[Dieselite]

Originally Posted by Turbanator

Maybe if someone can use paint or something to overlap the spy shots we can surely confirm

If you see the door shut line which runs vertically in the image you posted and the spy shot it is identical. Also the shut line ends in between the rear glass and quarter glass in both. The proportions from that point to the rear of the car are identical. The masking film is a give away !

It really looks like a LWB. Autocar just featured a scoop in their latest issue about the LWB.

EDIT - the curve of the door shut line on the regular new E class is much dufferent and parabolic whereas the LWB and the spy shot herein has a straightish shut line. I am positive that the spy shot is of a LWB car !

[audioholic]

Originally Posted by Dieselite

This looks like the long wheelbase version ?

For a fact the CKD ground work for LWB E class had begun late last year in the MBIL works in pune. Lets hope we get this segment changer real soon on our roads !

Originally Posted by Dieselite

If you see the door shut line which runs vertically in the image you posted and the spy shot it is identical. Also the shut line ends in between the rear glass and quarter glass in both. The proportions from that point to the rear of the car are identical. The masking film is a give away !

It is the LWB indeed, you can take my word . If they can understand the chinese market, why not cater to the Indian market as well?

The new E-Class has an impressive front passenger cabin, but there is nothing at the rear to set it apart from the C class. Hence, getting the LWB version here would be offering a mini S-Class at a cheaper price, which will definitely be a steal for those chaffeur driven people. Just make a prospective customer sit at the back, and the booking is done

The back seat of the S-Class is probably the best way for anyone to get from one place to another. Absolute bliss. This car might offer at least half of what the S offers. But to be frank, I dont like the way it is stretched, the rear door and quarter glass. They could have done better.

[ajmat]

Having been in a W212 LWB in China, I can testify that the rear space is big. YOu might wonder why one needs an S Class

[Dieselite]

I think the current pricing trends leave a huge gap in sedans between 60 lakh and 1.3 crores. I think the LWB will sit pretty at around 80 lakh and steal a bit of thunder from the big barges.

[Dieselite]

Well well....it seems we will be getting ONLY the LWB model...according to autocar India at least.

Should be an interesting buildup !

[audioholic]

Originally Posted by Dieselite

Attachment 1579827

Well well....it seems we will be getting ONLY the LWB model...according to autocar India at least.

Should be an interesting buildup !

Not sure about that. That will create a hollow in the lower end of that segment, especially when they have to compete with the 5er and A6. Since this LWB variant will be priced at a premium, it will be a bad idea to omit the regular version, since they will lose out some numbers to the competition. Imagine a person who wants to buy an entry level A6 or 5 series doesnt have an option of going for an E Class at the same price bracket. Hence we might see both variants. The LWB will be the full blown variant with COMAND and stuff, whereas the regular E class will be a slightly stripped down variant with lesser bells and whistles.

And tech like evasive steering etc wont show up in the Indian market. The driver assistance package has not yet been adapted for India.

[lamborghini]

Could be that the launch edition would consist of LWB cars, and the smaller engines and regular wheelbase would be launched with the CKD configuration.
Either ways, it is high time a manufacturer plugs the difference between the E Class segment, and the S Class segment; and given how aggressive Mercedes has been off late - it is no surprise they are going to be setting the trend in this regard.

Personally, I'd love the E350d LWB - not mammoth size as the S Class, understated, and luxurious! Just hope they have the ride sorted out - especially over ridges, ruts, potholes, and manholes!

[Dieselite]

Originally Posted by audioholic

LWB variant will be priced at a premium, it will be a bad idea to omit the regular version, since they will lose out some numbers to the competition. Imagine a person who wants to buy an entry level A6 or 5 series doesnt have an option of going for an E Class at the same price bracket. Hence we might see both variants. The LWB will be the full blown variant with COMAND and stuff, whereas the regular E class will be a slightly stripped down variant with lesser bells and whistles.

I had the same thoughts....the LWB gives a higher chance of getting more price. At a cost level though, the difference in production costs is likely to be peanuts as compared to the total cost. They could pull off a surprise with entry level LWB models which could earn them a premium even in the sub 60 lakh price bracket. Indians will choose a spacious rear sear for sure...plus less body type variants will keep the logistics costs in check ! Cant rule out the possibility completely of getting the E class only in LWB guise. Or at least initially get it only in LWB guise and then depending on response they could change course in a year or so ?

[sidparekh]

Ran into this on zauba. Looks like it's coming only in the E200 & E350d guise for now as a "Launch Edition" in true MB tradition. But with the C43 AMG launch confirmed, this might come only next year. I also wonder how the declared value is so high.

[Dieselite]

http://m.autocarindia.com/Article.as...3865&type=News

The big news seems to have been confirmed !

Kudos MBIL !!

[dZired]

NDTV Auto reports that the new-gen E-Class will be launched in India towards the end of February 2017.

[zulfi hansi]

OK, some authentic news, from reliable sources of course. It will come only in LWB, as of now no plans to bring in the regular variant, I am presuming unless their E Class sales crash drastically which seem unlikely, why? Well to begin with MB is breaking their head on the pricing of LWB big time, more so since they have no plans to bring the regular variant.

What is the strategy? There may be a launch edition but certainly no CBU for the launch edition! Intelligent guys must have already guessed why, the LWB is not sold anywhere in the world except China, where it is a LHD. So MB has pumped a lot of money to tool the LWB in RHD form only for India [maybe later they sell it elsewhere], so from the start it will be a CKD that too only to a limited extent, unless they are importing partial kit from China and customizing it here for RHD variant. Their German plant will not have CKDs of LWB RHD E Class, so it will be a partial kit for sure. In any case the car will have to have the pricing right from the start.

Now the real headache for MB is not much of this, it is the GST outcome on the other end. Also MB is clear that they don't want to play in the level of 5 series and A6 anymore, instead they want to raise the bar to the LWB field, of course they will charge a premium but not so much that they lose sales to others, they will lose the lower end customers [which are hardly 5-10%] seeking bare-bones variant, but they want it that way, clearly establishing the star above the others in the same segment. IMHO this strategy will pay off big time for them.

Now the big question, how much of a premium. It's obvious that they will not out price themselves from the segment, because they are aware that BMW and Audi will counter them with cut-price 'base' variants of the 7 series and A8 which will be a class act if they do, MB will fall flat in their own game. Any customer will want to have the top segment car, rather then a top variant car for sure. If they price the LWB E just about 5-7 lakhs more than the present car [ex-showroom], which is around 65-70 lakhs OTR, they win. If they cross this limit they will be hit by the cut-price base variant of A8 & 7 series costing around 85-100 lakhs OTR. Will this dilute the brand for BMW & Audi? Yes it might but it will bring in the sales for sure, or they might not take that call at all and just bring in their LWB versions to compete with MB. Either way MB may have the field to themselves for precious sometime.

What's in it for the buyer? The best of both worlds, it will open up a new outlook and possibilities. It will not just be a new segment of LWB in this class but many new options between the mid and top segment will be invented.

[Arjun Reddy]

This car in the E350d guise is surely going to hit the 85-90 lakh mark OTR Bangalore. That will roughly be the price of a C220 and a GLA put together after current discounts. Vow.
Though couldn't agree more on the MB strategy for the LWB model. They probably take a top- down approach after checking for initial customer reactions on the price of the LWB.
The can add the E250 d and also shrink the car if required.

[nik_kapur]

Im not a big fan of this move. An Audi A6 can be bought for under 50L these days and a 70 plus price tag for the LWB E Class will be ridiculous. Having said that, the S & 7 Series costs 1.2 Crore nowadays and hence there is a huge space between the E & S now. Luxury cars were well priced 5 years back and now the pricing is just crazy.

[Manan_02]

It is truly a bold move by MB. Although I believe that they would charge premium for LWB, but not by such a greater extent so that they will hamper their own sales.
Also as someone said above, if this LWB variant hits 75-80L OTR mark, then BMW and Audi could lower the price for 7er and A8, which would be an absolute nightmare for MB.
They should play safe with the pricing.
It's a win-win situation for the buyers looking in this price range and they would surely be benefited.
Let's see what MB does...