Page 1 of 1 Having changed the landscape of off-road vehicle development on its arrival seven years ago, the Mercedes-Benz M-Class has stepped up a gear. After its premiere at the 2005 Detroit Auto Show, the new M-Class will be introduced onto the US market in the spring of next year and in Europe next summer. Three of the four engines available for the 2005 model are hot off the press and outstrip the output and torque of the power units for the outgoing model to the tune of up to 38 per cent. Efficient drive-system technology and improved aerodynamics (the Cd value is down to 0.34 from 0.39 previously) combine to cut fuel consumption by as much as ten per cent.
The V6 diesel engine with third-generation common-rail direct injection, which takes the place of the outgoing five-cylinder in-line unit in the range, is celebrating its series-production premiere. Put to work under the bonnet of the new ML 320 CDI, the new power unit delivers 224 hp and places a maximum of 510 Newton metres of torque on tap from 1600 rpm. Also on hand is the new ML 280 CDI, serving up 190 hp and a peak torque of 440 Newton metres. This diesel model burns just 9.4 litres of fuel per 100 km, making the new M-Class one of the most economical off-roaders in its class. Another new arrival is the V6 petrol unit powering the ML 350 - the ticket to 272 hp and maximum torque of 350 Newton metres. The engine range is headed by the proven eight-cylinder unit at the heart of the ML 500, which now delivers 306 hp.
The globally unique seven-speed automatic transmission 7G-TRONIC is fitted as standard in all variants of the new M-Class. Intelligent shift management allows the transmission to make optimum use of the engine's reserves of power, whilst at the same time ensuring that the M-Class is a less frequent visitor to the fuel pumps than before. 7G-Tronic can now be operated electronically using a selector level positioned close to the steering wheel, technology which Mercedes-Benz has christened "direct select". Additional steering-wheel gearshift buttons, meanwhile, enable the driver to manually go through the seven gears with the minimum of fuss. Page 1 of 1
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ML 350
Having changed the landscape of off-road vehicle development on its arrival seven years ago, the Mercedes-Benz M-Class has stepped up a gear. After its premiere at the 2005 Detroit Auto Show, the new M-Class will be introduced onto the US market in the spring of next year and in Europe next summer. Three of the four engines available for the 2005 model are hot off the press and outstrip the output and torque of the power units for the outgoing model to the tune of up to 38 per cent. Efficient drive-system technology and improved aerodynamics (the Cd value is down to 0.34 from 0.39 previously) combine to cut fuel consumption by as much as ten per cent.