Mercedes Benz B Class Sports Tourer to Launch in India on Sept 18

German luxury car maker Mercedes is all set to driver its Benz B Class Sports Tourer to India on Sept 18th.

First unveiled in July at the Buddh International Circuit, the Sports Tourer is based on Mercedes' new MFA platform and is aimed to attract young car buyers. The seven- seater compact multi-purpose vehicle is expected to be pitted against Audi Q3 and BMW X1 which are in the ₹2.5 million price bracket.

"The B-Class opens a new segment of Sports Tourer in the Indian Motoring landscape. The introduction of the B-class continues Mercedes-Benz's legacy as pioneers in the auto Industry," Peter Honegg, Managing Director and CEO of Mercedes-Benz India, said earlier in July.

"The rich array of equipment, inspiring design, coupled with the highest standards of safety and comfort, makes the New B-Class an extremely appealing product for the adventurous new generation," he added.

Benz B Class Sports Tourer, which will be Mercedes Benz India's entry level product, will be available in both petrol and diesel variants. Initially, only the petrol variant will be brought to the country as the CKD operations of the local assembly unit at Chakan, Maharashtra, are yet to begin. Mercedes will then make available diesel variant once production at the facility commences sometime in 2013.

The Class Sports Tourer is said to feature a dashboard styled with SLS style air con vents with upholstered seats and AMG style steer wheel. It also packs a 1.6 litre four cylinder turbocharged aluminium engine that will give an acceleration from 0 to 100 kmph in 10.2 seconds to reach a maximum speed of 192 kmph, Rush Lane said.

The automaker is also likely to launch A-Class sports hatchback in the country in the coming year. As of now, Mercedes is seeking to expand its line-up in the Indian car market and is planning to invest ₹8.5 billion into the Chakan facility, Indiancarbikes.in said.