As the G-Class tilts to an alarming 35-degree angle sideways, Santosh Iyer firmly holds the steering wheel, his expression as calm as if he were navigating a boardroom. “I trust this iconic SUV,” says Iyer, the MD & CEO of Mercedes-Benz India . “It can safely drive on a lateral slope (embankment where the car is tilted to one side) of up to 35 degrees without the risk of tipping over. It’s automotive engineering at its best.”

The word ‘best’ reminds me of the slogan ‘Das Beste oder Nichts’, or ‘The Best or Nothing’ – the guiding philosophy of Mercedes-Benz. “It’s not just a marketing phrase, but the core principle that represents our commitment to excellence,” Iyer says, as his G-Wagen – short for Geländewagen, or a cross-country vehicle – faces a pond with more than 2 feet of water. Sm

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