KUALA LUMPUR: Mercedes-Benz Malaysia (MBM) is upbeat on retaining its leadership position in the luxury limousine segment with the introduction of its flagship model, the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class.
MBM vice president sales and marketing passenger cars Mark Raine said the S-Class family was the definitive statement of luxury in its purest form for the discerning customers.
“With the launch of this exclusive collection, we proudly underline our position as a leading luxury lifestyle brand in the automotive segment,” Raine said at during the launch of the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class, today.
Raine added that the S-Class was reinvented with unrivalled craftsmanship, luxurious appointment, class-leading features, a modern powertrain and the highest technological standards.
The development work on the new S-Class was extensive with 6,500 new components including new features and functions such as Active Distance Control DISTRONIC and Active Steering Assist, AIRMATIC suspension as well as MULTIBEAM LED headlamps.
Since 2013, Mercedes-Benz has sold over 300,000 S-Class saloons and currently there are six different S-Class variants.
Raine said MBM’s former hybrid version of the S-Class has been a success model for the German marquee locally, with over 4,000 units sold since its launched in 2014.
“With the new S-Class model, we have made the next step by introducing new engine that is very dynamic and power for the locally assembled model.
“We also have the imported S-Class variants like the Coupe, Cabriolet and the Maybach,” he said.
Raine said there was no specific contribution of this vehicle to MMB’s group, but rather the S-Class would find its way to the right customers.
MBM president and chief executive officer Dr Claus Weidner said MBM was looking forward to continuing the company’s success from existing loyal customers across all of its vehicles segment.
“We are confident that we can continue to be successful with the S-Class. The product itself represents a modern luxury with all the technical innovations as well as its state-of-the-art design,” he said.
Weidner said MBM initially would offer the standard model S450 L, followed by a possibility of a hybrid version of the new S-Class in due course.
“However, it all depends on the demand, then we will decide. The S-Class is an important pillar for us. We are not just looking at volume as the car represents the Mercedes-Benz brand,” he said.
The new model comes in four variants: the S450 L AMG Line, S560 Cabriolet, Mercedes-AMG S63 Coupe and Mercedes-Maybach S560.
Standard variant is powered by a 3.0-litre six-cylinder petrol engine and paired with a 9-G-TRONIC automatic transmission, producing 367hp with 500Nm of torque.
The new S-Class is offered in locally-assembled format as an S450 L AMG Line variant, priced from RM699,888.