Germany and will be launched in India later in 2013.

Participation fee: Rs. 1,00,000/- per person per session.

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Star Off-Road Experience

A brand new SUV track was unveiled at the Mercedes factory in Chakan. The track has been custom built for demonstrating the capabilities of Mercedes Benz SUVs, the GL and ML range. Currently, there is a 45 degree hill climb and a 45 degree descent. These ramps are designed to display downhill speed regulation and hill climb assist features of the Mercs. An oval ramp helps demonstrate suspension capabilities as well. The SUVs comfortably go around the ramp at a 45 degree bank without much hoopla on their Airmatic suspension. A boulder section is set up to demonstrate the axle articulation, as well as the electronics that cut off or add adequate power (as necessary) to wheels that lose traction. The track isn't complete as we saw some sections that were under construction.

Descent at 45 degrees. To give you a layman's perspective of the gradient, I couldn't walk on that descent without the fear of a fall:


When you are onboard an SUV climbing a 45 degree slope, all you can see is the sky. Long poles are placed to ensure that you judge your path:




Hill assist is a neat feature for offroad rookies. It holds the SUV in position, preventing a backward roll until engine power is applied to the wheels:


An oval ramp at 45 degrees. Looks easier than it actually is:


The GL500 with three wheels on the ground:


The boulder section where we got an articulation demo:


The track is well laid out and available to use four times in 2013. The cost of participation is Rs. 20,000. A guided tour of the Mercedes plant is an added bonus. You do not need to be a Mercedes Benz owner to participate.

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Young Star Driver Program

Launched in association with the FMSCI, this program aims at finding young talent aspiring to make a career in motorsports. This is a program for those individuals between 15 to 25 years of age. A nationwide evaluation process will shortlist 12 drivers from all enrollments received on the portal. These 12 drivers will be invited to the Buddh International Circuit and tested for their skill behind the wheel. Three finalists will then be selected for advanced training in Germany first, and thereon for pro training. Finally, these three individuals will make it on to the Masters SLS AMG GT3 training.

Star track day experience

Targetted toward corporates who want to provide a performance experience at the Buddh International circuit. Mercedes would help host a range of team building programs, corporate days etc. at the BIC.

"Corporate czars" is another part of the star track day experience aimed at corporate bigwigs who want to have a track day experience in AMGs. A two day racing event following a F1 pattern of qualifying on day one and a full blown race on day two.

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International Driving Program

World tour in your Mercedes:

Start with your G-class in Poland and travel through Russia, Kazakhstan, China, Tibet, Nepal and Bhutan before entering India. A 47 day tour through various terrains and places of interest. The tour covers Moscow, Taklamakan desert, Potala Palace (in Lhasa) and climbing to the base camp of Mount Everest. A total journey of about 17,000 kms ending in India.

Participation fee:

Rs. 19,00,000/- per person in self-owned Mercedes SUV.
Rs. 21,00,000/- for two persons.

Dates:

16th Sept - 1st Nov 2013

[GTO]

Thread moved from the Assembly Line to the Indian Car Scene. Thanks for sharing!

[rajeev k]

Autocar India has sent mail about this proramme to its registered members.
The brochure of this Mercedes Benz performance drive is available in the following link
http://www.mercedesbenzperformancedr...ure/index.html