Mercedes Benz at the 10th Auto Expo, 2010

Landing on Indian shores in 1995, Mercedes Benz made sure of a headstart over other premium luxury car manufacturers. They had the first mover's advantage and add to it the Mercedes Benz brand name and they managed to broad user base of more than 20,000 customers over 14 years. With the arrival of other players over subsequent years, their sales figures may have dipped marginally but they are still selling over 3000 units a year thanks to their aggressive marketting policies of bringing forth new and attractive models constantly at par with the world launches.

Even before the Auto Expo began, the Mercedes Benz launched the GL and the new S-Class on the 4th December. On the 5th, they presented the SLS and the Concept Fascination with a suggested hint of the SLS being launched in India before 2010 was out. The SLS as is evident comes with an AMG engine but more of that later. On the 6th Mercedes Benz launched their luxury 3 Axle Bus priced close to 90L and they even managed to sell 5 of them the very same day!

During my interaction at Mercedes Benz I was fortunate to have spent time with the Guido Brormann, Marketing head of Mercedes-AMG for the Middle East, Far East and now India with the increasing portfolio of AMG in India. The healthy AMG association with Mercedes Benz has given us models like the SLK55 sporting a 5.5L V8 engine, the SL63, the S65 which is a 6L V12 biturbo. The showstopper of the AMG portfolio evidently being the SLS 6.3. Mr Brorman explained certain technicalities of the SLS 63 which is in the same league as the Lamborghinis and the Ferraris of the world housing a 6208cc in V8 encased in a rear set front under the hood delivering a massive 571 bhp @6800 rpm. The engine is placed behind the front axle and also has a carbon fibre drive shaft! Mr. Brormann also explained the presence of the dry sump in the SLS AMG giving an extra clearance of 10 cms since there is no oil pan.

Mr. Brormann said, "Every AMG is handcrafted by a single technician and when the assembly and mounting of the engine is done, the technician's signature is placed on each engine."

AMG racing history dates back to 1972 when they were started competing in the 24 hour races of Germany, similar to the 24hour of Le Mans in France. "However we do not intend to get into Formula1 since there are already two teams with Mercedes Engines, it does not make sense us adding to it", adds Brorman. "But we do have a strong presence in Formula1. We run the safety car. We are ahead of everyone!" humours Mr. Brormann.

Talking about the alliance with Mercedes Benz he explained, "When Daimler and AMG decide on a project of building a vehicle, we work together, using resources together, over four to five years working with a common goal that had been decided at the very beginning of the project thus coming out with a vehicle that is one of the best that one experience in that segment."

How many of the SLS 6.3 do you estimate to sell in the world. To this Mr. Brormann replied,"We have launched the car in Europe in mid 2009. We are developping the right hand drive version for the other markets. We are looking at sales of 1000 units a year globally. And we do believe that India does have a niche market for such vehicles. Which is why, the moment the right hand drive version is ready, it will be launched in India."

Mr. Brorman subsequently went to open the hoods of the AMG cars displayed there to show the sporty placing of the engine for the car balance and handling, the signature of the technician on the handcrafted engines and the placement of the turbo, the simple aspirated SLS and several other immensely interesting technical aspects.

Having spent a very interesting morning in the esteemed company of some valuable workers in the Mercedes Benz work force, I would like to thank most importantly Mr. Brormann for his valuable time given to my unceasing questions and to Ms Ghazal Javed and Mr. Vinod Arukandan without whose help my experience at the Mercedes Benz stall would have been incomplete.



















The Concept "Fascination"










The Newly Launched SLS 6.3




















Engine Handcrafter by Robert Feiler


A Big Thanks to Mr. Guido Brormann


Having spent a very interesting morning in the esteemed company of some valuable workers in the Mercedes Benz work force, I would like to thank most importantly Mr. Brormann for his valuable time given to my unceasing questions and to Ms Ghazal Javed and Mr. Vinod Arukandan without whose help my experience at the Mercedes Benz stall would have been incomplete.

Sorry guys. Was not able to attend the g2g as my BP ditched me

^^ Front headlight looks much better than FZ16/S. The instrument cluster seems to be copied from CB 300 R which was launched in Brazil. The bike is using the same front tyre which as the R15.

It is at Hall-6, Mezanine Floor.

@Niks: Missed meeting you, would have been great to meet you at the Mega G2G!

Here are some more pictures of new Unicorn Sports Concept..















Source: motorbeam

I had to miss the G2G was on a tight schedule. Did meet Bandhav at expo and 2-3 xbhpians @5pm outside (i dont remember the names now )

damn , i cud not find the stall in the huge crowd

Thanks bro. Feels great to be back.

met ken sir, mg sir and roger sir. aryan sir was out on the gates so i was unable to meet him. I cant explain in words how good it felt to meet them after such a long time.

^ I totally agree with you. Why can't they just be transparent with his arrival, and arranged a well organized fan session, like they do abroad.

Switching OFF the lights! What a dangerous thing to do. The crowd could have hurt each other, abused ladies, damaged the arrangements (they did somewhat) and what not! How can they? How unprofessional is that, Yamaha?


I feel your pain man. Relax and take it easy, bro. Hope that sometime else you do get an opportunity... and I agree with your last line.

SHAME YAMAHA. (expected better from you)

Auto Expo Stall

The Stall at expo was like Good Thing Comes in Small Packages. 30 minutes was the maximum time i spent on the single stall and that was xBhp stall. I was mesmerised by Down To Earth nature of all the members over there. Saw the glimpse of the Coffee Table Book again today. Saw Ken da first time over there.....and i was lucky enough to talk to the other members as well. they shared there real experiences....nd was ready to shoot a tip as well...whenever i asked them for...Discussed with them there plans for Leh-Ladakh trip, i was amazed the way they were sharing there real experinces....and other interesting information about the religion called biking. you guys might not believe but when i came of out of the expo and the the joy of meeting xBhp members faded down...i realized that i haven't taken the single pic of the stall....with any of the members....how foolish i am!!!! It was the charisma of the community called xBhp which has taken all the attention and i couldn't even remember to take the pic. i would love to visit again, on sunday but only if the time allows, but it was wonderfull being there, and getting the real taste of what xBhp really is. Way to go guys....keep it up.
@ Rx : i remember u were busy with your wonderful cam (with do not disturb tag as well :P). if you have taken any pic when i was there...do post it here. (u must be thinking, how wud u recognize me, i knw foolish to ask u for this :P )

But guys how can i forget to click the pics over there....that is why i call myself...tourer and not the man in hurry.... I was enjoying my ride on the tracks of xBhp .

After the fair there was a official meet was there at the starting point (decided was gate number 7 ) but because of heavy traffic mite be, found all of them at the petrol station, ready to go for the official meet at saket.

There i waved my good bye to xBhp for today as i had the long day ahead.

Kudos to xBhp!!! Way to Go Guys.....Take me Along!! :P

>< |3 |-| P

CooL LeO.

Auto Expo today was a DISASTER...

Icing on this bitter cake was the ridiculous and absolutely unprofessional way Yamaha managed Rossi's first ever visit to India (probably last judging by today's experience). They restricted the entry to the pavilion 1hr before the event, then switched off the lights for reasons I don't understand.. this all created a hysteria and our Delhi crowd thought John Abraham was coming, so it was a mad scene... hundreds of people barging at the gates of Yamaha's pavilion, then hundreds more came to see what the hell is happening and then a big glass door broke and fell on the police team which was trying to contain the crowd.. all because more than half the idiots wanted to see John, then half of the rest of the idiots wanted to know who actually has come.. rest of the few who knew that it was Rossi couldn't see anything.. I got a glimpse of him from about 50 meters that too after climbing on my brothers shoulder!! And Yamaha did nothing to sort out the mystery.. I'm sure if would have just kept things normal & let people thru as normal things would have been better coz not many people (even youngsters) know Rossi and all the chaos caused by virtual John Abraham would have been saved.

Well I took out some of my frustration out.. when later we entered the pavilion, I called a Yamaha official who was standing on the stage with Mr. Adil Jal Darukhanwala & couple of foreigners and I very "politely" shouted "You didn't let the fans meet Valentino Rossi.. You should be ashamed of yourself... Shame on you".. and atleast 20 people turned around to witness my frustration.. I was little relieved but I can't stop thinking... I was only 50 meters away from my Absolute Favorite motorcycling Hero and I couldn't even take a picture of him let alone an autograph!!!

SHAME YAMAHA

I don't think so, check the FZ16 consol at below where same Engine trouble warning light and FZ16 does not have FI engine

FI Yamaha??

The SZ seems to have FI. Do correct me if I'm wrong.

Pic source: **********.in