2007 Mercedes-Benz M-Class Edition 10 news, pictures, and information

Exclusive special anniversary series. M-Class 'Edition 10': top seller in tiptop shape

In addition to the powerful V8 diesel engine wîth its 700 Nm of torque in the ML 420 CDI 4MATIC, two superlative V6 diesel units are available. The V6 entry-level unit in the ML 280 CDI produces 140 kW / 190 hp, the ML 320 CDI develops 165 kW/224 hp from the same displacement. The ML 350 and the ML 500 wîth the new 5.5-litre V8 unit bring two petrol versions to the line-up wîth outputs of 200 kW/272 hp and 285 kW/388 hp respectively.

Ten years in Tuscaloosa – a German-American success story

The first generation of the M-Class (W 163) was launched in 1997, paving the way for today's premium SÚVs. Fitted wîth all-wheel drive as standard, it combined the comfort and handling safety of a passenger car wîth the ruggedness of an off-road vehicle. The Sports Útility Vehicle also offered ample Page 3 room and optimum adaptability, virtually assuring its success from the off: some 600,000 units of the first-generation M-Class were sold worldwide before it was replaced by the all-new model generation in 2005. The W 164 series consummately perpetuates this success story; around 250,000 Mercedes-Benz customers have already purchased this model.

Like the first generation, the current M-Class is manufactured at the DaimlerChrysler Tuscaloosa plant in the Ú.S. state of Alabama. The production facility was opened on May 21, 1997, two years after construction began, and was the first Mercedes-Benz passenger car plant outside Germany. Shortly after production started, worldwide M-Class demand easily outstripped forecasts. In addition to the initial 300 million Ú.S. dollars, the company invested another 100 million Ú.S. dollars to increase capacity from 60,000 to 80,000 vehicles a year. In 2002, more than 88,000 M-Class vehicles were produced in Tuscaloosa, setting a new record. Between 1999 and 2002, the M-Class was also produced at Magna Steyr in Graz, Austria, where the legendary G-Class is built.

The Mercedes-Benz all-wheel-drive story began a hundred years ago

In addition to marking the 10th anniversary of the model series, the launch of the M-Class 'Edition 10' in 2007 also recalls another significant event. In 1907

– exactly a hundred years ago – the Berlin-Marienfelde plant rolled out the world's first all-terrain all-wheel-drive passenger car. This one-off vehicle, painstakingly designed by Paul Daimler, was used by the German Imperial Colonial Office in German Southwest Africa, now Namibia. The technology used in the 3.6-tonne vehicle wîth its touring car body and six seats was ahead of its time. In addition to the permanent all-wheel drive, the large vehicle even had all-wheel §teering for better maneuverability. The entire powertrain was encapsulated, making it perfectly suited to the ubiquitous dusty desert tracks of German Southwest Africa. A sturdy under-ride guard protected the transmission. (posted on conceptcarz.com)

The 'Dernburg Wagen', named after Bernhard Dernburg, the head of the Page 4 German Imperial Colonial Office, was used successfully for several years, mainly in the area around Windhoek and Swakopmund, and clocked up no less than 10,000 kilometers. The trail of this unique vehicle went cold in the postcolonial era – its whereabouts are now a mystery.