Mercedes-Benz India has revved up the brand and differentiated from competition through a unique interactive program – the Star Drive Experience. This program has been introduced to demonstrate the capabilities of Mercedes-Benz vehicles and offer an experience to the existing as well as potential customers that money cannot buy.

Launched to a tumultuous success in Delhi, Chandigarh, Mumbai, Chennai and Bangalore, the Star Drive has been attended by over 1500 car enthusiasts who experienced the adrenaline rush as expert rally drivers simulated critical road conditions. This year, MBIL extends the Star Drive Experience –II to cities like Kochi, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Ludhiana, Hyderabad and Pune. The Kolkata event was held on 23rd and 24th April, 2011 at the Lake Land Country Club and drew about 500 visitors.

While the SUVs ( the ML-Class, the GL-Class and the iconic G-55AMG) were put through extreme terrain conditions to reveal their brute power and true-blue off-road character, the near-accident simulations of the sedans ( the C-Class, the E-Class and the C-63AMG) drove home the new brand positioning of Mercedes-Benz as the maker of "Safe Cars". The show-stoppers, the SLS-63AMG with the gull-wing doors and the SL-63AMG were also on display and drew a lot of attention.

A host of active and passive safety features in the vehicles like the Integral Occupant Protection System were displayed in the simulated drives. The Pre-Safe measures make the Mercedes-Benz ready before an inevitable collision, the Neck-Pro Head Restraints reduce the danger of whip lash in the event of a rear-end collision, the post-collision safety measures and the ESP ( for stability and traction control ) are unique and truly effective.

The Kolkata event was organized by Interkrafts in association with MBIL and Mobil. Post the awe-inspiring experiences with the SUVs and sedans, the visitors also experienced fine hospitality at the Star Lounge and confined themselves within the cool comforts drink in hand , far away from the scorching heat of the sun.

We are glad to have shared this experience with a lucky few, and hope to see more of you, next time around.