Mercedes-Benz GLE
| Mercedes-Benz M-Class | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer: | DaimlerChrysler AG |
| Production: | 1997 – present |
| Class: | SUV |
| Body style: | 5-door wagon |
| Competitors: | BMW X5 Audi Q7 Porsche Cayenne Volvo XC90 Saab 9-7X Lexus RX Acura MDX Cadillac SRX Land Rover Discovery Land Rover LR3 |
| W163 | |
| |
| Production: | 1997 – 2005 |
| W164 | |
| Mercedes-Benz ML400 CDI | |
| Production: | 2005 – present |
| Engines: | 3.5 L V6 5.0 L V8 4.6 L V8 5.5 L V8 6.3 L V8 3.0 L V6 4.0 L V8 |
| Length: | 4788 mm (188.5 in) |
| Width: | 1910 mm (75.2 in) |
| Height: | 1815 mm (71.5 in) |
| Curb weight: | 2150 kg (4740 lb) |
Mercedes-Benz M-Class is a 5-door SUV with light off-road capability, first offered in 1997, and built in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. It marked a shift at Mercedes-Benz in becoming a global player: while it had plants outside Germany before, they built facsimiles of German models. The M-class was built with the United States in mind at an American factory.
Initial quality was poor. A road test on the British programme Top Gear revealed that the presenter, Jeremy Clarkson, could put his fingers into the gap below the rear lights and above the rear bumper. This improved over the years, especially after a mild facelift for 2002. However, owners are often unhappy with the car's quality - for example, the car was placed last out of 142 cars in the Top Gear Motoring Survey 2004.
Major model variants have included the ML320, ML350, ML430, ML500 and ML55. The ML55, or ML55 AMG, featured a V8 engine made by AMG, modified body-work, and other performance features. Prices initially were around US$35,000 for the base model in the late 1990s. The ML350 replaced the ML320 as the base model a few years after its introduction by Mercedes-Benz.
The M-Class was Motor Trend magazine's Truck of the Year for 1998.
2006
The redesigned M-class (code name W164) was introduced to the public in April, 2005 as a 2006 model after showing at the North American International Auto Show in January. It is almost entirely new, with a more sporting, aerodynamic look—the coefficient of drag is down to 0.34. Mercedes-Benz has also made the new M-class larger, measuring 150 mm longer than the first model.
The platform is shared with the new R-Class and G-Class, and is a unibody type rather than the body-on-frame used by the last M and G-Class vehicles.
New features in the 2006 M-class include a seven-speed automatic gearbox and optional steering HID headlights and adjustable-height air suspension. Base price for the ML350 in the US is about US$40,000.
4-valve engines are replacing the previous 3-valve SOHC V6 and current 3-valve V8:
- ML350 - 3.5 L 4-valve V6, 200 kW (272 hp DIN) and 350 N·m (258 ft·lbf)
- ML500 - 5.0 L 3-valve V8, 215 kW (292 hp DIN) and 336 ft·lbf (455 N·m)
- ML460 - 4.6 L 4-valve V8, 325 hp (242 kW) and 370 ft·lbf (500 N·m)
- ML550 - 5.5 L 4-valve V8, 410 hp (306 kW) and 405 ft·lbf (550 N·m)
- ML63 AMG - 6.2 L 4-valve V8, 510 hp (347 kW)
- ML280 CDI - 3.0 L V6, 140 kW (190 hp DIN) and 440 N·m (325 ft·lbf)
- ML320 CDI - 3.0 L V6, 165 kW (224 hp DIN) and 510 N·m (376 ft·lbf)
- ML400 CDI - 4.0 L BiTurbo V8, 315 hp (235 kW) and 516 ft·lbf (700 N·m)