Stuttgart, Germany • Mercedes-Benz is celebrating its 125th birthday this year. And as with any person or company that reaches an advanced age, the question that is always asked is what is the secret to such a long life? Centurions often answer that it’s about eating right and exercising, or even taking a drink now and then. But in the case of a car company, there can be only one answer: Build products people want.
These were my thoughts as I sat through the technical presentations for the 2012 M-Class (also called the ML). This SUV is now going into its third generation, having entered the market in 1997 and to date selling more than one million models. Obviously, it’s a vehicle people want.
As I listened to engineers describe its newest features and innovations, often in techy engineer-speak, I noted that they always referred back to the customers’ needs/wants. And that got me thinking how important it is for a company to have a rock solid agreement on what a new vehicle is meant to be. In fact, before a new vehicle design even makes it on to paper, there has to be a meeting between the engineers, executives, marketing people and, of course, the designers. The subject? Intent. What does this vehicle intend to be? Who are we building it for? And how do we reach that goal? Total consensus among all the players on these points is crucial. Fail and ghastly automotive mistakes can occur —history is full of them.
So, it’s heartening to see that, 14 years later, the M-Class intent has remained the same. It’s a practical vehicle with a luxury side. And, if anything, the luxury side is getting a boost in this newest M-Class with several all-new interiors and increased ride comfort. It also has improved off-road ability and power and fuel economy improvements in the double digits.
Thomas Merker, chief engineer for the M-Class, put it this way: “We want nothing less than the best SUV in the market”. And that is the clear Mercedes intent for this truck.
The target competition is more than plain: Land Rover, Porsche and Audi are being challenged. For buyers, it’s better to focus more closely on the sub-categories that make up Merker’s overall goal. There are four:
1. Safety This time around, the M-Class has increased its focus on what Mercedes calls the “pre-crash phase” of an accident. Its sensors detect an impending crash and do things such as cinch seat belts tight, activate side or window air bags first (as in a rollover), close windows and adjust front-seat travel.
2. Fuel economy It has been improved, with a claim of the best-in-class fuel economy with the new ML250 BlueTEC 4Matic. This diesel-powered truck is said to get an average of six litres per 100 kilometres. Even the gas engines (V6 and V8) will be much improved. How? The M-Class now comes with an auto start/stop function, electric power steering, 7G-Tronic Plus automatic transmission, reduced A/C and alternator belt drag, lightweight aluminum and magnesium components and low-rolling resistance tires. These items, plus engine improvements, can net as much as a 36% improvement in fuel economy over the outgoing models.
3. Off-road performance Even with this frugal nature, the M-Class was always intended to handle off-roading and the new model does that and more with the addition of some new features. First, there’s a full air suspension system that can change vehicle height and adapt to changing terrain. Parts of this system react automatically, while a selection dial in the cabin also allows manual selection. Downhill speed regulation increases rough terrain control and onboard sensors display a wealth of off-roading data on the console-located navigation screen. This includes angles, ride height, speed, lean and yaw. Real-world testing took place in South Africa, Norway and the deserts of Namibia.
4. Luxury This element has been there from the beginning. However, this will be the most stylish, upscale truck yet.
An all-new dash and instrument cluster incorporate materials such as leather and wood (unvarnished) to create a sweeping, powerful, wide cockpit, and seating (four choices) have innovative styles, including a sports seat that looks like a muscle-bound six-pack. High-gloss silver switches are large and precise as is the refined yet rugged feel of every material inside. The latest in navigation, infotainment and command controls simply add to the feeling of confident elegance for which the M-Class strives. Four separate interior design schemes will be offered.
Production of this new M-Class is gearing up for a world launch. While it’s distinctly European in thinking and design, it’s being built only in Alabama. This one plant will supply the world.
An interesting side note is that, in Germany (and much of Europe and Asia), the size of the SUV market has doubled in just the past 10 years.
We’ll have a chance to drive this new Mercedes M-Class come summer, and trucks should start to arrive in the fall.
Source : http://www.nationalpost.com
8:40 PM
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