The Three-Pointed Star shows off its prowess!

The other day, 3 friends were having a healthy discussion over the Luxury Car marques in India. Each one picked their own favourite. So there was one supporting Audi, another supporting BMW, while the third decided to go to battle, wearing the famed 3-Pointed star on his shirt! What all agreed upon, was that the battle in India was between these marques alone. Entrants like Jaguar were more on the fringe and would take years to reach the levels of these 3.

AutoHangar

As the discussion went into the aspects of design, utilities, features, performance figures and so on, the Audi & BMW fan-boys, suddenly realized that the Mercedes fan was silently observing them and smiling. They soon became curious and wanted to know the reason behind his silent smile. So the Mercedes fan asked the other two, "what do you do when you need to seek assistance for your car?" The other two replied haughtily, "who needs support, when you have such a high performance machine?" So the Mercedes fan quietly replied, that even the great performance machines, need a high performance support network. At this, the two fans went into a quiet huddle and were now listening to him in rapt attention. The Mercedes fan said: We all have our own favourites, but have you'll considered the service network? They shook their heads and were lost....So he pulled some stats and the other two were stunned when they found that at last count, the sales and service network for Mercedes-Benz was more than that of both, Audi & BMW combined.

Mahavir Motors

So, the boys decided to save their face and quit arguing. And they couldn't help but agree that it is indeed Mercedes-Benz who is worthy of the label of being the Best Luxury Car Brand in India, solely on the basis of its exciting products which are backed by an extensive service network. This network is growing so rapidly, that just this month, two new dealerships have opened: Mahavir Motors and Auto Hangar.

Match this, Audi & BMW!

Experiencing the Star!

When you get an invite from the most recognized brands in the automotive world, you can't help but feel over the moon with joy! That is exactly what happened when I received my invitation to attend the StarDrive Experience by my dream brand, Mercedes-Benz.

StarDrive Experience-II (Source: Google)

Introduced last year by Mercedes-Benz, the StarDrive Experience is a brilliant initiative by the brand to touch base with their customers and give them a look and feel of their best products. Customers also get a chance to experience all that's new with the brand and this goes a long way in building loyalty towards the products.

SLS AMG in Ahmedabad (Source: Google)

But it's not just about customers out here. The StarDrive Experience is also a great platform for fans to experience the technological prowess and capabilities of the cars. Last year, the magic of the star touched the lives of 1300 fans in over 5 cities. Buoyed by the response, the brand has taken the StarDrive Experience-II this year to new heights.

SL63 in action (Source: Google)

Going beyond the A-towns and Metros, the StarDrive Experience-II rolled into cities like Ahmedabad, Pune and Ludhiana, along with 7 other cities. This shows the growing reach of the brand and the special place that it holds in the hearts and minds of the fans. Perhaps, this is the reason why, sales at Mercedes-Benz India have been growing consistently. 

The Legends of Innovation, from the skies above, down to the streets below!

Even today, people remember the carnage and destruction brought about by the First and the Second World Wars. But there is a silver lining to this dark cloud! Some of the most amazing inventions and discoveries have emerged during those dark times - the aviation and industrial revolutions got a rocket boost during that period, even the motoring industry was not too far behind.

Lamborghini Reventon (Source: Google Images)

Every one remembers the launch of the Lamborghini Reventon, which had sports car enthusiasts all agog over its fighter aircraft inspiration. But then again, the motoring industry has been known to look to their aviation brethren since the days of yore! The Japs with their ‘Zero’ were inspired by the famed A6M Zeke and the mighty ‘Evo’ series - which has its roots in the lethal war-birds from WW II - all prime examples of the aviation influence on motoring technology. Even the peaceful Swedes have the Gripen Fighter made by Saab, while the safe-playing Volvo powers this bird in the skies. Even the logos of the automobile manufacturers pay homage to their aviation roots. For instance, the wings on Bentley’s logo and the propellers of BMW are both examples of their rich aviation history.

How could anyone forget the acrobatics of the WW I fighters, like the Sopwith Camel, which were powered by Bentley’s Pistons. The most memorable of the Bentley AeroPiston engines was the Rolls-Royce Merlin. Backed by superior engineering, the ‘Merlin’ was known for its unmatched attention to detail, and came with bullet-proof reliability. This power-house of an engine had to be developed to counter the most revolutionary aviation engine of that time, which was the ‘DB601’.

(Daimler-Benz DB 601-  Source: Daimler-Benz)

 

 

Daimler-Benz had re-written the rules of aeronautical engineering with their 33.9 Litre V-12 upside-down engine, monikered the ‘DB601’. Employing exotic sodium-filled exhaust valves, it had an advanced four valves per cylinder layout with a single OHC. The pistons and crankshaft were made from light-weight, forged alloy; the dry sump lubrication system had one pump to regulate the oil pressure, and employed double that number to scavenge the heated oil as it flowed through the high pressure engine. It even incorporated roller bearings for its con-rods, to iron out any residual vibes.

(Daimler-Benz DB 601 Aero Engine, 1935 - Source: Daimler-Benz)

But the piece de resistance was a piece of technology that it adapted from another German compatriot, Bosch. The Direct Fuel Injection employed by Daimler-Benz, gave the Luftwaffe pilots in the Messerschmitt Me 109 a lethal advantage. The gravity controlled float-pins of the enemies carburettors would jam close in negative G manoeuvres.  While the enemy Spitfires and Hurricanes sputtered during those fierce moves, Luftwaffe’s finest, rolled and spun spirals without missing a beat. With their powerless propellers, all that the enemy could do was to glide around till they levelled off to operating altitude. 

The ‘DB-601’ of 1935 fame is on proud display in the ‘Legend Room 3’, at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart, Germany. Here, visitors can marvel at the quality of construction and the machining effort that has gone in the making of this aero-piston engine.