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redline
03-24-2005, 01:18 PM
Stuttgart, Germany / New York, March 23, 2005

The New York International Auto Show is to provide the stage for another world premiere from Mercedes Benz, 51 years after hosting the unveiling of the legendary SL gullwing. Now it is the turn of the new Mercedes Benz R Class to make its world debut at the traditional show.

http://www.thecarconnection.com/images/gallery/9369_image.jpg
Image Courtesy GermanCarFans.com

The unique vehicle concept at the heart of the Mercedes model founds a new and highly promising "Sports Tourer" market segment. "Our developers had no role model to follow when they created this totally new vehicle. But they did have a guiding principle: dynamic space", says Dr. Thomas Weber, Member of the Board of Management DaimlerChrysler AG, responsible for Research and Technology and Development within the Mercedes Car Group.

http://www.germancarfans.com/news/2050323.014/2050323.014.3M.jpg
Image Courtesy GermanCarFans.com

The R Class Grand Sports Tourer takes the acknowledged strengths of established vehicle categories, such as sporty Saloon, Estate, MPV and SUV, and fuses them to create a new car with a character all of its own. It caters to the needs of modern minded people looking for a car that offers tremendous versatility combined with athletic performance. Quite apart from boasting ample spaciousness, exemplary standards of safety and impeccable comfort for up to six passengers, the new R Class also enthrals with its beguiling styling, prestigious flair and, last but by no means least, its dynamism out on the road.


"The new R Class is 'inspired by and built in America' and is therefore very much at home in the U.S. market", says Dr Thomas Weber. "Here we expect to achieve some 60 percent of our unit sales after the market launch in autumn 2005." Deliveries to customers in Europe will begin in early 2006.
According to Dr Weber, it takes three Ds to sum up the unique character of the R Class: Dimensions, Design and Dynamism. "Dimension refers to the synthesis of exceptional spaciousness, premium comfort and high variability. The design reflects power, confidence and individuality. And the R Class is as dynamic as it looks – thanks to powerful engines, a seven-speed automatic transmission and permanent all wheel drive."

Measuring 5157 millimetres from nose to tail, the body of the new Mercedes Benz R Class is akin to a luxury saloon in size but is considerably more spacious inside. There are 920 millimetres between the first and second rows of seats. Moreover, the second-row seats can be adjusted individually fore and aft, thereby increasing the seat spacing to as much as 990 millimetres. The maximum distance between the second and third rows of seats (depending on seat position) is 920 millimetres.

Families who are keen on sports and recreational activities and who are looking for a versatile car that can adapt to all manner of transportation tasks quickly and easily are also catered for by the new R Class as only Mercedes knows how: the four seats in the rear fold flat individually, allowing the load capacity to be expanded to as much as 2057 litres (VDA measuring method), a figure which clearly eclipses the load space offered by estate cars. Loading and unloading is particularly straightforward, courtesy of the level load floor measuring over 2.20 metres in length and the generously proportioned EASY PACK tailgate, which is available with remote-control opening and closing as an optional convenience enhancing feature.

Engine outputs range from 165 kW/224 hp up to 225 kW/306 hp, clearly signalling just what the new R Class is capable of in terms of dynamic performance and motoring enjoyment. The powerful V8 gasoline engine under the bonnet of the R 500 propels it from standstill to 100 km/h in just 6.9 seconds and on to a top speed of 240 km/h (provisional figures). Also to be found in the engine line up (from the beginning of 2006) is a new six cylinder power unit with third-generation common rail, direct injection technology. The V6 engine places its class beating peak torque of 510 Newton metres on tap from as low down as 1600 rpm. The fuel consumption figures returned by the R 320 CDI are no less astounding: 8.9 litres per 100 kilometres (combined consumption).

A seven speed automatic transmission, permanent all wheel drive, the electronically controlled 4ETS traction system and ESP® team up to offer peerless driving safety. These systems all make up part of the standard specification of the new R-Class, as does air suspension at the rear axle.

In addition, some of the very latest Mercedes safety innovations are available as optional extras: PRE SAFE®, the multi-award-winning anticipatory protection system, detects critical handling situations and immediately springs into action to prepare occupants and vehicle alike for an imminent collision. Precautions include pulling the driver's and front passenger's seat belts taut, adjusting the front passenger seat to the optimum position and automatically closing the sliding sunroof. Another Mercedes first for improving standards of occupant safety still further is the NECK PRO crash-responsive head restraints (optional).


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© 1998-2005 DaimlerChrysler. All rights reserved.

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Image Courtesy TheCarConnection.com

kameraguy
03-24-2005, 02:02 PM
OMG, it's not even April 1st yet so this isn't a joke, huh?

Is it only me who finds this one fugly car? I think I would even take a Chrysler Pacifica over this <_<

edit: "The new R Class is 'inspired by and built in America' and is therefore very much at home in the U.S. market"...

Ahhh, IC now. It sure doesn't look inspired in Europe. Is this made in the same place as the MLs?

I REALLY hope this isn't a sign of where MB design is headed..... <_<

Renn 208
03-24-2005, 02:10 PM
as an aside, the new G classes will also be built in Alabama

krk230
03-24-2005, 02:19 PM
yep...that's definitely not a pretty car/van/whatever it is...LOL...

interior is nice though! :D

Hank
03-24-2005, 02:29 PM
sweet home alabama... lmao. is that a c-class minivan?? that shit is ugly.

dshr
03-24-2005, 03:07 PM
Does it have 4 wheel drive :lol:.

Renn 208
03-24-2005, 03:15 PM
To me, this says that MB knows how important SUVs are to the US, but don't have a defined strategy on how to tackle the market.

As far as I've read, the bama plant's the least efficient of the MB plants with production rates half of sindelfigen's rate. And while I can see the desire to protect against currency issues by having the cars manufactured in the US, I'm not sure if it's really in line with their efforts to 1. make MB profitable and 2. increase quality.


Okay, I think I'm pretty much beating a dead horse at this point...so no more "I think this is what MB should do" stuff from me.

The GST lives!...unfortunately.

scottschoe
03-24-2005, 06:27 PM
lol

nokia8860
03-24-2005, 06:45 PM
Originally posted by redline@Mar 24 2005, 02:18 PM
Our developers had no role model to follow when they created this totally new vehicle.
And it shows. That is why the boys and girls club of america is so important in todays urban cities.

Help our inner city youths so they wont grow up and design cars like this.

Knight Rider
03-24-2005, 09:18 PM
Somebody PLEASE get me out of this NIGHTMARE. This is one of the ugliest cars I have seen since the Pontiac Aztec. Did Mr. Bangle move over to DC or what??

Ozzie Bob
03-24-2005, 09:27 PM
F_ck me, what an ugly heap! F that, I'd rather buy a W163! :o

JoshKeaton
03-24-2005, 09:30 PM
First the w209 accord, then the ass-is-melting/buick/it's-a-sedan-not-a-coupe CLS, and now this? I hope the 208 isn't my last benz :0(((

Badinfo
03-24-2005, 10:04 PM
The R Class Grand Sports Tourer takes the acknowledged strengths of established vehicle categories, such as sporty Saloon, Estate, MPV and SUV, and fuses them to create a new car with a character all of its own.

So what is it supposed to be? Around here we call that bullsh!t.

kameraguy
03-25-2005, 05:44 AM
Can MB REALLY think this is the BEST their US design team can do? I mean, c'mon now...just look at it!!

The kicker will probably be this thing will still cost you a pretty penny.

You'd have to be a real diehard brand loyal MB fan to love this sorry excuse for a new class.

This is a really really REALLY sad effort.

What will be interesting is to see if this actually sells. Maybe this can actually do well for those wishing to step up from a Ford Freestar :blink:

So maybe MB is counting on their "Star Status" to pull this model into success?

So so so sad.

sanf
03-25-2005, 06:42 AM
a 50k$ MB minivan. i dotn know man...anyway. the headlights are very scary

slk320
03-25-2005, 09:06 AM
Pacifica is looking better and better.. expecially decked out in the Brabus, oops I mean Startech trim...

slk320
03-25-2005, 09:17 AM
hahaha lookey what I found:

http://img218.exs.cx/img218/9531/pacgunmetal1ya.jpg

rims are HOTT

http://img218.exs.cx/img218/7337/pacblacksema3rj.jpg

redline
03-25-2005, 09:48 AM
I also hate this thing... I thought DC learned from the failure of the Pacifica... If they couoldn't sell a 38k cross-over/minivan, then what makes Mercedes think they can sell a 50k van? Brand Identity only gets you so far!

edit: Germancarfans.com has a massive photo gallery for anybody who wants to take a look:

http://www.germancarfans.com/photos.cfm/Ph...mercedes/1.html (http://www.germancarfans.com/photos.cfm/PhotoID/3050323.004/mercedes/1.html)

C280 JR
03-25-2005, 10:27 AM
haha i just saw an R class on highway, man that thing is cute, it looks like pontiac vibe or toyota matrix

Elvir

redline
03-25-2005, 11:36 AM
Originally posted by C280 JR@Mar 25 2005, 02:27 PM
haha i just saw an R class on highway, man that thing is cute, it looks like pontiac vibe or toyota matrix

Elvir
I doubt you saw one on the highway, as they just released the car 2/23/05 at the NYIAS... Production hasn't begun yet.

slk320
03-25-2005, 01:25 PM
how about this for a hot stationwagon?

http://www.colognewideweb.de/cars/300c/chrysler300c.jpg

BRABUS!

C280 JR
03-25-2005, 04:47 PM
Originally posted by redline@Mar 25 2005, 03:36 PM
I doubt you saw one on the highway, as they just released the car 2/23/05 at the NYIAS... Production hasn't begun yet.
umm if it looks like the pictures posted on the first page in first post then yea i saw it..it had no badging and no license plate

Elvir

redline
03-25-2005, 05:02 PM
Originally posted by C280 JR@Mar 25 2005, 08:47 PM
umm if it looks like the pictures posted on the first page in first post then yea i saw it..it had no badging and no license plate

Elvir
If you say so. But I would think that all of the cars made at this time are one offs and are in Autoshows considering the car was released to the gen public like yesterday...

C280 JR
03-25-2005, 09:16 PM
Originally posted by slk320@Mar 25 2005, 05:25 PM
how about this for a hot stationwagon?

http://www.colognewideweb.de/cars/300c/chrysler300c.jpg

BRABUS!
is it just me or does that car have 22s in front and 18s in back

Elvir

nokia8860
03-25-2005, 10:49 PM
Im not feeling the magnum. I just dont like the shape of it. Plus it always looks heavy in the rear.... almost like you lowered the car uneven.

However, I did choose the magnum over the impala for my standard issue car. I figured I could haul more stuff from homedepot with a station wagon than a sedan.... all its missing is a green paint job and wood panels and you got the stationwagon you used to ride in when you were younger.... ah drive-in.

As for the pacifica I was considering this along with the grand caravan however pound for pound dollar for dollar the Honda Odessy or Toyota Senia beat any of these 2 hands down.

However if Grayson Keeps brings us the B class I'll have to check that out as well.

nenad16
03-26-2005, 01:32 AM
damn that R class is butt ugly. I'd rather take Pacifica over it. Even the Magnum looks better.

nenad

sorbo
03-26-2005, 10:58 AM
this adds to the dilution on MB product line :( .... and as a side note my best friend who is a huge porsche fan even brought up the question of why is mercedes introducing all these half ass products, and he does not even follow Benz that much.

Knight Rider
03-29-2005, 07:55 PM
Magnum is hot, I don't carry what anybody says!!!

FongFlex
03-29-2005, 08:54 PM
R class is butt ugly. i wouldn't buy this, the pacifica or the magnum.

has anyone seen this in person?? maybe the pictures don't do it justice.

redline
03-30-2005, 06:41 PM
Originally posted by FongFlex@Mar 30 2005, 12:54 AM
has anyone seen this in person?? maybe the pictures don't do it justice.
seeing it in person won't do anything to help those horrible bug eye headlights!