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Mercedes has facelifted its ML SUV. And it's time to sue the surgeon for gross negligence and malpractice. Somehow, Mercedes has made the ML even more busy, even more confusing. What ever happened to the paradigm of "Keep It Simple, Stupid?" Under the hood of the ML63 AMG model, the dishonest jerks actually installed a 6.2-liter engine now making 510 horsepower and 465 lb ft of torque. They've also redone the interior a bit, and I'm ashamed to say it looks pretty good. What is so impressive about Mercedes is that they can make a car this overdone, this gaudy and tacky, and people will still buy it as though it was filled with passengers from Eliot Spitzer's black book.
15 Comments on “Facelifted Mercedes ML...”
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I saw the ML63 (before facelift) in the streets of New York, where it was fighting potholes and yellow cabs. While I like the C, CL, and S 63s (I haven’t seen the others with my own eyes), the ML is an overdone piece of gaudy nouveau-riche.
And that engine is totally useless in a city where going at 40mph looks like a suicide attempt.
I don’t mind the look of that, funky wheels, aggressive stance….
Heh? I am a Mercedes fan (disclosure). I think it looks fantastic. And I’m not going to carp over 0.1 liters of displacement. What I really like about the current Mercedes House of Style is there is once again a huge family consistency that makes a confident statement no matter which model you are seeing. From the SUV’s to the SL’s, you instantly recognize the look.
If it isn’t hitting your buttons that’s fine. But I think this will be a great period for Mercedes.
Time will tell, no?
First, I won’t even comment on the Tire Rack wheel package.
Second, I would love to slap every head designer who thinks they have to employ some sort of Audi-esque lower grill opening. Those fake openings “work” on Audis…even on some VeeDubs…but this is just plain hideous.
And third, is it too much trouble for Dumbler to ditch the silver paint job? So cliche on that brand…
Looks like they stole the smile from the Honda CRV.
Mr Hagar, I would have to agree with you… that black square hole in the middle of the bumper is hideous. That is pretty much the word for it. With all this lead time for development why and how do they end up copying each other like that?
It must be the new Teutonic look for vehicles, ad a line here, a crease there, an opening, a slot, a fender bulge, another crease augmented by an additional line.
Absolutely make the grille and the star bigger to uphold the family identity theme.
The end result….FUGLY.
I just heard a popping sound, and it was my retinas detaching from my cornea in horror…
The ML has always been in the bland-to-vaguely offensive category, in my opinion. From what I can see in the picture, the new one isn’t a radical change but its no worse than its predecessors; maybe it’s even an improvement.
I don’t think the large opening looks good on many Audis. Maybe on the Q7. Not on the others.
Best looking huge grille, to my eye, is the one on the Cadillac CTS.
WRT this ML: stance looks good in this shot.
If you scan the pixamo photos, the large lower grill is only on the 6.3 high performance model. And it is a real opening.
The lesser models are sans lower grille.
It’s not what I’d drive, but I like how it looks.
i’m with dougw and rpn453; i think the car looks really good. and who cares about the .1 liter? mercedes sales are rising in a tough market so apprently a lot of others like the cars also.
Yeah, this is a pretty good lookin’ automobile… for an SUV at least.
What’s wrong with the look… thing looks sharp. And the ML63 is the sports SUV the Cayenne Turbo wishes it was.
(But isn’t because it also insisted on being an off-roader)