2012 Mercedes M-Class First Interior Spy Photos

2012 Mercedes M-Class first interior spy photos / SB-Medien

Buttons galore!

By Michael Gauthier
September 30, 2009 7:01 PM
Filed Under: German, Mercedes-Benz, Spy Photos

Our spy photographers have managed to get the first interior pictures of the 2012 Mercedes M-Class.

As you can see, the center console is dominated by three distinct control panels. The left knob controls the COMAND system, while the right rear-most device seems to adjust the all-wheel system according to road conditions (a la Land Rover's Terrain Response system). Likewise, the console's top right interface appears to contain selections for the suspension (damping, ride height, etc).

Further up, the button-intensive center stack provides access to the climate control system, radio, and telephone. While the display screen appears absent in this prototype, the production version will likely dwarf the one used in the current M-Class.

Other interior features include a dual pod instrument cluster, a GLK/C-Class steering wheel, and a large section of wood trim on the dash.

As we have previously reported, engine options will likely carry over with minor modifications for improved fuel efficiency and added performance. Rumors seem to suggest the ML 450 Hybrid could spawn a plug-in variant, but that remains unconfirmed.

Look for the redesigned M-Class to be unveiled at an auto show in late 2011 or early 2012.

Comments

2010S5
September 30, 2009 7:10 PM
Looks nice, but not much that says 'Mercedes'.

theoldman
September 30, 2009 7:13 PM
they're replacing the M-class?

Andres2007
September 30, 2009 7:35 PM
It is an aesthetic improvement over the dashboards that Mercedes has been creating lately, but jeez, that's a sh*tload of buttons right there!

wjaprep
September 30, 2009 10:27 PM
Id rather have 100s of buttons than something like the I drive where all I hav is one confusing knob and tv screen.

McNamara68
October 1, 2009 12:56 AM
I don't think you really want either. This ML is following in the footsteps of the Panamera with that wall of buttons when the ergonomics should be modeled after the S-Class--virtually no buttons with a very user-friendly knob-driven system.

GRAVE
September 30, 2009 7:45 PM
Nice interior, looks better than the current model, now i don't care what the interior or exterior are gonna look like because i'm waiting for the AMG version of this thing.

BabyMilo
October 1, 2009 2:18 AM
I think it looks better than the current interior

motorsport13
October 1, 2009 4:05 AM
it isnt alot of button.. the right side is the phone keyboard that almost every merc has, and the left side is for fast audio use, the bottom part i guess will be for stability control and all that

djcocum
October 1, 2009 1:08 PM
Lots of yankee style inside... Lacks finesse and elegance

Orfeifei
October 1, 2009 2:28 PM
equipped with the current style of side-mirror again...it's very ugly and doesn't match the style of many of the Mercedes(like S, SLS)now...

McNamara68
October 1, 2009 11:22 PM
how the hell can you tell? there's like 4.5 inches of padding on all the panels. the only thing you can see is the grill, and it might just be that they kept it the same bc this is a test mule.

Orfeifei
October 6, 2009 9:09 AM
McNamara68, I am just saying the style of the side-mirror doesn't match the style of the body design. Regardless of the camouflage, you can tell the overall design language of this M, like other new Mercedes like CLS and M, just cannot fit this kind of side-mirror look.

benz_man
October 1, 2009 6:32 PM
Marlboro Menthols...?

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