All-new Mercedes-benz R-class Luxury Vehicle Makes Debut

[zerinVR6]

-Class Represents An Entirely New Way for Six Adults to Travel
Carmel, CA – Mercedes-Benz is launching a new class of vehicle and a brand new way for six adults to travel. The all-new R-Class combines the distinct advantages of several disparate vehicles – the sure-footedness of a four-wheel-drive sport utility vehicle, the performance and comfort of a fine sports sedan and the versatility of a luxury wagon. Innovative design and useful technology now make possible an automotive decathlete – a vehicle that can excel at an unprecedented range of owner needs.

VIEW COMPLETE R-CLASS GALLERY @ http://www.dubspeedracing.com/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=745

Seven-Speed, Four-Wheel-Drive V6 or V8 Power

Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Pricing (MSRP) for the 2006 R-Class will begin at $48,000for the 268-horsepower V6-powered R350 and $55,500for the 302-horsepower V8 R500 (plus a $775 destination fee for both models). All R-Class models come with a seven-speed automatic transmission and full-time 4MATIC four-wheel drive. The basic vehicle is loaded with standard equipment such as eight-way power front seats with leather inserts, birds-eye maple interior trim, split 2nd and 3rd row seats, load-leveling suspension and rain sensing wipers.

Three Rows of Luxury

With a sharp focus on design, comfort, space and performance, the new R-Class is designed as a roomy vehicle with space for six adults – three pairs of comfortable single seats in a spacious interior. The new R-Class is about 14 inches longer than the M-Class sport utility. With an optional panoramic sunroof, the new R-Class provides an unprecedented sense of interior space.

Create Your Own Environment

The R-Class allows its occupants to create their own sense of space with features such as individual reading lights, armrests, air vents and cup holders as well as seat adjustments for each seat and separate-source audio plugs for the 1st and 2nd rows. This individualization is further enhanced with options such as an iPod integration kit or dual-screen video entertainment system.

And, everybody has a window seat. The front row of the new R-Class can be compared to first-class seating, with business-class seating in the 2nd and 3rd rows. Add the optional panoramic sunroof, and the overall sense of interior space in the new R-Class is unprecedented.

The R-Class is an inch longer than the flagship S-Class sedan. As an indicator of comfort and roominess, cabin space in the new R-Class represents 65 percent of its total volume, and there are up to 40 inches between the first and second seat rows, with more than 30 inches between the second and third rows. With 2nd and 3rd-row seats down, the R-Class boasts 85.0 cubic feet of cargo room.

The R-Class cockpit features a four-spoke multifunction steering wheel with brushed aluminum accents on the lower spokes. The instrument binnacle is designed with large chronometer gauges, and the center console houses climate control and a modular COMAND unit that integrates audio with the optional navigation and telephone.

It’s a Concert Hall, Too

The standard R-Class audio system uses eight speakers, and an optional surround-sound system features eleven speakers, including an extra sub-woofer. The audio system includes AM/FM/weatherband radio and a single-slot CD as well as optional satellite radio. A six-disc CD changer in the glove box (optional on the R350, standard on the R500) includes an auxiliary plug that allows MP3 devices to be played through the car’s audio system, and an optional kit allows most iPod units to connect to the car as well. iPod titles and playlists appear in the COMAND and dash displays. Separate audio plugs allow front occupants to listen to one source, while 2nd-row passengers can listen to a separate source.

Where’s the Shift Lever?

Unlike in most vehicles, there’s no shift lever dominating the center console of the new R-Class. Thanks to the latest electronic technology, a small stalk on the right side of the steering column now serves the purpose.

Selecting gears is simpler than ever -- lift the stalk up for reverse, push down for drive, and push a button on the end for park. Once underway, pushing one of the Touch Shift buttons on either side of the steering wheel provides manual shifting.

Mercedes-Benz Safety

The new R-Class features unit body construction with front and rear crumple zones that help protect occupants during a collision by absorbing and dispersing crash energy. More than 60 percent of the body structure is formed from high-strength steel, and its "dual-phase" steel alloy (used in some of the most critical areas) even falls into the very-high-strength category, contributing to the protection provided by the passenger cell.

Every body panel in the new R-Class is zinc-galvanized and coated on both sides with rust-preventing zinc pigments. A six-section plastic undercladding provides protection against stones, water and dirt, eliminating the need for any conventional PVC undercoating. Substantial wheel-well cladding (1/8-inch thick) also helps protect against stones and gravel.

The new R-Class comes with two-stage adaptive front air bags, side air bags for the driver and front passenger, window curtain side air bags that span all three rows of seats, and adaptive belt tensioners and belt force limiters for all six seating positions. The R-Class also comes with a number of Mercedes-Benz active-safety innovations:

· ABS anti-lock brakes, which help maintain steering control during emergency braking

· ESP stability control, technology that has been shown in government studies to reduce single-car accidents by up to 67 percent! ESP senses skids, then reacts in a split-second to help restore control by applying the brakes on one or more wheels.

· Four-wheel traction control that’s integrated with the 4MATIC all-wheel drive; counters wheelspin by applying brakes individually.

· Brake Assist, which can shorten stopping distances by sensing emergency braking and automatically applying full-power brake force.

Chassis like a sports car

The new platform makes use of power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering and four-wheel independent suspension with double control arms in the front and a four-link suspension at the rear. Ample braking is provided by large four-wheel disc brakes with vented discs and double-piston calipers up front. The R350 has 17-inch seven-spoke light-alloy wheels shod with 235 / 65 R 17 tires, and the R500 comes with 18-inch wheels fitted with 255 / 55 R 18 tires. Either model can be ordered with an AMG sport package or Appearance package that includes 19-inch wheels and tires.

U.S. Assembly Plant

The R-Class is produced at the Mercedes-Benz assembly plant in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. While Mercedes cars were manufactured under license in the United States from 1905-1907 by the Steinway Piano Company, the Tuscaloosa plant was the first real U.S. passenger vehicle production facility for Mercedes-Benz. Since its opening in 1997, more than 570,000 M-Class sport utilities were produced at the plant.

To add R-Class production, the plant has undergone a $600 million expansion over the past four years, doubling production capacity to 160,000 vehicles a year, doubling the workforce to 4,000, and doubling the size of the plant to about three million square feet. The expanded plant includes two assembly shops, two paint shops and a larger body shop.

[Poonkla]

Looks like ass! No one is going to buy those!

A Mercedes Benz Pacifica :throwup:

[specVdriver]

Sounds like it has some really nice features to it,but the body is not my style.

[Mook]

not workin

[Tiger Styles]

What a waste.

[LS TEG]

not a mini van fan but i would ride that if i absolutley had to have a mini van for the family. Overall i think it will sell

[rsg115]

Oh well...

[southwest713]

yea, it'll probably still sell. but i wouldnt buy it, that is if i could afford it.

[Mobil1]

I like it.

Platform sharing?

[bikerpimp]

looks like a pontiac aztec - those were hideus

[Fury]

The pacifica itself didn't sell very well... what makes them think a rebadged one will ???

[anil]

Lookin for a family car by Mercedes, then I would prefer that over a freakin E-Class station-wagon any day!

[ComplexDreams]

It might not be a rampant sales success, but Mercedes-Benz is updating the R-Class for 2011 nonetheless. The most obvious changes are visual, though we hear powertrain updates are in the works to meet new fuel efficiency standards. While the R-Class is already available with the automaker's 3.0-liter BlueTec diesel, the vehicle could also be a candidate for Benz's hybrid system in the coming S400 Hybrid. Our spy photographers recently caught a mostly uncovered look at the facelift results in Europe. The 2011 R-Class dons a sharper, more angular front end, with a larger and more prominent grille. A new set of headlights look more ML-Class than the oblong ovals of the current R-Class. Also new are the hood, front bumper with LED running lights, and side mirrors. Out back, the changes are less radical, with a revised bumper, exhaust pipes, and new LED lights. We expect the refreshed 2011 R-Class will debut at the Detroit auto show in January.

[VH_Supra26]

Surf's Up, Dude! Refreshed Luxury Crossover Offers Space, Versatility - Surfboard Not Included June 07, 2010 / By Mike Floyd Visions of wealthy surfer dudes chasing tasty waves isn't exactly the first image we'd associate with the freshened up 2011 Mercedes-Benz R-Class, but right before our drive in-and-around New York City, we received this tidbit during the press preview: it'll swallow 7-foot boards. Good to know. While we're guessing surf board stowage isn't a top priority for most prospective R-Class buyers (full disclosure, we have firsthand knowledge of a guy who used his R-Class for just this purpose), the point is made -- this is a luxury crossover with some unique capabilities. Most of the changes to the U.S.-built 2011 R-Class revolve around its exterior, which is now more in line with its stablemates. Its wider-look mug is highlighted by a more angular three-bar grille and hood, revised headlamps and slick LED light-bar running lamps. The muscular theme also plays out at the rear, with shallower rear glass, rectangular exhaust tips integrated into a diffuser, and edgier taillamps. Adorning the coupe-themed greenhouse's flanks are larger rear view mirrors with the automaker's optional blind spot detection system -- a welcome feature for a vehicle as long as the R-Class (203.1 inches). Several new interior trim combinations and a newly designed, white-faced instrument cluster spruce up what was an already well-executed, upscale cabin, and the available Panorama glass roof is a must-have that opens up the interior space. We weren't in love with the shallow depth of the available navigation screen, but the automaker's COMAND system is among the best in the business at managing vehicle functions. All the latest in entertainment options are available through the vehicle's premium package offerings. Seven-passenger seating is an option, but the R-Class works best as a six-seater, with two captain chairs in the second row and a two-person bench at the rear. Adults should have no problem getting into the back row as the second row seats easily flip up and out of the way, and with 32.4-inches of legroom, they're probably not going to complain about sitting back there for a spell unless they're on the local basketball team. You'll also be able to hold a normal conversation with them from the driver's seat, as the cabin is relatively quiet up to freeway speeds. To keep your passengers safe, the R-Class comes with a standard pile of air bags and a host of the automaker's occupant safety features, including its pre-accident predictive (PRE-SAFE) and neck protection (NECK-PRO) systems. When you're looking to haul more cargo than people, the R-Class offers 42.3 cubic-feet of space with the third row down, and 87.3 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded flat -- more than enough space for beach umbrellas, a couple of coolers and some extra wetsuits.

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/...#ixzz0qC8xLitJ

[VH_Supra26]

For the U.S., the R-Class lineup is down to two models, and the 2011 model year powertrains are carryovers. The R350 4Matic employs the automaker's 268 horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6, while the R350 BlueTEC 4Matic gets the 50-state legal 3.0-liter turbodiesel with 210 horsepower and a healthy 400 pound-feet of torque. Both engines are hooked up to Benz's tried-and-true seven-speed automatic transmission and 4Matic means both are all-wheel-drive only. The V-6 holds the edge over the diesel from 0-60 (8.0 seconds vs 8.6 seconds), but the diesel body slams the gas engine UFC-style in the mpg department at 18 city/24 highway vs 14 city/19 highway -- and that's despite the diesel being some 200 pounds heavier. As with the powertrain, the song also remains the same with the all-wheel-drive vehicle's underpinnings, with upper and lower control arms, coil springs and a stabilizer bar up front, and a self-leveling rear air suspension holding down the fort in the rear. We spent most of our time piloting the R350 BlueTEC during our day-long spin along the Hudson River. Over a mix of hilly country roads and Manhattan urban jungle, the diesel proved a capable powerplant to propel the two-and-a-half ton R-Class. It did struggle a bit at times under hard acceleration up to its 4500 rpm redline -- especially with the default efficiency mode engaged. Shift paddles and a sport mode are available if you need to grab a gear longer or want to quicken the pace a bit. The R350 gas model we also took for a quick spin was slightly faster, but other than maybe that, we can't think of another reason why anyone interested in an R-Class would buy the gas engine over the diesel. When turning the attractive, four-spoke wheel at speed, the vehicle's rack and pinion, hydraulic power assist steering conspired to produce a moderately heavy feel that took some effort to get back to on-center at times. The brake pedal was nicely modulated and its 13.0-inch discs with ABS slowed down the R-Class with no drama. For as long and as heavy as it is, the R-Class is a solid handler. It's not the type of vehicle you're going to be tossing into corners, but it isn't going to roll over and play dead either. The overall ride (the diesel gets 19-inch rims with 225/50 R19 all-season run flats as standard equipment) proved a nice balance between ride comfort and road feel, and with all-wheel-drive, there's additional traction when the going gets nasty. In the heavy traffic situations we encountered in Manhattan, the R-Class felt a bit big and out of its element. This is a vehicle that's better suited to loping through sleepy towns or out on the open highway heading toward the vacation spot -- be it the summer cottage or winter chalet. The R-Class has had its share of ups and downs since its U.S. introduction in 2005, and its overall mission and exterior design have been questioned during its run. But Mercedes officials insist they're happy with the vehicle's place in the market (Benz has moved 1223 units so far in 2010 through May), and they're bent on enhancing its strengths as a spacious and versatile people mover. Surf's up for the 2011 R-Class in August.

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/...#ixzz0qC9azNcJ

[VH_Supra26]

2011 Mercedes-Benz R-Class – Click above for high-res image gallery

As it turns out, you have to do a little more than build the Mercedes-Benz R-Class in order to get buyers to come take them off of your hands. Since the big Silver Arrow crossover first sauntered onto the scene back in 2005, Mercedes-Benz has done very little advertising, and as a result, consumers can't quite figure out what to make of the vehicle. According to Automotive News, that may be about to change. The company says that it will spend up to 15 percent of its total fall advertising budget on spots for the luxury people mover. The ads will be geared toward wooing young families and will crop up during shows like CSI and Grey's Anatomy as two 15-second spots – one at the beginning of the commercial break and one at the end. Beyond that, we're not exactly sure what to expect from the commercials. The move is part of a concerted effort to turn R-Class sales figures around. By May of this year, Mercedes-Benz had only managed to move a paltry 1,223 of the crossovers off of the lot. With a fresh face and plenty of advertising bucks headed toward the R, the German automaker says it hopes to see a double-digit percent sales increase compared to current numbers.

http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/23/r...s-for-r-class/