Friday, February 29, 2008

W164 M-Class Mid-Size SUV (Current)






The W164 is the current M-Class. It was first introduced in 2006. $600 Million was spent on redesigning the ML. The design has changed greatly. The predecessor was crude and unreliable. The W164 is a big change. It must be good. Mercedes-Benz wants to redeem itself.

With $600 Million spent on design, the product must be great. Out of the $600 Million, most of the money was spent designing the back. It is now sporty and elegant. It also looks strong and hardy, fit for off-road driving. The front has been inspired by fighter jets. The louvring grille, sharp headlights and creases on the hood makes the ML look sporty. Overall, the new ML has been redesigned to improve aerodynamics. Drag coefficient is now reduced to 0.34. The length of the vehicle also grew by 150mm, making the vehicle more spacious. The body is also adorned with powerful looking fender curves over the wheels. The exterior is brilliant. The exterior of the M-Class has turned from below expectation to leaving amazed.

The interior is also wonderful. The dash is simple and elegant. Below the sporty air vents is a COMAND APS and then the climate control system. Elegant wood trim adorns the door panels and the dash. Base models feature Artico Leather as standard with Leather as an option. Higher models have Premium leather as standard equipment. Soft leather and elegant wood trim is coupled with Thermatic automatic climate control system or Thermotronic luxury climate control. A Harman-Kardon Premium sound system ensures a flawless ride. Just sit in the M-Class and no matter where nature takes you, travel in prestige and luxury.

Various new features have been added. A Pro Off-Road Engineering package adds differential locks, low gear ratios and off-road suspension to improve off-road performance. Airmatic DC air suspension allows the ride height of the vehicle to be tuned. Also, ADS(Adaptive Dampening System) allows different stiffnesses of the suspension for whatever conditions the vehicle is driven in. Other features such as ESP(Electronic Stability Program), ABS(Antilock Brake System), BAS(Brake Assist System) and advanced airbags are standard on all W164s. Various engines are offered for the M-Class. Note some engines may not be available in your country. Please inquire at your local dealership for more details. This chart will help you understand the different engine litrages and classification.

ML280 CDI 2.8Litre V6 Diesel
ML320 CDI 3.2Litre V6 Diesel
ML420CDI 4.2Litre V8 Diesel
ML350 3.5Litre V6
ML500(ML550 North America) 5.5Litre V8
ML63 AMG AMG 6.2litre V8

The new ML has definately redeemed it's name with it's wonderful build quality and luxury. Mercedes-Benz plans on making an M-Class Edition 10 to celebrate the 10 Anniversary of the M-Class. The M-Class is also due to receive a facelift in 2008/2009.

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