 The Stuttgart-based brand New M-Class Sport Utility Classified As Super Ultra-Low Emission Vehicle |
Next-Generation Mercedes-Benz M-Class GOES On SaleNEW YORK - The new-generation M-Class sport utility vehicle is going on sale this week at more than 300 Mercedes-Benz dealerships across the country,
New Dimensions The new SUV is 5.9 inches longer, 2.8 inches wider and 0.4 inches lower on the road than its predecessor, with a 114-inch wheelbase that’s 3.7 inches longer as well. Beneath its sleek exterior is an all-new unibody platform as well as a double-wishbone front suspension and a newly-developed four-link rear suspension that deliver impressive on-road driving performance and comfort. New and useful technology abounds in the 2006 M-Class, including a standard seven-speed automatic transmission, an even more effective permanent four-wheel-drive system and optional features such as height-adjustable air suspension. A revised four-wheel traction control system now incorporates functions such as a downhill driving aid and hill-start assist. A Choice of Two High-Torque Engines The second generation M-Class will be available with two powerful engines, both of which earn the new M-Class the status of super ultra-low emission vehicle. The ML350 is powered by an all-new 3.5-liter, four-valve-per-cylinder V6 engine delivering 268-horsepower, 258-lb.ft. of torque and an improved fuel mileage rating of 16 mpg (city) and 20 mpg (hwy). Under the hood of the ML500 is a five-liter V8 engine with 302-horsepower and 339-lb.ft. of torque that also bests its frugal predecessor by more than a mile per gallon (14 city / 19 hwy). A Rich, Sporty Interior With Flexible Cargo Space Inside, a completely new interior is marked by a sport-oriented instrument panel, a multi-function steering wheel, rich interior materials and significantly improved spaciousness for all five seating positions. By comparison, there’s over 2 inches of additional front leg room, and rear-passenger knee and leg room have also been increased by 1.4 inches and 1.3 inches respectively. Up to 72.4 cubic feet of flexible cargo room provides ample space for anything from luggage and shopping bags to antiques and sports equipment. The easy-to-operate, fold-down rear seat is split 60:40 so that one or two people can ride in the back, even when the vehicle is loaded with long objects such as bicycles or lumber. Two convenient options makes loading and unloading easier – a power liftgate and an optional cargo management system. Mercedes-Benz Safety is Standard Continuing the Mercedes-Benz commitment to occupant safety, the 2006 M-Class comes standard with two-stage adaptive airbags for the driver and front passenger, curtain side airbags and adaptive belt tensioners and belt force limiters for all seating positions. A rollover sensor can activate the belt tensioner and curtain airbags if the vehicle senses an imminent rollover. About the M-Class Plant The new M-Class Sport Utility is being built at the Mercedes-Benz production facility in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. During the eight-year life cycle of the first-generation vehicle, more than 570,000 M-Class SUVs were produced at the plant. Since 2001, the plant has undergone a $600 million expansion that will double production capacity to 160,000 vehicles a year, double the workforce to 4,000, and double the size of the plant to about three million square feet. The expanded plant includes two assembly shops, two paint shops and an expanded body shop. About Mercedes-Benz USA
MBUSA, headquartered in Montvale, New Jersey, is responsible for the sales,
marketing and service of all Mercedes-Benz and Maybach products in the United
States. In 2004, MBUSA achieved an all-time sales record of 221,610 new vehicles,
setting the highest sales volume ever in its history and achieving eleven
consecutive years of sales growth.
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with a suggested retail price of $39,750
for the V6-powered ML350 and $48,500 for the V8 ML500, plus a $720 destination
fee. Both new models get more than 11 percent better gas mileage while being
classified as super ultra-low emission vehicles, and at the same time, offer
more interior space and increased power. When the Mercedes-Benz
M-Class first arrived seven years ago, the new sport utility vehicle started
a trend that inspired the entire auto industry to shift toward more car-like
SUVs. Virtually the only sport utility at the time with four-wheel independent
suspension, the original M-Class was one of the first to be designed from
the ground up, rather than being based on an existing truck platform. The
first-generation M-Class also won an impressive number of auto industry awards,
including the prestigious North American Truck of the Year.