China-made stretched Mercedes sedans go on sale

Source: Gasgoo
[16:30 June 29 2010]
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German automaker Daimler's premium unit Mercedes-Benz recently released to the Chinese market two long-wheelbase E-class sedan models locally made only at the joint venture Beijing Benz, Chinese media reported Monday.

The two Mercedes-Benz sedans are the E 260L CGI ELE and the E 300L AVA, specifically tailored for Chinese buyers. The retail price of the E 260L CGI ELE is 515,000 yuan ($75,600), while the E 300L AVA is priced at 675,000 yuan. Both cars have a 140mm longer wheelbase than the conventional E-Class.

The E 260L CGI ELE is equipped with a 1.8-liter four-cylinder CGI direct injection turbo engine that offers 150 kW of maximum power and 310 Nm peak torque, and the E 300 L AVA is powered by a 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine that produces peak power of 180 kW and top torque of 300 Nm.

Mercedes-Benz E 300L

Daimler is considering Chinese production of its GLK four-wheel-drive or another mid-range car in its joint venture plant in Beijing as part of its plans to boost local output in China, a company executive told a German newspaper Thursday.

China sales of Mercedes-Benz vehicles in the first five months more than doubled from a year earlier to nearly 46,500 units. Daimler aims to sell over 100,000 Mercedes-Benz cars in China this year, up from the 67,000 in 2009.

Mercedes-Benz sales in the Chinese market are targeted at 300,000 vehicles a year by 2015, with half to be assembled in local factories. "By then the capacity of our Beijing factory will be doubled," said the executive.