Innovative new M-Class steps up a gear

The Stuttgart-based brand sowed the seeds of a new segment seven years ago with the introduction of the original M-Class and now state-of-the-art technology such as three new and powerful engines, seven-speed automatic transmission 7G-TRONIC, anticipatory occupant protection system PRE-SAFE®, AIRMATIC air suspension, and even more effective four-wheel drive system with 4-ETS, will reaffirm the luxury Off-Roader's leading position in a fast-growing and competitive market.

"You need look no further than the design of the new M-Class, with its beguiling blend of heavily contoured surfaces and taut lines, to admire the majestic character of the second-generation Off-Roader," said Nicholas Speeks, President and CEO, DaimlerChrysler Middle East. "The swept-back windscreen, striking front wings and rising shoulderline of the new car set the unashamedly sporting tone, a theme developed by the proportions of the body."

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 by up to 38 per cent. A new arrival is the V6 petrol unit powering the ML 350. It's a 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. Intelligent shift management allows the transmission to make optimum use of the engine's enviable reserves of power, while at the same time ensuring that the M-Class is more fuel eficient. 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 glide manually through the seven gears with the minimum of fuss.

Mercedes-Benz has taken the permanent four-wheel drive and 4ETS traction systems to the next level by incorporating additional functions such as a downhill driving aid, Start-off Assist and the off-road ABS system.

The M-Class can be ordered with two different variants of the four-wheel drive system, allowing it to meet the varying requirements of off-road drivers. A new off-road package is available as an optional extra, allowing the M-Class to master even the toughest routes across rough terrain.

Among its primary features are a two-speed transfer case with an off-road ratio, manually or automatically selectable differential locks (100 per cent) between the front and rear axle and on the rear axle, and a modified version of the AIRMATIC air suspension system tailored to off-road driving, which raises ground clearance by 110 mm to as much as 291 mm and the vehicle's fording depth to a maximum of 600 mm.

The air suspension also significantly increases ride comfort, which is why Mercedes-Benz offers a road-tweaked version of this technology as an option. AIRMATIC teams up as standard with the Adaptive Damping System (ADS), which adjusts the responses of the shock absorbers to the situation in hand, to open the door to a new dimension in driving dynamics and ride comfort.

The new M-Class is also fitted with re-developed front and rear suspension. The double-wishbone front suspension makes a significant contribution to minimising road roar and tyre vibration and ensures impressive driving dynamics with its raised aluminium wishbones. The rear axle, meanwhile, has four-link suspension.

The Mercedes-Benz M-Class also sets the pace for other off-roaders to follow in terms of safety. Its occupant protection system is underpinned by a self-supporting body structure with large deformation zones in the front and rear ends and a wealth of top-class state-of-the-art technology fitted as standard.

With the option of adding the anticipatory occupant protection system PRE-SAFE® to the mix, the new Mercedes Off-Roader raises the bar in its class. This multi-award-winning technology provides a reflex response to critical driving situations where an accident threatens to occur, preparing the car and occupants for a collision.
It is by forming an unparalleled synergy of active and passive safety that PRE-SAFE® can prepare car and occupants for a possible impact.

The system is based on a link-up with the anti-lock braking system (ABS), Brake Assist and the Electronic Stability Program (ESP), whose sensors identify dangerous driving manoeuvres. PRE-SAFE® uses the data from these sensors to optimise occupant protection before a collision.

The newly developed multi-zone THERMOTRONIC automatic climate control system, the PARKTRONIC parking aid and the control and display system COMAND APS with Middle East-wide DVD navigation are available as options as are bi-xenon headlamps with the Active Light System and the cornering light function to enhance driving safety during the hours of darkness.