Mercedes-Benz has kicked off the India leg of its global ‘140 Years. 140 Places’ expedition, marking 140 years since Carl Benz patented the world’s first automobile.
As part of the initiative, three Mercedes-Benz S-Class sedans are travelling across six continents, covering more than 60,000km through over 55 countries before completing visits to 140 significant locations worldwide.
Flywheel was among the select automotive media invited to be part of the Indian chapter of this transcontinental drive.
A Journey Across India
The India route has been planned to showcase the country’s cultural heritage, diverse landscapes, and engineering landmarks, while highlighting the S-Class in a variety of driving conditions.
The journey will pass through destinations including:
- New Delhi
- Amritsar
- Jammu
- Kashmir
- Ladakh
- Umling La
- Manali
- Lucknow
- Varanasi
- Patna
- Agra
- Jaipur
- Udaipur
- Ahmedabad
- Pune
- Mumbai
- Hampi
- Bengaluru
- Goa
The drive will also include a brief international leg through Bhutan before concluding.
The Cars Behind the Journey
The expedition features three Mercedes-Benz S-Class models named Gottlieb, Carl, and Bertha, in tribute to the pioneers of the automobile.
Globally, the three cars have already travelled across Europe, North America, South America, Australia, New Zealand, and Southeast Asia before arriving in India.
Flywheel on the Drive
As part of the event, Flywheel’s Editor-in-chief, Hani Musthafa, had the opportunity to document the journey and experience the S-Class in one of Mercedes-Benz’s most significant global campaigns.
The drive offered a closer look at the flagship luxury sedan as it travelled through some of India’s most scenic and demanding routes, while also providing an opportunity to capture the drive through photographs and video coverage.
Why It Matters
The ‘140 Years. 140 Places’ drive commemorates one of the most significant milestones in automotive history, the invention of the automobile in 1886. Rather than being a conventional road trip, the initiative connects locations that reflect the history, culture, and progress of each country it visits.
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Final Take
The ‘140 Years. 140 Places’ drive is more than just a celebration of Mercedes-Benz’s history. It showcases how a flagship luxury sedan like the S-Class can take on thousands of kilometres across vastly different terrains while telling stories from around the world. For Flywheel, being part of the India leg offered a chance to witness one of the brand’s biggest global initiatives firsthand and bring that experience to our readers.
