2007 Mercedes-Benz R-Class

R-Class: two new model variants and even more cutting-edge technology for the very best in travelling comfort

Mercedes-Benz continues to upgrade its R-Class. Through the introduction of the new R 280 CDI 4MATIC und R 63 AMG 4MATIC models, which will become available this autumn, the touring SÚV's product range will be expanded to five engine variants. As a result, the output range of the six and eight-cylinder engines will extend from 140 kW/190 hp to 375 kW/510 hp. Furthermore, Mercedes-Benz will equip the R-Class with additional driver-support systems that will ensure even more driving comfort. Besides innovations such as the radar-based DISTRONIC proximity control system, the comfort-enhancing systems will include actively ventilated front seats, the LINGÚATRONIC voice control system and a rear-view camera for safe and easy parking. The R-Class's high level of long-distance comfort, which makes a significant contribution to driver-fitness safety, is documented by scientific studies conducted by DaimlerChrysler Research. The driver's stress level as measured on the basis of the heart rate is significantly lower in the R-Class than in other comparable vehicles.
True to its role as a trendsetter Mercedes-Benz has created a completely new vehicle concept with the R-Class that combines exemplary travelling comfort and a high level of variability with a large loading capacity (up to 2385 litres), a sophisticated design, and the extremely high level of safety typical of Mercedes. As such, the 4+2-seater fulfils the wishes of today's drivers for a car that is ideal for the family, recreation, travel and work - in short, for every use imaginable. In addition, the touring SÚV can also be delivered in two body variants, which differ in their wheelbase dimensions (2980 millimetres or 3215 millimetres) and their lengths (4922 of 5157 millimetres).

Starting in autumn 2006, the diesel engine range available for the R-Class will be extended by a further six-cylinder engine, also equipped with third-generation common-rail direct injection. Besides the R 320 CDI 4MATIC (165 kW/224 hp), Mercedes-Benz will also be offering the new R 280 CDI 4MATIC, which has an output of 140 kW/190 hp. As a result, the R-Class can achieve a top speed of 210 km/h and accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in only 9.8 seconds due to its powerful torque of 440 Nm (from 1400 to 2800 rpm). Combined fuel consumption is 9.3 litres per 100 kilo-metres, so that the new R 280 CDI 4MATIC can travel for more than 850 kilometres on a tankful of fuel. (concept carz)

In addition, the V6 diesel engine features a high-pressure pump (1600 bar), piezo injectors, and a variable nozzle turbine (VNT) turbocharger - thus ensuring low emissions and smooth operation. Standard equipment in the R 280 CDI 4MATIC also includes two oxidation-type catalytic converters and a maintenance-free particulate filter.

The six-cylinder unit is teamed up with the 7G-TRONIC seven-speed automatic transmission, which the driver operates electronically by means of the DIRECT SELECT lever on the steering column. The R 280 CDI 4MATIC is available exclusively with a 2980 millimetre wheelbase.

New AMG model with an output of 375 kW/510 hpAt the upper end of the R-Class engine range will be the new R 63 AMG 4MATIC, a 6.3-litre eight-cylinder engine with an output of 375 kW/510 hp and the kind of driving performance typically found in a sports car. The AMG model can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in only 5.0 seconds and has an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h. The standard equipment for the R 63 AMG 4MATIC includes high-grade extras such as electronically adjustable AMG sports seats in front with multicontour function, nappa leather and seat heating at the front plus light-alloy wheels with SIZE 265/45 R 20 wide tyres, an AMG sports chassis based on AIRMATIC air suspension, and blue-tinted glass.

Standard equipment includes all-wheel drive and air suspension on the rear axle


The touring SÚV also comes with adaptive, two-stage front airbags, front sidebags and large-size windowbags as standard. In addition, all seats are equipped with seat belt tensioners and belt force limiters. Other Mercedes innovations that are available as options are the PRE-SAFE® anticipatory occupant protection system and the crash-responsive NECK-PRO head restraints.

Flashing brake lights for preventing rear-end collisions


A new standard feature of the R-Class is brake lights that flash rapidly during emergency braking. Mercedes engineers developed this technology to provide drivers with more effective warning of impending rear-end collisions than was previously the case. Studies show that drivers' braking reaction time can be shortened by up to 0.2 seconds on average if a conventional brake light is substituted by a flashing red warning light in emergency braking situations. This means the braking distance can be reduced by about 5.50 metres at 100 km/h. The adaptive brake light flashes about four times as fast as a warning light.

DISTRONIC and other support systems for reducing driver stress

In the future, the R-Class will be equipped with even more cutting-edge technology for enhancing driving comfort. In order to provide drivers with effective support, Mercedes will be installing assistance systems from luxury-segment cars into the touring SÚV. The most important of these systems is DISTRONIC proximity control, which uses state-of-the-art radar technology and fast computers to calculate the distance to the vehicle in front and keep the R-Class at a safe distance in line with the car's speed. If the distance should shrink, DISTRONIC automatically reduces the flow of fuel or activates the brakes. As a result, this technology substantially reduces driver stress.

Another optional feature for the R-Class is the LINGÚATRONIC operating system, which enables voice-control operation of the car phone, audio system and navigation system. LINGÚATRONIC was invented by Mercedes and is not only extremely easy to operate but also helps boost road safety. This is because motorists can remain fully focused on the traffic situation, as they do not have to take their hands from the steering wheel in order to operate any of the associated systems.

To assist drivers when parking or reversing, the car comes with a newly developed camera that helps enhance safety and convenience. The camera is located on the tailgate handle strip, where it automatically switches on as soon as the driver selects reverse gear. The camera image appears in the COMAND display.

Also new as optional features of the touring SÚV are the actively ventilated luxury seats for the driver and front passenger. These seats are equipped with five fans which take in cool air from the floor level and distribute it evenly over the seat cushion and the backrest. This mild stream of air helps cool off seat areas that have been warmed by the sun more quickly so that car occupants don't perspire even at high external temperatures. As an option, motorists can improve the interior temperature even more with infrared-reflective laminated glass, which not only filters out the ultraviolet rays of the sun but also reflects the infrared light in the solar spectrum that heats up the passenger compartment.

Further new extras for the R-Class include a remote-controlled auxiliary heater and an electric steering wheel heating system. Motorists can set two different sensitivity levels for the car's standard-fitted rain sensor.

In the future, the sports package will be separately deliverable for the interior or the exterior. The interior sports package encompasses a number of features, including electrically adjustable sports seats in front with an Alcantara/ARTICO man-made leather upholstery combination, a sports instrument cluster, sports pedals, and aluminium trim parts. In combination with the interior sports package, the trim is also available with anthracite-coloured poplar as an option. For the exterior Mercedes-Benz has put together a sports package consisting of chrome trim, a sterling silver and chrome radiator grille, tail lights in a dark sporty design, blue-tinted heat-insulating glass all round, and 19-inch sports wheels with 255/50 R 19 tyres.

Highest levels of driver-fitness safety in this vehicle category

This means that comfort is not just all about a person's feeling of wellbeing, it is also a safety factor. The driver is therefore better able to concentrate on the traffic situation and conserve his or her performance resources, and can then react safely and confidently in critical situations.

During the practical testing on the route from Berlin to Leipzig to Dresden and back to Berlin scientists recorded the drivers' heart rates as a typical stress indicator, and conducted additional online surveys on the participants' feeling of wellbeing. Detailed interviews before and after interviews before and after each of the five-hour drives rounded the test programme off.

Únder identical driving and traffic conditions the drivers' average heart rate for the entire distance was 81.9 beats per minute in the R-Class, and was up to 1.6 beats per minute lower – depending on the section concerned – than the figure measured in the other vehicles used for comparison. In the opinion of the experts, that is a clear indication of the high stress-relieving comfort provided by the Mercedes model. Moreover, the long-distance test also revealed that drivers in the R-Class felt most comfortable in the R-Class on a subjective level, too.

Driver-fitness safety is an important part of the all-embracing safety concept of Mercedes-Benz. As sub-area of Active Safety it concentrates on the medical and psychological aspects of driving and in this way makes a valuable contribution to accident prevention. Together with DaimlerChrysler Research, Mercedes-Benz has been conducting practical tests on driver-fitness safety for 25 years. No other motor vehicle brand devotes so much attention to this area of automotive development. The R-Class has benefited from the vast experience that researchers and development engineers have gained in this field.

Source - Mercedes-Benz

The new Mercedes-Benz R 63 AMG: A new combination of dynamism, power and comfort

Mercedes-AMG is unveiling the brand-new R 63 AMG at the Chicago Auto Show (February 10 to 19, 2006). This particularly dynamic interpretation of the Mercedes-Benz R-Class is powered by the new AMG 6.3-litre V8-engine. With an output of 375 kW/510 hp, 630 Newton metres of torque and permanent four-wheel drive, the Grand Sports Tourer by AMG offers an unprecedented combination of unrivalled sportiness, spaciousness and top-class comfort for up to six passengers.
With the R 63 AMG, Mercedes-AMG has once again demonstrated its expertise in the design of unique high-performance cars. Following on from the unveiling of the Vision R 63 AMG at the International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt/Main in September 2005, and the positive response to this show car, the series-produced model is now being launched. The market launch of the R 63 AMG in the ÚSA will commence in the third quarter of 2006.

Like the series-produced version of the new Mercedes-Benz R-Class, which is now appearing in the showrooms of company-owned Mercedes-Benz outlets and dealerships, the new R 63 AMG is available with a short or long wheelbase. With its highly sophisticated technology, avantgarde appearance and luxurious interior, the six-seater is the epitome of the sporty and dynamic trendsetter.

AMG 6.3-litre V8-engine guarantees dynamic performance
With an output of 375 kW/510 hp and 630 Newton metres of torque, this large, newly developed, naturally-aspirated AMG eight-cylinder unit ensures effortless, dynamic progress. The R 63 AMG with the short wheelbase accelerates from standstill to 100 km/h in 5.0 seconds (R 63 AMG with long wheelbase: 5.1 seconds) and has a maximum speed of 250 km/h (electronically limited). Power is transferred by the AMG SPEEDSHIFT 7G-TRONIC transmission with steering wheel gearshift buttons, a DIRECT SELECT shift lever and three driving modes.

A combination of four-wheel drive with a 40:60 percent torque distribution to the front and rear axles, plus an AMG sports suspension with AIRMATIC air suspension, level control and the Adaptive Damping System, ensures outstanding handling safety and a dynamic or comfort-oriented style of driving – at the touch of a button, depending on the driver's wishes. Extremely short braking distances are guaranteed by the large AMG high-performance braking system.

Exterior and interior with typical AMG exclusivity

The interior of the R 63 AMG impresses with spaciousness, exclusive appointments and an extremely high perceived value. A sporty touch is provided by AMG sports seats in the front, nappa leather upholstery with Alcantara inserts for all the seats, decorative trim in black aluminium, the AMG ergonomic sports steering wheel with gearshift buttons and the AMG instrument cluster with an AMG main menu and 'RACETIMER'.

Source - Mercedes-Benz

Jette Joop chooses the R-Class

Whether it be for a rock band, a designer or a basketball trainer, the unique vehicle concept that underpins the Mercedes-Benz R-Class is designed to meet the particular needs of modern people in the modern world. The touring SÚV provides an exemplary level of ride comfort for the driver, front passenger and rear passengers. This is why the Rolling Stones used the R Class as a shuttle on last year's 'A Bigger Bang' tour in the ÚS. Designer and entrepreneuse Jette Joop also plumped for the R-Class because 'most of all, I am enthralled by the vehicle's extravagant, exciting design, its high level of practicality and its spaciousness'.
With her JETTE label, Jette Joop is one of the most captivating designers on the current scene. Her jewellery, fashion and perfume creations have made her a firm favourite with some of the world's most successful fashion houses. Her designs exude a casual elegance, appearing neither blatant nor contrived, and above all are extremely easy to live with. Similar attributes are displayed by Jette Joop's new car. Since summer 2006, Jette Joop drives a Mercedes Benz R-Class – a vehicle which comes very close to her vision of the ideal car.

Joop is certainly well qualified to judge the design quality of the R-Class. Not only did she study industrial design at the Art Center College of Design in California, she has also worked at Ralph Lauren and Barry Kieselstein-Cord in New York. Joop, who is usually chauffeured around to give herself more time to attend to pressing business, describes the sovereign driving feel and generous interior of the R-Class in short and succinct terms: 'Lots of space and light. With luxurious individual seats for a comfortable working environment.' And, of course, impressive design quality coupled with hallmark Mercedes craftsmanship of the very highest order.



Standard equipment includes 4MATIC permanent all-wheel drive, the 7G-TRONIC seven-speed automatic transmission with DIRECT SELECT and rear air suspension. Plus there is a comprehensive passive safety package featuring adaptive front airbags, front sidebags, windowbags and, as an optional extra, the PRE-SAFE® preventive occupant protection system which identifies situations that might turn into accidents and 'instinctively' prepares the driver and passengers for a possible collision.

Source - DaimlerChrysler

New Mercedes-Benz R-Class scoops prodigious design award

The North Rhineland-Westphalia Design Center has announced that the Mercedes-Benz R-Class is to receive its most coveted award, the 'red dot design award – best of the best'. In awarding this internationally recognised design prize, the jury is honouring the sophisticated design of the R-Class vehicle concept, which offers first-class comfort to up to six occupants. The R-Class represents an exciting blend of functionality, dynamism and elegance. It now assumes a confident position in the model range alongside the four-door CLS-Class Coupé, which Mercedes-Benz presented as a new vehicle concept two years ago and which has since enjoyed worldwide acclaim.
Producing new, innovative vehicle concepts with eye-catching design is a long-standing tradition at Mercedes-Benz. Both the four-door CLS-Class – the first model to combine the athletic excitement of a coupé with the practical qualities of a saloon – and the R-Class, which combines top-grade comfort with a new, distinctive SÚV design, are design trendsetters which are shaping the face of vehicle design in the future. 'In producing the R-Class, we are the first manufacturer to create a visual association between the concepts of space, dynamism, emotion and speed,' explains Professor h.c. Peter Pfeiffer, Head of Design at the Mercedes-Benz Technology Center. 'This is a unique achievement.'

In spite of the spacious interior design of the R-Class, Mercedes designers succeeded in aligning distinctive athletic qualities with sleek elegance. The new Mercedes model is proof that exciting, emotional design is not a size issue.

The 'red dot design award' is one of the most prestigious awards of its kind worldwide. There were a record 2068 entries from 41 countries for the 'red dot design award 2006'. A total of 485 products in twelve categories were awarded the 'red dot'. Only 36 products received the coveted 'best of the best' award, including the Mercedes-Benz R-Class.

Powerful interplay between lines and surfaces as a typical design feature
Design is a Mercedes-Benz trademark. The lines used in Mercedes-Benz vehicles not only stimulate enthusiasm for the products themselves, they also reflect the philosophy and profile of the Stuttgart brand. The design expresses brand values in visual form – and at the same time also characterises them. 'Every model should offer a new perspective,' adds Design head Peter Pfeiffer. This credo applies to both the new R-Class and the four-door CLS-Class Coupé, which Mercedes-Benz launched as a new vehicle concept in 2004.

Despite the obvious differences between the R-Class and CLS-Class, the two models share the same spirit. They represent the pinnacle of vehicle design – design that subconsciously arouses a passion for driving. The design idiom for both models offers an individual interpretation of the established family characteristics of contemporary Mercedes design. This includes above all the effective interplay between tautly drawn lines and tranquil surfaces. The distinctive roofline of the R-Class, which spans the body and defines the line of the D-pillar, intentionally creates associations with the lines of a Coupé and makes for an elegant, extended silhouette. The character line also comes into play here. It structures the flanks of the CLS-Class and R-Class and delineates light and shade between convex and concave door surfaces. The character line extends to the rear end of the vehicle and merges there with the rear light cluster, which continues the flow of the character line.

Another feature shared by CLS-Class and R-Class is the louvred radiator grille with the centrally positioned Mercedes star. It emphasises the width of the body and symbolises power and confidence. The front sections of both Mercedes models are testimony to the designers' passion for detail. The headlamps, for example, are evocative of exclusive optical instruments and perfectly harmonise functionality and aesthetic exclusivity.

Adding a new dimension to comfort and driving pleasure


The standard specification includes the 4MATIC permanent all-wheel-drive system, 7G-TRONIC seven-speed automatic transmission with DIRECT SELECT and air suspension at the rear. Passive safety features include adaptive front airbags, front sidebags, windowbags and the optional anticipatory occupant protection system PRE-SAFE®, which detects a potential accident situation and prepares the driver and passengers for an impending collision in a fraction of a second.

The extra-dynamic interpretation of the new R-Class helps Mercedes-Benz emphasise the versatility of the new vehicle concept that scooped the 'red dot design award – best of the best'. The R 63 AMG, with its distinctive AMG looks, is fitted with a new AMG 6.3-litre V8 engine delivering a maximum output of 375 kW (510 hp) and the sort of acceleration you would expect from a sports car. Exhilarating driving pleasure, exclusive comfort and outstanding design come together in their purest form.

Source - DaimlerChrysler

America's Cup: Mercedes-Benz as a guest at Alinghi - Unusual conceptual comparison: R-Class meets Alinghi

One year after its world debut in New York, the Mercedes-Benz R-Class is the focus of an unusual conceptual comparison as part of a workshop. In Valencia it will encounter the Americas's Cup yacht Alinghi, which is due to defend the title in the 2007 America's Cup. Both car and yacht combine practicality with elegance and dynamism based on the very latest technology – shared attributes which are interpreted completely differently in each case. The result is a versatile and comfortable touring SÚV on the one hand, and a Cup Racer uncompromisingly configured for maximum performance on the other.
With the innovative R-Class, Mercedes-Benz has once again confirmed its role as the trendsetter among vehicle manufacturers. This touring SÚV combines the advantages of familiar vehicle types such as a sporty saloon, estate car, van and sports utility vehicle (SÚV) into a new, distinctive concept. Form and function come together in the design of the R-Class: the extremely spacious interior provides exemplary safety and first-class comfort for up to six occupants, accompanied by attractive styling and dynamic performance characteristics.

Luxurious design versus 'form follows function'



Navigation versus helmsmanship

Both the R-Class and the Cup-Racer Alinghi must reach their destination by the quickest and shortest route. The navigation or 'helmsmanship' of the car is based on concepts and terms derived from seafaring: the R-Class is equipped with COMAND, a system which precisely pinpoints the position of the vehicle using GPS, calculates the desired route and takes its occupants directly to their destination.



Engine versus muscle power

Once the right course has been set, the dynamic qualities of the R-Class come to the fore. Despite its extremely spacious and luxurious interior, the R-Class impresses with particularly sporty performance characteristics. The 375 kW/ 510 hp V8 engine of the new R 63 AMG accelerates the dynamic and elegant touring SÚV from zero to 100 km/h in 5.0 seconds. The output range of the other petrol engines for the models R 350 and R 500 extends from 200 kW/272 hp to 225 kW/306 hp, while the six-cylinder diesel in the R 320 CDI has an output of 165 kW/ 224 hp.

To provide optimal power transfer, all the models in the R-Class are equipped with the 4MATIC permanent all-wheel-drive system and the 7G-TRONIC 7-speed automatic transmission as standard. Electronic support systems such as 4ETS and ESP ensure that unlike the racing yacht, the R-Class also remains safely on course when driven at speed and confronted with unexpected situations.

Getting the Alinghi up to speed is hard work. While gentle pressure on the accelerator is enough to accelerate the R-Class, the yacht crew needs to hoist up to 830 sq. m. of sails – consisting of the mainsail (220 sq. m.), the foresail (150 sq. m.) and the enormous spinnaker with almost 500 sq. m. – to reach the maximum speed of around 20 knots (37 km/h). Steering and trimming the sails must be done by the crew themselves, using muscle-power assisted by grinders.


Dimensions: spaciousness versus constraints

In contrast to the continuous activity taking place on the Alinghi, the new R-Class is a haven of calm and safety where generosity is the order of the day in every respect. The variable interior seats up to six occupants in luxurious comfort, and has a maximum load capacity of 2,385 litres.

The space on board the Alinghi is entirely devoted to practical considerations. Despite the maximum load capacity of 60,000 litres, the yacht has no seats whatsoever for the crew. The 17-man crew is distributed over a beam width of three metres and a boat length of 24,5-metres, and each member is assigned a specific workplace for his respective task.

R-Class meets Alinghi – a versatile and comfortable touring SÚV on the one hand, and a Cup Racer uncompromisingly built for maximum performance on the other.

Mercedes-Benz is the 'official supplier' to the Swiss America's Cup Team Alinghi, which has established its base in a futuristic building – next to the other eleven teams - in the Spanish port of Valencia. In addition to sailing, Mercedes-Benz is involved in other top-class international sports such as tennis and football.

Source - Mercedes-Benz