[a4anurag]

On the 2nd of July at 8pm or so I get a message from my friend Mr. Madhav that he had a pass to the Off-road event + GLC unveiling being organized by Mercedes and if I was interested to join him which was conducted the next day (i.e. on 3rd July)?!



Initially I did not want to go but somehow decided and gave him an ‘Aye’. Pinged him on the confirmation over WhatsApp and decided the time to meet up at his place by 8am.

Venue for the event was Hotel Novotel at Airport, Shamshabad with the Reporting time being 9am. We reached the venue by 9:30am and got ourselves registered post which a small declaration was signed and then all of us were introduced to the cars waiting outside.

In the meanwhile, the cars were out on their first run, we were looking at the cars on display and also chatting with the other people who had come to attend the event along with chaps from Mercedes a.k.a Mahavir Motors (The dealer for Mercedes Benz).

Cars on display were:

1. GLE
2. GLA
3. GLC (Unveiled)
4. G-Wagon AMG
5. C63 AMG

Course of the Drive - Sorry to put it in such vague form but that's how I can put it down from my mind:

• From the parking lot a drive of 500m to narrow path with shrubs with different elevations that leads to the 30 degree side incline,
  
  
• From there one needs to align the car straight to climb a muddy hill that needs a 4WD car on full power;
  
  
• Coming down from it is a near vertical like drop in elevation;
  
  
• This leads to axle twisters and then some drive over rocky terrain;
  
  
• Then comes a steep hill descend that needs to be tackled using DSR;
  
  
• After it was a small drive through water and then rumblers and chicken holes;
  
  
• Last but not the least some open ground flat area to know the cars acceleration and braking capabilities and then finally back to the parking lot.

Introduction, Briefing and Registration


Team of Instructors and sales from Mahavir Motors


The 5 cars for the drive standing in line (GLA, GLC, GLE, GL, GLA again!)


GLE


GLA


GLC


G-Wagon


G-Wagon Alloys - Droolworthy


G-Wagon Interiors


C63 AMG


The Badging


Cars on Display:

[a4anurag]

Mercedes GLA

Trundling through narrow paths being followed by GLC


Trundling through narrow paths


Going Off-road


Mud Kicking


Another click of the Mud Kicking


Getting rough at a muddy incline


Approaching the 30 Degree Side-Incline


Completing the side incline


On the Axle Twisters


Wading through water


Wading through water


Wading through water


Wading through water


Flat muddy roads lets you stretch your legs

[a4anurag]

Mercedes Benz GLC

GLC


Another View


Passing through the Shrubs


Sitting in the GLC as a rear passenger during the first run.


Steep descend that needed DSR (Downhill Speed Regulator)


See the DSR engaged with the required speed limit set


At the 30 degree side incline


Another run on the return over the side incline


As a passenger at the rear in Side incline. It was even more uncomfortable.


Water wading


Another shot of the GLC while wading water

[a4anurag]

3) Mercedes Benz GLE 350d 4MATIC

Front 3 quarters


Side View


Rear 3 quarters


Front end


Rear end


Approaching the Axle twisters


At the Axle twisters


Front Camera in Action


Passing through the Shrubs








At the 30 degree side incline


Another shot from rear


Passing through it when I am on the driving seat


Steep descend with DSR ON (Speed set at 5 kmph)


Descending


A very sharp drop in elevation - We were asked to hold in this position for a picture


Hill Climb approaching


At the foot of the hill


At the middle


Almost cleared it


Cleared


Me in the drivers seat grinning ear to ear!

[a4anurag]

4) Mercedes Benz GL 350 CDI 4MATIC

[a4anurag]

Since the event did have the unveiling of the GLC in Hyderabad even though it was launched Pan India, Mahavir Motors had this event organised to showcase this car too and the same available at the drive.

Mercedes Benz GLC 220d 4MATIC

What I Like:

• Interiors design is an excellent departure from the older generation Mercedes cars that had so many buttons on the central controls that felt like a Nokia Phone
• Headlights design
• Alloys
• Seats can be fully adjusted with 3 Memory functions
• Feel of buttons and overall quality

What I Didn't Like

• Rear seat space
• Pricing (Almost 75L OTR in Hyderabad)
• Headlight & Wipers stalk is on the left side whereas gear lever (P, R, N, D) is on the right.
• Infotainment Screen should have been bigger and better integrated
• Use of Beige in lower half of the interiors that are prone to soiling

Here are some pictures:

GLC Under wraps


Unveiled and the Team alongside


Front 3 quarters


Another front view


View from right side


Front End


Alloys


B.I.G 3 Star


Central Console


Circular AC Vents and controls for AC (Both front & Rear passengers)


Cup Holders and Some storage area


Drivers side controls


Memory Seats


Rear Seat


With 3 on board the seat - Too cramped


ICE Screen - Feels Aftermarket. Wish it was integrated better


Instrumentation Console


Left side vent and One of the Speakers in the car


Rear cam ON


Slightly hard Plastics


Sunroof and a view of the controls


Passengers view of the driver's area


A whole view of the Dashboard

[a4anurag]

It is the first time I am going on an Off-Road Event and that too on a Mercedes car that costs 1 Crore!

I was grinning from ear to ear when I was getting out of the GLE 350d CDI 4MATIC


Madhav on the driver's seat and me on the passenger's seat



Wish I had the moolah to get the GLE, I'll definitely get on e in White colour and hope they upgrade the interiors of the GLE from its current avatar to what is seen on the GLC minus the 'Tab' like Infotainment screen.

Last but not the least thanks to Mercedes for hosting the event and Madhav to call me for the event and get an experience to drive these cars. All the pictures are taken by Madhav's mobile and also shared by Mercedes guys taken by their official photographer.

[Eddy]

Thread moved from the Assembly Line. Thanks for sharing the report.

[Tejas@perioimpl]

Thanks for sharing the report Anurag. It's always good to read customer experiences after finishing designed offroad tracks.

[a4anurag]

Originally Posted by Tejas@perioimpl

Thanks for sharing the report Anurag. It's always good to read customer experiences after finishing designed offroad tracks.

Thanks Tejas Sir. I am not that fluent in putting the course of the drive actually in words.

Also either of us didn't expect it be so long an Off Road Drive event or else I would taken much better pictures of the course and the cars plus videos to support.

What I didn't like mainly was Mercedes guys were clueless about who was the photographer and they were of no help when I asked them for videos. All I got is set of pictures. To me videos do more justice than pictures.

Shall take due care the next time any such event happens and IF I am called.

[madhav14]

Nice Compilation Anurag. Thanks for accompanying me for the event. We had a great time there.

And yeah, you were grinning ear-to-ear for the entire event. That can be clearly seen in all the pics you were in

Though I have attended a couple of sports car experience programs in Buddh Circuit etc, this was the first time I have experienced an "OFF-ROAD ADVENTURE" like this and it was amazing.

The capabilities of those SUVs just blew me away. They were literally gliding on all those terrains whether we are going uphill, downhill or on the rocks, mud, puddles etc. Believe me when I say this - the pictures doesn't do any justice to what we have experienced there. Some turns and slopes were far more scary than we can see in those pictures.

In some places where we were struck going uphill with around 50-60 degree incline combined with mud and dirt, all we had to do is to make sure the car is in OFF ROAD MODE and just floor the throttle. The car pretty much took care of everything and climbed the incline with flying colours. I literally didn't expect this kind of performance from that kind of luxury SUVs.

Finally, thank you once again Anurag for attending the event with me, taking the pictures and for doing the complete followup alone with Mercedes guys for getting all these official photos and compiling this review.