The
R-Class is a multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) offered by Daimler AG in 2006 model year under the
Mercedes-BenzMercedes-Benz is a German manufacturer of luxury automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks. It is currently a division of the parent company, Daimler AG , after previously being owned by Daimler-Benz...
brandA brand is a name or trademark connected with a product or producer. Brands have become increasingly important components of culture and the economy, now being described as "cultural accessories and personal philosophies".-Concepts:...
. It is the first full-sized multi-purpose vehicle ever produced by Mercedes-Benz. It was first seen at the 2001 Detroit Auto Show as the
Vision GST (
Grand Sports Tourer) concept, and the final production vehicle was shown at the 2005
New York International Auto ShowThe New York International Auto Show is an annual auto show held in late March or early April. It is usually held at the Jacob Javits Convention Center...
. The R-Class is built on the W251
chassisAn automobile platform is a shared set of common design, engineering, and production efforts, as well as major components over a number of outwardly distinct models and even types of automobiles, often from different, but related marques....
, and is assembled in
Tuscaloosa, AlabamaTuscaloosa is a city in and the seat of Tuscaloosa County in the west central part of the U.S. state of Alabama. Located on the Black Warrior River, it is the fifth-largest city in Alabama with an estimated population of 90,221 in 2008. Tuscaloosa is named after the Choctaw chieftain Tuskaloosa...
and
Mexico CityMexico City is the capital city of Mexico. It is the economic, industrial, and cultural center in the country, and the most populous city, with about 8,836,045 inhabitants in 2008...
.
The
R-Class is a multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) offered by Daimler AG in 2006 model year under the
Mercedes-BenzMercedes-Benz is a German manufacturer of luxury automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks. It is currently a division of the parent company, Daimler AG , after previously being owned by Daimler-Benz...
brandA brand is a name or trademark connected with a product or producer. Brands have become increasingly important components of culture and the economy, now being described as "cultural accessories and personal philosophies".-Concepts:...
. It is the first full-sized multi-purpose vehicle ever produced by Mercedes-Benz. It was first seen at the 2001 Detroit Auto Show as the
Vision GST (
Grand Sports Tourer) concept, and the final production vehicle was shown at the 2005
New York International Auto ShowThe New York International Auto Show is an annual auto show held in late March or early April. It is usually held at the Jacob Javits Convention Center...
. The R-Class is built on the W251
chassisAn automobile platform is a shared set of common design, engineering, and production efforts, as well as major components over a number of outwardly distinct models and even types of automobiles, often from different, but related marques....
, and is assembled in
Tuscaloosa, AlabamaTuscaloosa is a city in and the seat of Tuscaloosa County in the west central part of the U.S. state of Alabama. Located on the Black Warrior River, it is the fifth-largest city in Alabama with an estimated population of 90,221 in 2008. Tuscaloosa is named after the Choctaw chieftain Tuskaloosa...
and
Mexico CityMexico City is the capital city of Mexico. It is the economic, industrial, and cultural center in the country, and the most populous city, with about 8,836,045 inhabitants in 2008...
. It is priced between the
M-ClassThe Mercedes-Benz M-Class is a luxury mid-size sport utility vehicle , first offered in 1997 as a 1998 model, and built by the German automaker Mercedes-Benz. Gradually, the M-Class became a sales success in the United States and Mexico. In terms of size, it is slotted in between the smaller...
and the
GL-ClassThe Mercedes-Benz GL-Class is a full-size crossover SUV built by the German carmaker Mercedes-Benz since 2006. The GL-Class debuted at the 2006 North American International Auto Show...
. It was initially marketed by Mercedes-Benz as a "Sports Cruiser" and later as a "Family Tourer".
The R-Class is offered in two wheelbases, and .
Models using the
BlueTecBlueTec is Daimler AG's name for its two nitrogen oxide reducing systems, for use in their Diesel automobile engines. One is a urea-based reductant called AdBlue, the other is called DeNOx and uses an oxidizing catalytic converter and particulate filter combined with other...
Diesel engine will be introduced for the 2009 model year.
Models
| Model | Engine | Power |
|---|
| Diesel |
| R 280 CDI |
3.0 L V6 |
|
| R 320 CDI |
3.0 L V6 |
|
| Petrol |
| R 280 |
3.0 L The litre or liter is a unit of volume. There are two official symbols: the Latin letter L in lower and upper case . The lower case L is also often written as a cursive ℓ, though this symbol has no official approval by any international bureau...
V6 |
|
| R 350 |
3.5 L V6 |
|
| R 500 |
5.0 L V8 |
|
| R 550 |
5.5 L V8 |
|
| R 63 AMG |
6.2 L V8 |
|
AMG
The
AMGMercedes-AMG GmbH, commonly known as AMG, is a subsidiary of the Mercedes-Benz car company specializing in high-performance luxury cars.AMG models are typically the most expensive and highest-performance of each nameplate...
version of the W251, the
R63 AMG, was introduced at the 2006
North American International Auto ShowThe North American International Auto Show , is an annual auto show held in Detroit, Michigan at Cobo Center. It is among the largest auto shows in North America.-History:...
as a 2007 model. It features a handbuilt 6.2 L
M156The M156 is the first V8 automobile engine designed autonomously by Mercedes-Benz subsidiary Mercedes-AMG, as previous AMG engines have always been based on original Mercedes engines...
V8 engine producing 503 hp (375 kW) and 465 ft·lbf (630 N·m) of torque. Mercedes-Benz's
7G-Tronic7G-TRONIC is Mercedes-Benz's trademark name for its seven-speed automatic transmission. This fifth-generation transmission was introduced in the Autumn of 2003 on 8-cylinder models, and was the first seven-speed automatic transmission ever used on a production vehicle.The 7G-Tronic debuted on five...
seven-speed
automatic transmissionAn automatic transmission is an automobile gearbox that can change gear ratios automatically as the vehicle moves, freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually...
is standard, but the R63 features AMG-calibrated shift times with shifting buttons on the back of the steering wheel.
The R63 AMG is electronically limited to a top speed of , with 0-60 mph time of 5.0~ seconds. It is no longer sold in the United States.
Safety
The R-Class scores "Good" in the IIHS front crash test. But was given an "Acceptable" rating in the side impact crash test before 2009 models built after September 2008 because the test dummy's torso faced excessive loads.
For 2009 models built after September 2008, Mercedes modified the seatbelts and interior door trim and the IIHS rated the R-class "Good" overall in side impacts allowing the R-Class to receive the
Top Safety Pick award.
2007 updates
Mercedes-Benz announced in May 2007 that the R-Class range would be broadened. Rear-wheel drive variants will be available in addition to the four-wheel-drive versions, and more flexible seating options (5, 6, or 7-seat versions) would be offered, AMG styling and a new three litre petrol and diesel engine will be available in the R280 and R280 CDI.
Poor sales and replacement
Sales have not met with manufacturer's expectations, having fallen well short of a planned 50,000 a year. In 2007 only 13,031 vehicles were sold worldwide, and Mercedes is currently working on a replacement for the R-Class. The R-Class will get a minor face-lift for 2010.
| US Calendar Year |
Sales |
| 2005 |
4,959 |
| 2006 |
18,168 |
| 2007 |
13,031 |
| 2008 |
7,733 |
External links