Indian President Pratibha Patil gets a 6 Cr Mercedes-Benz S600 Pullman Limousine

The President of India, Pratibha Patil, has been provided with a all-new Mercedes Benz S600L Pullman, an armored car with complete luxurious interior & special protection features provide cover from military-standard small-arms projectiles and fragments from hand grenades and other explosives, sources said. It’s mentioned that the President’s limousine has been upgraded after nearly eight years & costs around Rs. 6 crores.

 

The sources said the new vehicle for the President was purchased around the middle of this year and it took one year to build the special-protection vehicle - whose safety features include the ability to run on flat tyres, a self-sealing fuel tank and a fire-extinguishing system. Rashtrapati Bhawan has purchased the vehicle to be used only by the President, the sources said.

The Mercedes Benz Pullman S600L limousine is powered by a twelve cylinder bi-turbo engine with a displacement of 5513cc & is capable of delivering a spectacular peak power of 515 Bhp. This machine has spacious interiors with an overall length of 6356 mm & 4315 mm wheelbase. Other additional safety features included in the luxury car of Indian President are run-flat tires, a self-sealing fuel tank and a fire-extinguishing system.

Mercedes Benz had showcased the S600L Pullman at the Delhi Auto Expo in 2010. Among other features, the car offers a special air intake system which can circulate fresh air even if there are poisonous gases around.

Keeping in view the President's need to interact with state guests and other high-level dignitaries while on the move, the seating has been designed to enable passengers to sit facing each other. A partition between the driver's seat and the passenger compartment has been added to ensure privacy.

Sources said all the top luxury makers, including other German majors such as Audi and BMW, had made a pitch to deliver the state vehicle, considering the prestige and status attached to it. On the other hand, the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh uses a two B5-level armoured BMW 7 Series car.

Aston-ishingly Rapide

“The Rapide is a sport car,” says Ulrich Bez, the chief executive of Aston Martin. He doesn’t want this car to be misunderstood. It is not a rival for the Bentley Continental Flying Spur or the uber-sedans from Mercedes, BMW and Audi and it differs fundamentally from its most obvious counterpart, the Porsche Panamera. Aston distinguishes it’s Rapide like this: the Porsche was designed as a low-line car providing generous space for four adults and the body was shaped accordingly, hence its hump backed look. Whereas the Rapide is an Aston Martin DB9 with more room for people and luggage but no compromise to its gorgeous, flowing style.

Rapide is not a car for the part-time driver who likes to conduct business from the back seat while the chauffeur negotiates weekday traffic. Neither is it suitable for making the grand entrance at a film premiere or society ball, or we should say, it would be difficult for a skirted lady (or a Scotsman) to retain modesty while emerging from the back. The Rapide’s rear doors hinge forward and slightly upwards-Aston calls this ‘swan wing’- and there has been extensive paring of the structure and trim around the seats to allow the maximum amount of space and ease of entry and exit through the small door apertures. There is more room in the Panamera but the Rapide’s rear passengers are cozier and also have better visibility because the seating position is slightly higher than in the front.

 
The 6-litre V12 engine is familiar and has the same power (474PS) and torque output as the latest DB9. The ubiquitous ZF six-speed automatic transmission is the only gearbox available. It works beautifully and allows manual operation from paddles behind the steering wheel. A fascia switch marked Sport speeds up the automatic shifts as well as sharpening the throttle response. Again, the effect is not as marked as in some other models, as Aston always seeks to make the Rapide a more comfortable Grand Tourer while maintaining its sporting character.
The Rapide’s performance - maximum speed 296kmph and 0-100kmph in 5.2 seconds -is only fractionally slower than the DB9. It has the same rich exhaust tone when the ‘active bypass valve’ in the exhaust is opened. But it has suppleness on undulating roads and broken surfaces that the other cars lack. 

 
If we talk about the in-car entertainment, the Rapide comes as standard with an impressive 1,000- watt Bang & Olufsen stereo system with 15 speakers including two ‘acoustic lenses’ that pop up from the top of the fascia. Options include a DVD player with screens in the back of the front seats and a cooling system incorporated in all four seats. Also available is a set of fitted luggage, in leather to match the car’s trim. Actually the advantage of the Rapide is that, unlike the two-door Astons, it can accommodate a reasonable amount of ordinary luggage, including suitcases. For many owners, this will be the clincher: an Aston Martin that you really can use for the family holiday.

Mercedes Benz CLS 2012

Although it's been officially launched at an ex-showroom price of 67.70 Lacs in India an year back, still giving a look at it is absolutely worthwhile.

This New CLS-Class comes with the newly developed and revolutionary technology ‘Electromechanical Direct-Steer System‘. This is an “Active Parking Assist” system with integrated PARKTRONIC provides an unmatched safety to the driver. Equipped with reversing cameras the technology enables the driver with information for the most suitable parking space. It is additionally equipped to help with active steering intervention, creating a more reliable mechanism for better driving comfort. In addition to this feature are audio and visual warnings aided by ultrasonic sensors in the front and rear bumpers.

The Intelligent lightweight construction plays a crucial role thereby making this car the first vehicle from Mercedes-Benz to have frameless, all-aluminum doors. These doors are made from deep-drawn aluminum panels with extruded sections, and in comparison with conventional steel doors, are some 24 kilograms lighter. Apart from the doors, the bonnet, front wings, boot lid, parcel shelf, various support profiles and substantial parts of the suspension and engines are all made of aluminum.

Mercedes CLS Class Sedan Specifications & Features In India 

Technical Data Sheet	CLS 350 BlueEFFICIENCY	CLS 63 AMG
Engine and performance
Cylinder arrangement/number	6/V	V8
Displacement (cc)	3498	5461
Rated output (kW [hp] at rpm)	225[306] at 6500	386 [525] at 5250
Rated torque (Nm at rpm)	370 at 3500-5250	700 at 1700 – 5000
Acceleration 0-100 km/h (s)	6.1	4.4
Top speed (km/h)	250	250
Fuel and Consumption
Tank capacity/with reserve (l)	80/9	66/14
Fuel consumption, urban (l/100km)	9.1-9.5	13.9
Fuel consumption, extra-urban (l/100km)	5.4-5.6	7.6
Fuel consumption combined (l/100km)	6.8-7.0	9.9
CO2 emissions (g/km) combined	159-164	231
Chasis (standard) and Wheels
Front tyres/wheels	245/45 R 17	255/35 ZR 19
Rear tyres/wheels	245/45 R 17	255/35 ZR 19

2011 Frankfurt International Motor Show

This is the 64th Frankfurt Motor Show, the city is hosting. Undoubtedly, the biggest motor show on Earth. It'll run till September 25th, 2011. To share a glimpse of what all can be expected in this event with all you super car lovers, here are the pictures from this event -

Before the show opened, a look at the Ford stand (with Ford Focus on display).


Wolfgang Dürheimer, president of Bugatti, presents the new Veyron L'Or Blanc supercar.


The Citroen Tubik concept car


Daimler chief executive Dieter Zetsche poses in the Mercedes F125 fuel cell show car


Toyota's FT-86 II concept car


The BMW stand on media day


Stephen Odell, chief executive of Ford Europe, presents the company's Evos concept car



Chairman of Lamborghini Stephan Winkelmann presents the latest version of its Gallardo supercar


Maserati's new Kubang SUV


PS - pictures courtesy - theguardian