No, I don’t mean to say what you inferred from the topic of this post. But what I do intend to say is that BMW India’s short term run of being the highest seller of premium luxury automobiles has come to an end. Last year when the German firm entered into a vast number of segments with the launch of almost all the cars from its line up, its competitors were left high and dry. Infact the company sold so many cars last year that it out numbered the much experienced Mercedes-Benz in car sales. Yes a big blow to the people from Stuttgart. They took it so seriously that a turn around was aimed at. And the result is for all of us to see. Mercedes has sold more cars then Bavarian rival through out the entire seven months of the year. It also has posted records of sorts, with the highest ever sales in its Indian journey. Can BMW match up? Yes surely they can, with their upcoming and highly awaited X1 entry level SUV. Interesting choices ahead for luxury car buyers indeed. Now only if Audi slashed prices and joined the fray.

Agreed cars are more comfortable and much more safer but can they be as much fun and fast as this.

Now if football was this much fun, who would miss it anyways?

The million dollar question is, should we have one in India? I don’t think so!

Can this car displace the S-Class by being the new gadgets on wheel?

Mercedes-Benz Financial, which has received more than $5 million in lease and loan payments from customers via their mobile phone devices since becoming the first auto finance company to establish that payment channel late last year, is now taking its mobile strategy to the showroom floor to benefit dealers and customers. Mercedes-Benz Financial today announced that it is putting the Apple iPad into the hands of its dealers, becoming the first automotive finance company to give dealers mobile access to its proprietary point-of-sale dealer system called MB Advantage. In doing so, Mercedes-Benz Financial is one of the first companies to adapt the consumer-oriented iPad as a mobile business tool.

MB Advantage on the iPad will give dealership sales personnel instant access to marketing programs for specific models, quicker turn time on the credit application process, and increase speed and efficiency on the return of lease vehicles. Improvements to MB Advantage on iPad, based on dealer feedback, will be incorporated before potentially making the mobile device available to all Mercedes-Benz dealerships later this year. That launch was followed in March by giving customers who use smart phones the same capability to manage their Mercedes-Benz Financial accounts from their mobile devices. That has resulted in over 15,000 visitors, more than 2,000 payments and $1.5 million received in payments.

In India we give alot of importance to mileage and price of a vehicle. Seldom do we check the horsepower rating or 0-100 timings. Our buying decision resides on the km per litre rather than the top speed. No wonder in the average horsepower in our country is less than 100hp. Whereas in the United States an average passenger car produces 247hp and reaches 100 kmph in less than 9 seconds.

[Source: Auto Insurance for Autoblog.com]