Let the hot wheels roll

Mercedes launches Rs 95-lakh sedan, Chevrolet presents pocket-friendly Beat a day before Auto Expo begins

Mercedes launches Rs 95-lakh sedan, Chevrolet presents pocket-friendly Beat a day before Auto Expo begins

The 10th Auto Expo being held at Pragati Maidan in the city officially starts today. However, the curtain was raised with a bang on Monday, with luxury car maker Mercedes-Benz and the more pocket-friendly Chevrolet.

Can't beat it: The Chevrolet Beat being launched at an event in New Delhi on Monday. PIC/Imtiyaz Khan

The seven-day long show was kicked off a day in advance, forecasting the annual extravaganza may be much bigger than previous years.

German car giant Mercedes-Benz launched a new version of its luxury sedan S-Class and a sports utility vehicle GL priced at Rs 95 lakh and Rs 64.9 lakh respectively on Monday afternoon.

Luxury drive: Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Mercedes-Benz India Wilfried Aulbur poses with the brand's new sports utility vehicle GL

On the other hand, General Motors unveiled its ace in the small car segment -- the much-awaited Chevrolet Beat with an attractive tag of Rs 3.34 lakh for the base model and Rs 3.94 for the more advanced model.

"Beat can be a real game-changer in the Indian mini-car segment. With its stylish design, superb performance and safety, the Beat is destined to become an industry benchmark and a winner among consumers here," said GM India President and Managing Director Karl Slym.

The company's S-Class sedan being launched in New Delhi on Monday. PIC/Rajeev Tyagi

He said he expected the company to sell 5,000 units of the car per month in the domestic market.

Green wheel

Renault showcased its electric car on Monday, kick-starting the race among automobile companies to go green. Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit inaugurated the Renault Twizy ZE. A concept vehicle, the electric car, will be out on Indian roads by 2011. The company is planning to produce up to 500,000 units of the blue and white two-seater car, globally by 2014. Twizy has a single charge mileage of 100 kilometre with zero-emission. "Renault is introducing this new technology at the automobile exhibition. u00a0 The company says it is still developing the design and will take about a year to sell it. We will promote such cars which do not contribute to pollution," said Dikshit.