Merc SLS Roadster, new M-class, Concept A-class displayed at Expo

Mercedes-Benz took up all of Hall 15 and presented a vast array of cars for the Indian car buying public to gawk at.

Among the production models dished up were the SLS AMG roadster supercar the new, third-generation M-class and a customised S600 Pullman Guard. The star of the pavilion however was the Concept A-class – a hatchback that previews the forthcoming design direction the brand is going to take. Built on the same MFA platform as the B-class that will soon be launched in India, the Concept A-class is likely to be sold in India in saloon form. And a swanky saloon it will be.

The car that attracted the most eyeballs, however, was the SLS AMG roadster. The SLS AMG coupe is famous for its gull-wing doors, so it’s good that the roadster version hasn’t lost too much of the charm in having ditched them. The powertrain remains the same – a 562bhp 6.2-litre V8 engine paired with a seven-speed, dual-clutch transmission - and gets the soft-top roadster to 100kph in 3.8 seconds.

The new M-class improves on the previous version in almost every area, especially in size. Despite this, there are a number of technological improvements to keep emissions and fuel consumption in check. The ML has been introduced with a 3.0-litre diesel V6 that produces 255bhp and 63.2kgm. The styling is less aggressive, but more mature than before with softer edges and more chrome accents on the exterior.

The S600 Pullman Guard armoured limousine was on display as well. The gargantuan V12 limo is about as luxurious as a Mercedes can get, but it is also as tough as a tank, achieving VR6 and VR7 safety ratings – the highest currently possible.

Mercedes-Benz also filled the large display hall with various other cars from its current range, like the SLK roadster and CLS four-door coupe, as well as racing cars like the C-class DTM car and the SLS GT3 touring car.