Brawny: the M-Class is now somewhat wider and more low-set
You could call it going back to its roots. Test-driving the new M-Class in Texas means visiting the country which has shaped this car. No Mercedes-Benz is more American than this noble off-road vehicle, which is built in Vance, Alabama. Even the inspiration for the concept behind it came from the United States. Some 14 years ago, the off-roader was the answer to the coarse Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) of that time which enjoyed particular appeal in the USA.
The M-Class completely reinterprets the SUV by adding comfort, luxury and the some excellent technology. And it does so very successfully – Mercedes-Benz has currently sold more than a million examples of the vehicle.
The M-Class completely reinterprets the SUV by adding comfort, luxury and the some excellent technology. And it does so very successfully – Mercedes-Benz has currently sold more than a million examples of the vehicle.
Champion of efficiency: the ML 350 BlueTEC consumes a quarter less fuel than its predecessor
In order to continue this success story the model has been lavishly enhanced. One of the most important requirements has been for greater efficiency. This is not a problem for the ML 350 BlueTEC, which consumes a quarter less fuel than its predecessor: just 6.8 to 7.4 litres per 100 km on average. Based on this you would never have guessed that the 3-litre six-cylinder diesel engine is still able to produce a full 190 kW.
The mentality of a cowboy
A few people with the mentality of a cowboy no doubt contributed to the model enhancement, given what is now the vehicle's more masculine and more athletic exterior. Again you would never guess from looking at it that, with a drag coefficient of just 0.32 to 0.34 (depending on model), it boasts better aerodynamics than virtually any other off-road vehicle. The ML 350 BlueTEC also cuts a fine figure when it comes to heading off the road. In addition to permanent all-wheel drive and traction control as standard, it also features a special off-road transmission mode which can be enabled at the touch of a button – enabling it to tackle even particularly difficult terrain as easy as John Wayne chasing after a stagecoach
robber. The more miles you cover through America's expanse in the M-Class, the more you feel that the cowboys would have like this car because it is a little bit like them: big, good-looking, robust and seemingly invincible.
robber. The more miles you cover through America's expanse in the M-Class, the more you feel that the cowboys would have like this car because it is a little bit like them: big, good-looking, robust and seemingly invincible.
No comments:
Post a Comment