[S@ndy]

Mercedes Benz India, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Daimler AG, is all set to bring the ML63 AMG in India on 15th of May. Mr. Eberhard Kern, MD and CEO of Mercedes Benz India, has expressed the company's interest in the AMG versions of their SUV's. Following the launch of GL63 two weeks ago, Mercedes is all set to fire up this niche segment.

As we all know, Audi is now the King of the hill while the ex-king, BMW has toppled back to the third spot. The head-honchos at BMW must be having some sleep-less nights! Why? Even Mercedes have overtaken them to grab the 2nd spot. Now, Mercedes is vying for the 1st position where Audi is standing at. So, they've loaded into their aggressive mode, and are launchig a slew of products to catch the fancy of the Indian clientele.

The ML63 is an attempt to boost their sales in the country so as to break the 10,000 unit barrier, which, again has been broken by Audi in India.



Powering the heart of this AMG is a 5.5-liter V8 thumping out 525 bhp and a titanic 700 Nm of torque. It takes only two-tenth's of a second less than 5 seconds to reach the 100 kmph mark.

Also on offer would be an AMG Performance Pack which bumps up the power to 557 bhp and torque to 760 Nm. This brute performance SUV uses an AMG SPEEDSHIFT PLUS 7-speed gearbox which sends power to all four wheels using Mercedes’s 4MATIC system in a 40:60 front:rear split.

The ML63 bags a fuel-efficiency figure of 8.76 km's per litres in the European driving tests with CO2 emissions at 276 g/km.

It would be imported into the country via the CBU route. It doesn't seem to have any direct competitor here in India. Manufacturers usually prevent bringing the top-end full-fat Petrol SUV's in India due to their non-existant demand. Macan Turbo may be one, when it is launched in India. Cayenne Turbo isn't here. Neither X5 M nor RSQ7 are available. The only worthy competitor seems to be the Range Rover Sport V8.

Keep revvin'
S@ndy

[Aditya]

Mercedes-Benz is all set to expand its AMG range of high performance vehicles in India. The German automaker has revealed that it will launch the ML 63 AMG SUV on May 15, 2014 - exactly a month after it launched the larger GL 63 AMG. The launch will take place at the AMG Performance Centre in Delhi.

The ML 63 AMG looks similar to the regular ML. However, certain cosmetic upgrades help us to tell the two apart. The AMG version gets V8 Biturbo badges, restyled bumpers, flared wheel arches, side skirts, larger and sportier alloy wheels and two chromed twin tailpipes. The interior features an AMG instrument cluster, AMG four-spoke steering wheel, AMG sports seats, AMG sports pedals and AMG door sills.

Under the hood, the ML 63 AMG has a 5.5-litre, V8, Biturbo petrol power plant that produces 525 hp @ 6800 rpm and 700 Nm of torque @ 5200 rpm. The engine is mated to an AMG Speedshift Plus 7G-Tronic Automatic transmission. Mercedes claims that the car can do a 0-100 kph sprint in 4.8 seconds and keep going till its electronically limited 250 kph top speed. Owners can opt for an AMG Driver's Package, which will see the top speed raised to 280 kph!

Link to Team-BHP News Article

[neeld]

ML 63 AMG has been launched @ Rs. 1.49 crore (ex showroom Delhi).

Here's the link to the news article from Autocar.

http://www.autocarindia.com/auto-new...re-385552.aspx

Also note the basic cost of ML 63 AMG is only between 29.92 to 31 lakhs before duties, taxes & profit margins:





Source:

www.zauba.com

[parrys]

Mercedes-Benz India today inaugurated India’s first AMG Performance Center in Delhi at T & T Motors and also launched their performance SUV - the ML 63 AMG priced at Rs. 1.49 crores ex-showroom Delhi.

Link to news article.

[Akshay1234]

Absolutely ridiculous pricing. I don't understand why Mercedes India prices the AMGs so horribly. Its killing their sales. The price should be at least 20% cheaper. Considering the excellent pricing for the normal ML and GL I don't know where its gone wrong.

[Yeldo]

With such "niche - within - niche" products, I wonder what Mercedes is trying to achieve. They better add some more features (like a reverse camera) to the E Class or a 350CDI variant to it, or increase the availability of the ML250CDI and GL350CDI, or get the S class Diesel to the market pronto. Ignoring such bread and butter segments like the E class and getting distracted on ML & GL AMG variants which would sell in single digits IMHO is not a sound plan.

[vineethvazhayil]

Originally Posted by neeld

Also note the basic cost of ML 63 AMG is only between 29.92 to 31 lakhs before duties, taxes & profit margins:

Any idea how that 29 to 31 lakhs price is determined? I know for one that this car costs well over 100,000 USD in the USA. Ticking the options boxes can easily take it into 120k USD territory. Adding the 100% + import duty etc for the CBU car - We should be looking at around 250k USD - which sounds about right considering the price is around 1.5 crore rupees?

[neeld]

Originally Posted by vineethvazhayil

Any idea how that 29 to 31 lakhs price is determined? I know for one that this car costs well over 100,000 USD in the USA. Ticking the options boxes can easily take it into 120k USD territory. Adding the 100% + import duty etc for the CBU car - We should be looking at around 250k USD - which sounds about right considering the price is around 1.5 crore rupees?

I have no idea how they come to this 29 - 31 lakhs figure. May be its just the ex factory cost.