Mercedes-Benz R-Class

Mercedes-Benz R-Class scoops prodigious design award
Design Zentrum Nordrhein-Westfalen announced the Mercedes-Benz R-Class received 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 concept, which offers first-class comfort for up to six occupants.
red-dot.org

 

Mercedes-Benz R-class (W251) key data at a glance (starting with model year 2006)

engines

R350                 268 hp (200 kW) 258 lb-ft 3.5 liter V6 (M272) (October 2005)
R500                 302 hp (225 kW) 339 lb-ft 5.0 liter V8 (M113) (October 2005 - July 2007)
R63 AMG          503 hp (375 kW) 465 lb-ft 6.3 liter V8 AMG (M156) (September 2006 - July 2007)
R320 CDI          215 hp (160 kW) 398 lb-ft 3.0 liter V6 turbodiesel (OM642) (October 2006)
R350 2WD        268 hp (200 kW) 258 lb-ft 3.5 liter V6 (M272) (August 2007)
R320 BlueTEC 210 hp (155 kW) 398 lb-ft 3.0 liter V6 turbodiesel (OM642) (Oct 2008)

length

203" (two feet longer than first M-Class)

width

  75.7"

height

  65.2"

wheelbase

126.6"

weight

4841 lbs (R350 4MATIC)

cargo

85.0 cu ft

eight way front bucket seats

seats

2 + 2 + 2 standard with second row bucket seats individually adjustable fore and aft

optional second row bench split 60:40 starting MY08

39.8" first row

headroom

40.4" second row

37.2" third row

7G-Tronic seven speed automatic

4MATIC® permanent all wheel drive

2WD rear wheel drive (R350 2WD)

fuel tank

21.13 gal

fuel mileage

18/24 MPG (R320 CDI turbodiesel)

standard

multi-function steering wheel, hill start assist, ESP with tire pressure warning system, rear axle air suspension, THERMATIC® two zone climate control, active head restraints starting MY07

optional

Voice control starting MY07, iPod integration, harmon/kardon Logic 7 system, hands free communication system with either MHI cradle or MHI Bluetooth® adapter, panoramic glass roof, EASY PACK tailgate, Airmatic air suspension with ADS 2.0 adaptive damping shocks, exterior chrome styling package, sports styling package with power adjustable sports seats in Alcantara/ARTICO, interior appointments package comprising leather upholstery with power adjustable front seats and wood trim, rear seat entertainment, multi-zone THERMOTRONIC®, green infrared reflecting glass, heated second row seats, Bi-Xenon active curve-illuminating headlamps, corner illuminating foglamps, Distronic

wheels

255/55 R18 all-season, 255/50 R19 (optional)

wheels R63

265/45 R20 or 265/40 R21 (optional)

Online Interactive R-Class owner's manual

R63 AMG 4MATIC with 503 hp and 6.3 liter V8 to appear in 2007
Codenamed M156, it is an all-new normally aspirated 6.3-liter V8. The M156 E63 is being developed under AMG engine boss Wolf Zimmermann, who is the mastermind behind the 367-hp normally aspirated (M113 E55) and 500-hp supercharged 5.4-liter V8 powerplants (M113 E55 mL) in AMG models now. Zimmermann also developed the 555-hp 7.3-liter V12 engine that powers the Pagani Zonda S. The R63 AMG was discontinued in July 2007.

Short Circuits Cut Down on Friction: Liquid Iron
Daimler elucidated how they go about reducing the friction in their AMG engines. One relatively recently invented method is electric arc spraying (EAS) where two wires are shorted producing liquid iron which is seeded into a jet and blown onto a surface. Iron with boron and molybdenum dopants produces a very hard cylinder wall with good tribological properties reducing friction. EAS coating consists of fine pores that can store oil, which means engines with such coatings have excellent emergency running properties as well.

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