Mercedes V-Class Luxury MPV set for India Launch in Early 2019

German luxury carmaker Mercedes Benz is all set to launch the V-Class luxury MPV in India early next year. According to an Autocar India report, the new V-Class will be launched in India in January 2019 and will be the first launch from the German carmaker for the 2019 calendar year.

The Mercedes Benz V-Class for India will be offered with only one engine option – a 2.0-litre turbocharged diesel from the OM654 engine family that powers the current C-Class and the E-Class All Terrain. The common rail injection diesel engine which features a single turbocharger produces 192 Bhp and 400 Nm of peak torque. The engine comes paired with a 9-speed automatic gearbox. The OM654 engine on the V-Class will be compliant with BS-VI emission norms thanks to the use of a diesel particulate filter (DPF), a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) unit and an AdBlue tank.

The new V-Class will be third attempt by Mercedes to enter the minivan market in India after two failed attempts with the MB100 and MB140 in 1999 and the R-Class in 2011. The V-Class will be imported into from Spain as a Completely Built Up (CBU), which the publication claims will help lower the sticker price slightly thanks to a lower cost of production compared to that of a V-Class imported from Germany. If the demand for the MPV is high enough, Mercedes-Benz will examine the option of local assembly for the V-Class.

Autocar claims that the new V-Class will be priced between Rs 75-80 lakh (ex-showroom) and that it will be targetted at the hospitality industry (high-end hotels and resorts) and at people with a high net worth, who currently do not have any option above the Toyota Innova when looking for a luxury MPV.

Autocar states that Mercedes will bring the V-Class luxury MPV in two guises – a 6-seater for individual owners and a 7-seater that will be targetted for commercial users like hotels. The 6-seater version of the V-Class will be highly customizable with swivelling seats and the option for a central table. The V-Class is also offered in sleeper guise, but there is no news if this version could be offered to Indian customers.

The cabin of the new V-Class will feature a whole load of tech with parts borrowed straight off the C-Class and S-Class. The interiors will get a very premium feel thanks to the use of high-quality material like unlacquered wood and Napa leather. The V-Class sold in international markets come in three guises – compact (4,895mm), long (5,140mm) and extra-long (5,370mm). India is expected to get the long version of the V-Class. The new V-Class for India is expected to come packed with a host of safety features multiple airbags, ABS, Traction control and many other including a crosswind assistance system and a fatigue detection system.