New Mercedes-Benz M-Class Unveiled
More dynamic, innovative and attractive than ever
Having changed the landscape of off-road vehicle development on its arrival seven years ago, the Mercedes-Benz M-Class has stepped up another gear. The Stuttgart-based brand sowed the seeds of a new segment with the introduction of the original M-Class in 1997 and now state-of-the-art technology – such as three new and powerful engines, the standard-fitted seven-speed automatic transmission 7G-TRONIC, the anticipatory occupant protection system PRE-SAFE®, AIRMATIC air suspension, the now even more effective four-wheel drive system 4-ETS – is set to reaffirm the Off-Roader’s leading position in a fast-growing market. After its premiere at the 2005 Detroit Auto Show, the new M-Class will be introduced onto the US market in the spring of next year and in Europe next summer.
You need look no further than the design of the new M-Class, with its beguiling blend of heavily contoured surfaces and taut lines, to admire the majestic character of the second-generation Off-Roader. The swept-back windscreen, striking front wings and rising shoulderline of the new car set the unashamedly sporting tone, a theme developed by the proportions of the body. The new M-Class is 150 mm longer, 71 mm wider and 9 mm lower on the road than its predecessor and its wheelbase has grown by 95 mm to 2915 mm.
Three of the four engines available for the 2005 model are hot off the press and outstrip the output and torque of the power units for the outgoing model to the tune of up to 38 per cent. Cutting-edge drive-system technology and impressive aerodynamics (the Cd value is down to 0.34 from 0.39 previously) combine to cut fuel consumption by as much as ten per cent.
The V6 diesel engine with third-generation common-rail direct injection, which takes the place of the outgoing five-cylinder in-line unit in the range, is celebrating its series-production premiere. Put to work under the bonnet of the new ML 320 CDI, the new power unit delivers 165 kW/224 hp and places a maximum of 510 Newton metres of torque on tap from 1600 rpm. Also on hand to offer the twin benefits of six-cylinder comfort and dynamism is the new ML 280 CDI, serving up 140 kW/190 hp and a peak torque of 440 Newton metres. This diesel model burns just 9.4 litres of fuel per 100 km (NEDC combined), making the new M-Class one of the most economical off-roaders in its class. Another new arrival is the V6 petrol unit powering the ML 350 – your ticket to 200 kW/ 272 hp and maximum torque of 350 Newton metres. The engine range is headed by the proven eight-cylinder unit at the heart of the ML 500, which now delivers 225 kW/306 hp.
The globally unique seven-speed automatic transmission 7G-TRONIC is fitted as standard in all variants of the new M-Class. Intelligent shift management allows the transmission to make optimum use of the engine’s enviable reserves of power, whilst at the same time ensuring that the M-Class is an even less frequent visitor to the fuel pumps than ever before. 7G-TRONIC can now be operated electronically using a selector level positioned close to the steering wheel, technology which Mercedes-Benz has christened DIRECT SELECT. Additional steering-wheel gearshift buttons, meanwhile, enable the driver to glide manually through the seven gears with the minimum of fuss.
Ready for the rough: the off-road package with differential locks and AIRMATIC
Mercedes-Benz has taken the permanent four-wheel drive and 4ETS traction systems to the next level by incorporating additional functions such as a downhill driving aid, Start-off Assist and the off-road ABS system. The M-Class can be ordered with two different variants of the four-wheel drive system, allowing it to meet the varying requirements of off-road drivers: a new off-road package is available as an optional extra, allowing the M-Class to master even the toughest routes across rough terrain. Among its primary features are a two-speed transfer case with an off-road ratio, manually or automatically selectable differential locks (100 per cent) between the front and rear axle and on the rear axle, and a modified version of the AIRMATIC air suspension system tailored to off-road driving, which raises ground clearance by 110 mm to as much as 291 mm and the vehicle’s fording depth to a maximum of 600 mm.
The air suspension also significantly increases ride comfort, which is why Mercedes-Benz offers a road-tweaked version of this technology as an option (not as part of the off-road package). AIRMATIC teams up as standard with the Adaptive Damping System (ADS), which adjusts the responses of the shock absorbers to the situation in hand, to open the door to a new dimension in driving dynamics and ride comfort.
The new M-Class is also fitted with re-developed front and rear suspension. The double-wishbone front suspension makes a significant contribution to minimising road roar and tyre vibration and ensures impressive driving dynamics with its raised aluminium wishbones. The rear axle, meanwhile, has four-link suspension.
Standard-fitted light-alloy wheels and wide 235/65 R 17 (V6 models) or 255/55 R 18 (V8 model) tyres reinforce the sporting pedigree of the new M-Class.
Mercedes-Benz ML350 2006
but it's not bad in fact...
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