[nikhil.nayak]

Is there any news of the E450d coming to the Indian market? Just saw this drool worthy test drive video from Germany. Let's hope so for diesel fans like me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4qyWdoDvZE

[AJ56]

Personally I’d like to see the E53 and 63 drop as well. Hardly anything fast under 2 in our market currently (sub 4 second 0-100).

As these will be standard wheelbase versions and will take corners better than the stretched E450.

[Sensible_Speed]

Originally Posted by AJ56

Personally I’d like to see the E53 and 63 drop as well. Hardly anything fast under 2 in our market currently (sub 4 second 0-100).

As these will be standard wheelbase versions and will take corners better than the stretched E450.

Mercedes screwed the pooch with the C63. Now, they're scrambling to get the new 6 cylinder engine ready in time for the facelift. I hope the same doesn't happen with the E63 too.

Honestly, both BMW and Audi did a better job at making cars that go around corners better than the Merc saloons. What made the 'star' special, were those giant fire-breathing V8s they shoehorned into the C63 and E63. Those engines were clearly too much for the handling package, but that was it! These cars were constantly sideways and lighting the tires up. That's what gave AMG their reputation. Making these mad cars out of an otherwise sombre luxury package. The last gen 63 models had to give up the gigantic 6.3 V8s, so they shoved in bootloads of torque through the turbos to retain that madness. Sadly, this seems to have gone away completely as Mercedes is trying to compete with the traditionalists on their terms instead of doing what made AMGs so special in the first place.

What I would like to see is the C63 put on a diet and a stonking V8 in the nose that lights the rears up even if you so much as twitch your right toe. The E63 was always a bit more dynamic, but fun, all the same. Lightweight is the answer. The new M5 is universally panned because of how heavy the damn thing is. Mercedes have a golden opportunity to save the segment altogether now.

[DicKy]

Originally Posted by nikhil.nayak

Is there any news of the E450D coming to the Indian market? Just saw this drool worthy test drive video from Germany. Let's hope so for diesel fans like me.

https://www.Youtube.com/watch?v=o4qyWdoDvZE

Looking at how other premium launches have been recently, we have to be thankful that Merc atleast launched the E220D and E450, instead of just launching the E200 and calling it a day.

That said, looks like Merc is following BMW and is also weaning away from powerful diesel versions, atleast for their sedans in India. The C300D was stopped for the C300 AMG line. And now they launched the E450 instead of E450D.

[Dippy]

Originally Posted by DicKy

Looking at how other premium launches have been recently, we have to be thankful that Merc atleast launched the E220D and E450, instead of just launching the E200 and calling it a day.

That said, looks like Merc is following BMW and is also weaning away from powerful diesel versions, atleast for their sedans in India. The C300D was stopped for the C300 AMG line. And now they launched the E450 instead of E450D.

I was just going to post this and you beat me to it. Launching the E450 was a surprise really, and I have to say we are lucky to get even that. Else it would just be the E200 and E220d.

Big diesels are slowly becoming history in our country. Gone are the E350s, the 530d, and the A6 V6 TDIs. Those who own any of these should consider themselves lucky.

Come to think of it we hardly get any options compared to abroad even after these brands being in India for so many years now.

Forget the LWB E-Class. Give me a entry-level regular wheelbase E-Class without the hyperscreen and fabric seats and I would be happy with that. This is the model thats used as cabs in Germany.

[DicKy]

Originally Posted by Dippy

Big diesels are slowly becoming history in our country. Gone are the E350s, the 530d, and the A6 V6 TDIs. Those who own any of these should consider themselves lucky.

Considering our traffic conditions and fuel prices, big diesels were our practical V8 alternative.

Originally Posted by Dippy

Come to think of it we hardly get any options compared to abroad even after these brands being in India for so many years now.

True. Thats why (can't believe am saying this), I want the FTAs to open up the INR 50+ lakhs market. Anyway these are obscenely priced/taxed and our market volumes are not going up. Atleast let us have better choices.

Originally Posted by Dippy

Forget the LWB E-Class. Give me a entry-level regular wheelbase E-Class without the hyperscreen and fabric seats and I would be happy with that. This is the model thats used as cabs in Germany.

Sadly the E class taxi is dead. Merc wants to move upmarket and doesn't see any future for an E class taxi now. They would direct you to their vans if you are hellbent on buying a Merc taxi. And companies like VW and Toyota are more than happy to take over the market with their MPVs and crossovers. Looks like the era of the workhorse Merc is over.

Should have known when they stopped manual transmissions and more so, when they started plonking that massive touchscreen standard in all cars.

[nikhil.nayak]

I don't know why people are against big diesels. I'm completely in the diesel camp.
The fuel efficiency is amazing and I just love the torque of a nice big diesel engine.

After picking my E220d I'm not really looking for another LWB. I would be fine with a standard E450D just as offered in Germany. I was at the Mercedes Customer Center in Sindlefingen on Monday and got to see this fabulous black S450D on display there. Almost identical to a E450D ...