The other day, Daimler unveiled its third generation of the M-Klasse SUV, and it has big plans for it. When it’s available at dealers some time this fall, Daimler expects to sell boatloads of it to regain lost ground in the luxury race. There will be a three models, and there will be lots of pictures after the jump …
The ML 250 BlueTEC 4MATIC is a 204 hp fuel miser. It uses only 6 liters per 100 km (39 MPG, definitely non-EPA). Most of all, it will demand its next fuel stop after 1,000 miles. Which allows you to make a mad dash through for instance Libya without a single stop. that delivers 204 hp and can accelerate from a standing start to 60mph in about 9.0 seconds with a top speed of 130mph.
Next up is the ML 350 BlueTEC 4MATIC with 258 hp and the V6 diesel can accelerate to 60mph in 7.4 seconds with a top speed of 140 mph.
For those in a hurry, there is the 306 hp gas engine ML 350 4MATIC BlueEFFICIENCY with a top speed of 146mph.
To make a long story short:
| ML 250 BlueTEC 4MATIC | ML 350 BlueTEC 4MATIC | ML 350 4MATIC BlueEFFICIENCY | |
| Number of cylinders | 4 | 6 | 6 |
| Displacement cc | 2143 | 2987 | 3498 |
| Rated ouput kW (hp) | 150 (204) | 190 (258) | 225 (306) |
| Max torque Nm | 500 | 620 | 370 |
| NEDC combined | |||
| l/100 km | 6.0 – 6.5 | 6.8 – 7.4 | 8.5 – 8.8 |
| g CO2 / km | 158 | 179 | 199 |
| Fuel saving % | -28 | -24 | -25 |
| Acceleration | 9 | 7.4 | 7.6 |
| 0 – 100 km/h s | |||
| Top speed km/h | 210 | 224 | 235 |
| Emissions standard | EU6 | EU6 | EU5 |
All three of them promise fuel savings of around 25 percent over the predecessor, which is the green, make that blue thing to do.
Tired of the “E” and “S” transmission modes? The M-Class presents you with a bewildering choice of six modes:
● Automatic – covers most everyday driving operations
● Offroad 1 – light terrain, dirt roads and tracks
● Offroad 2 – challenging off-road terrain with hilly stretches
● Winter – for driving in wintry conditions on slippery roads, on snow,
ice or with snow chains
● Sport – more adventurous, dynamic driving on winding roads
● Trailer – optimises moving off, manoeuvring and braking with a trailer
Got that?
In the Gizmo & Doo-Dads Dept., there are electronic helpers that let you start on a hill without rolling back. There is one that lets you go down the other side at a moderate speed. An optional Active Curve System compensates for the roll angle when going through a turn.
The standard package includes drowsiness detection (for those long hauls between fuel stops,) the anticipatory safety system PRE‑SAFE® and a tyre pressure loss warning system, daptive brake lights and Brake Assist (BAS).
Optionally, you can have:
● Intelligent Light System, ILS, with specific lighting functions
● Night View Assist Plus with automatic person recognition
● Speed Limit Assist (standard feature of the COMAND Online option)
● Lane Keeping Assist – active/passive
● Blind Spot Assist – active/passive
● DISTRONIC PLUS
● BAS PLUS (in conjunction with DISTRONIC PLUS)
● PRE-SAFE® Brake with autonomous braking (in conjunction with DISTRONIC PLUS)
There is even “REAL LIFE SAFETY, which is derived primarily from what happens in a real accident situation.”
Amazing.
Brand new (W164) ML350 in Australia, base model, no options $94,000 plus. This one, oh good god! my W163 is going to have to stay with me a little bit longer :(
The front part of the interior looks beautiful. I like it.
But I would like to know where the driver select the gears, because it’s obvious they made the lever obsolete.
The body looks even more Japanese than previous models. Pass.
wow very classy interior.
i’d eat my arm off for that small diesel. i am SOOOOO tired of the manufacturers sticking the US with more expensive options and engines.
We probably pay less for Mercedes products than any other developed nation. We just get a higher level of equipment standard and more powerful engines. Besides, what sort of fool would pay Mercedes prices and worry about gasoline at American tax rates?
I like it. The ML is finally getting some style, and that interior looks great from the press photos. In the past the ML has looked too soft and feminine, now it finally gets some (at least through the sheetmetal) muscle.
Will it continue to slot between the Audi Q5 and Q7 in size? With their equally great looks and high class interiors, I have to imagine that Audi is Merc’s biggest threat here.
I don’t like the interior that much, it reminds me of the new Jeep GC’s, which, with all due respect to Chrysler’s improvements lately, is still not a compliment for a Mercedes.
Sure, the quilted leather looks good, but it will likely only be available as an option on the AMG model, like it is only available on the S65 in case of the S-Class.
Also, the exterior still suffers from what I call Alfa Romeo MiTo syndrome; looks to high for its width. The Tiguan is another example. An X5 or RR looks more ‘planted’, especially with the right tyres. Finally, the ‘bolt-on’ Saabish rear reminds me of the Lincoln Navigator (and the Saabs of course).
All in all, not a fan…
The resemblance may be due to the fact that the guy who’s been heading the interior re-design at Chrysler used to work for Mercedes (and decided to stay with Chrysler even though Mercedes wanted him back).
The dash in particular bears more than a passing resemblance to the JGC dash. I don’t think this is a bad thing, I quite like the JGC.
The Jeep and the ML both share the same platform. When Daimler owned Chrysler, I heard that they did not want the Chrysler products to get too close to the Mercedes products. Now that that is no longer a consideration, it will be interesting to see how close a high zoot JGC gets to the ML. Obviously the Jeep has to hit a lower price point, but they can probably take a run at “tarnishing the three pointed star”…
Mercedes has done a pretty good job of tarnishing the 3-pointed star all by itself. Personally I’d rather have Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland Summit with a Hemi – I’d say it’s every bit as nice on the inside as this and looks better on the outside.
If it’s only an option on the AMG why would it be in the non-AMG pictures? That typically doesn’t happen.
It’s actually the ML class.
The G/GL/GLK and just ML is the worst part of Mercedes nomenclature.
As far as I can tell the renaming of the CL was kind of forgotten about.
(to mirror the E)
I preferred AAV. It harkins back to my Jurassic park filled childhood and sounds more marketable than SUV.
Is there a Brown Interior Car Appreciation Society? I may want to join.
It looks intriguing.
But given MB “quality” for the last 15-20 years, I be really leery of all those electronics. Real money pit potential as the vehicle starts to age, much less after the warranty expires.
This.
Any one of the Lexus SUVs is a much better choice for ownership beyond the warranty period.
Cue: apologist for German car reliability (the lack thereof)…
If only Lexus / Toyota offered diesels. SIGH!
“It uses only 6 liters per 100 km (39 MPG, definitely non-EPA). Most of all, it will demand its next fuel stop after 1,000 miles. ”
Hmmm:
– 1,000 miles on a tank = ca. 600 km (620 km to be exact)
– 6 L / 100 km
==> 36 L / 600 km
– ca. 4 L/ 1 gal
==> fuel tank capacity is 9 gal?
That doesn’t seem right. But for the 6L/100km economy rating, with a big tank, then the range would be greater than 1k km …
Either this car has a really small tank, or something is wrong with my interpretation and reasoning… comments anyone??
Your conversion from miles to kilometers is incorrect.
1000 miles is about 1600 kilometers, not 620.
You’re right. Somehow I initially processed the 1000 mi as 1000 km, and away I went thinking of the problem … but something didn’t square, so I looked at several times again and each time misprocessed it 1000km! Very strange…
It looks like a minivan with a ghetto body kit. It should be perfect for people with made up names.
I predict that if they sell a million, exactly one will be driven to a location like shown in the very first picture.
Cool.
Oooh, quilted leather!! That adds 10 style points right there for me. Maybe in 20 years I will retire my new MB-Tex Couch Wallet for a quilted leather one…
All Toyota SUV 4WD cars are diesel here noone wants a petrol Toymota
This could be hyyuge for the old rich ladies – the interior upholstery is essentially the inside of a designer purse!
Kudos to MB for having the balls to make an aggressive styling more for something that’s often overlooked – but it just looks so feminine at first glance.
Is diamond stitching really supposed to be luxurious? Everytime I see it I think of the inside of a coffin and my guitar case.