Mercedes-Benz R-Class In Depth

Press Release

Model range and equipment

Entering a new dimension

• Unprecedented vehicle concept responds to new customer needs

• New dimensions for untrammelled enjoyment of space travel on wheels

• Fully equipped with air conditioning, radio and 7G-TRONIC

• Individual extras in package form

There is never a shortage of new ideas. However, only a very few of them stand the test of time. Once the initial "wow" effect has subsided, one common stumbling block is the lack of market acceptance as it emerges that customers are actually looking for something completely different.

Whenever Mercedes-Benz devises new automotive concepts, the customers have already had their say. Product planners, designers and engineers discuss the concept with motorists, sound out their opinions and find out what expectations they would have of the car. This continuous dialogue reveals people's changing interests, ways of life and mobility requirements: in other words, it finds out what customers really want.

The revolutionary Sports Tourer concept is the end product of customer interviews held all over the world. It fits in perfectly with the notion of a car whose spaciousness, comfort and performance equip it to master any challenge and whose state-of-the-art innovations from all areas of automotive engineering blend together perfectly with a thrilling design.

Mercedes-Benz has put the ideas for such a trailblazing car into practice in the form of two separate model series: the B-Class, known as the Compact Sports Tourer, and the R-Class, which is premiering in New York under its title of Grand Sports Tourer.

What makes this new automotive design quite so fascinating is its versatility, uni-fying as it does the dynamism of a sporty saloon, the spaciousness and comfort of an MPV, the versatility of an estate and the poise and assurance of an off-roader. Combined with a host of new ideas, the result is a new vehicle type in its own right which knows no equal - the R-Class, the Grand Sports Tourer.

The three terms which describe the new Mercedes-Benz model leave no doubt as to where its main strengths lie:

• Grand refers to its size, space and practicality: with a body length of 5157 millimetres, the R-Class offers far more room than many saloon models in the luxury segment. This translates into a completely new motoring sensation for passengers: untrammelled enjoyment of "space travel" on wheels.

• Sports symbolises dynamism, high performance potential and a thrilling mo-toring experience: the two potent six-cylinder engines and the V8 power unit that are available for the R-Class span a power spectrum from 165 kW/ 224 hp up to 225 kW/306 hp. A seven-speed automatic transmission, permanent all-wheel drive, the 4ETS Electronic Traction System and ESP® all make up part of the standard package.

• Tourer is a reference to this innovative new car's outstanding credentials as a luxurious touring car: the new suspension system with standard-fitted air suspension at the rear, comfortable individual seats and automatic climate control gives it everything it needs for indulging its occupants with silky smooth comfort on long journeys.

Thanks to all of the above fortes, the Grand Sports Tourer neatly fits in with the current Zeitgeist, mirroring an attitude toward life that the young and the young-at-heart are keen to express through the medium of the vehicle they drive: being free and without ties, willing to take on any challenge and revelling in spontaneity. In practise, this means packing your bags on the spur of the moment, for example, setting off into the great outdoors with friends and enjoying the drive there together.

Standard specification list brims with high-tech for added safety and comfort

Drive and enjoy - this high billing is not just reflected by the pioneering concept of the new Mercedes-Benz R-Class but also by its extensive list of standard equipment, as summarised below*:

• 235/65 R 17 wide-base tyres
• 4ETS traction system
• 7G-TRONIC seven-speed automatic transmission
• Acceleration skid control
• Aerial diversity
• Airbags for driver and front passen-ger, adaptive
• All-wheel drive, permanent
• Aluminium trim
• Ambient lighting in exterior mirrors
• Anti-lock braking system
• Armrest between front seats with two-section stowage compartment underneath
• Audio 20 CD radio system with eight speakers
• Belt force limiters for all seats
• Belt tensioners for all seats
• Brake Assist
• Captain's seats in rear, including armrests
• Central display in instrument clus-ter
• Central locking with remote control
• Courtesy lights in the doors
• Cruise control with SPEEDTRONIC
• Cup holders, 2 for each seat row
• Diesel particulate filter (standard in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the Netherlands)
• DIRECT SELECT gearshift
• ESP® with tyre pressure loss warn-ing system
• Four-link, air-sprung rear axle
• Front seats with partial power ad-justment
• Headlamp Assist
• Headlamps with projector-beam technology
• Heated and electrically adjustable exterior mirrors
• Heated windscreen washer nozzles
• ISOFIX child seat attachment
• Light-alloy wheels
• Multifunction steering wheel, leather-trimmed
• Outside temperature display
• Power windows front and rear
• Pre-installation for mobile phone, including roof aerial
• Rain sensor for windscreen wipers
• Rear windscreen wiper
• Rev counter
• Seats upholstered in combined fab-ric/ARTICO man-made leather
• Sidebags in front
• Speed-sensitive power steering
• Steering column adjustable for height and reach
• THERMATIC automatic climate con-trol
• Tinted windows
• TIREFIT tyre repair kit
• Windowbags

The R 500 V8 top-of-the-range model adds the following extra equipment items as standard:

• 255/55 R 18 wide-base tyres
• "Bird's eye Fineline" fine-wood trim
• Automatically dimming exterior and rear-view mirrors
• Exterior chrome styling package
• Heated front seats
• Light-alloy wheels
• TWIN Leather seat upholstery
• Velour floor mats for all seat rows

Plus, customers can also choose from a broad array of the very latest innovations from Mercedes for enhancing safety, comfort and dynamic performance. Here is a summary*:

• 18" light-alloy wheels with 255/55 R 18 wide-base tyres
• 6-disc CD changer
• AIRMATIC air suspension, includ-ing ADS
• AMG 19" light-alloy wheels with 255/50 R 19 wide-base tyres
• AMG bodystyling
• Anti-theft alarm system
• Audio 50 APS radio system
• Automatically dimming exterior and rear-view mirrors (standard on R 500)
• "Bird's eye Fineline" trim (standard on R 500)
• Bi-xenon headlamps with Active Light System, cornering light function and headlamp cleaning system
• Centre console for the rear
• COMAND APS
• Dark-tinted rear side windows and rear windscreen
• EASY-PACK load compartment cover
• EASY-PACK tailgate
• Electrically adjustable steering col-umn
• Headlamp cleaning system
• Heated windscreen washer system
• Infrared-reflecting glass
• KEYLESS-GO access and drive au-thorisation system
• Memory function for front seats, mirrors and steering wheel
• Multicontour front seats
• Multifunction steering wheel, wood/leather trimmed
• Multi-zone THERMOTRONIC
• Nappa leather seat upholstery
• NECK-PRO front head restraints
• Panoramic sliding glass sunroof
• PARKTRONIC parking aid
• Power-adjustable front seats with memory function
• Power-adjustable front sports seats, upholstered in Alcantara/ARTICO man-made leather
• Power-operated vent windows for the third row of seats
• PRE-SAFE®
• Rear air conditioning system (in conjunction with THERMOTRONIC)
• Rear entertainment system
• Sidebags in rear
• Sound system with eleven speakers and surround sound
• TWIN Leather seat upholstery (standard on R 500)
• Tyre pressure monitoring system

Equipment packages offer even greater scope for individuality

Further outstanding technical and appointments features are available by opting for one of the attractive equipment packages which allow Mercedes customers to inject their vehicle with even more individuality:

• The premium interior lighting package adds features such as illuminated door handle recesses, illuminated air vent thumbwheels, illuminated cup holders in the front and in the optional rear centre console, an illuminated stowage compartment in the transmission tunnel covering, plus reading lamps for the rearmost row of seats. An ambient /warning light is also integrated into the tailgate.

• The interior appointments package includes leather upholstery, electrically ad-justable front seats, wood trim as well as the Premium Interior Lighting package.

• The exterior chrome styling package (standard on the R 500) adds door handles and side rub strips with chrome inserts, chrome tailpipes (oval) as well as a chrome-trimmed radiator grille.

• The sports package combines parts of the chrome styling package plus 19" light-alloy wheels, chrome/silver radiator trim and blue-tinted glass all-round. Inside, the sports package comprises a specially designed instrument cluster, sports pedals and electrically adjustable sports seats upholstered in Alcantara/ARTICO man-made leather.

• The AIRMATIC package consists of AIRMATIC air suspension combined with the ADS Adaptive Damping System.