Not too long ago, there was a time when all of the vehicles in an automaker's portfolio weren't required to wear the same uniform. Each model could be its own unique expression of the brand's strengths without being forced to schedule an appointment with the corporate plastic surgeon. Granted, some marques lost a bit of identity with scads of mismatched children running around the lot, but the world's automotive variety pack was considerably more interesting. If you didn't like the face on one product, but wanted to stick with the brand, there were a plethora of options to choose from. ... Read More

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New York 2010: Mercedes R-Class hits the refresh button for 2011 1270052940

Today at the 2010 New York Auto Show, Mercedes-Benz showed that it's still behind the all-but-forgotten "Sports Tourer" when it unveiled the heavily restyled 2011 R-Class. The minivan-that-isn't-a-minivan has had a rough life up to this point. It was never really marketed well by Mercedes, and the droopy snout never really helped. Like Jennifer Gray ...
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Autoblog Podcast #172: YUGOMANIA! 1269978300

Sam and Dan kick off Episode #172 of the Autoblog Podcast with guest Jason Vuic, author of a historical treatise on the Yugo. Alex Nunez joins us afterwards for news items. We cover sights coming to the New York Auto Show, including the next Mercedes R-Class, Infiniti QX56, Cadillac CTS-V Wagon and Sonata Hybrid, among other topics. We babble for an ...
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Brawnier 2011 Mercedes-Benz R-Class leaked ahead of New York debut 1269801180

The R-Class has had a rough life. Not only did it suffer from odd, disproportionate styling, but Mercedes-Benz never really marketed the vehicle the way that it should have, choosing to position it as a "sports tourer," rather than the obvious upscale family hauler that it is. Dismal sales ensued. Makes sense, then, that the 2011 R-Class benefits from a ...
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Mercedes-Benz R-Class, Lincoln MKZ earn IIHS Top Safety Pick 1241472720

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) recently tested the Mercedes-Benz R-Class and Lincoln MKZ, and both have earned the agency's Top Safety Pick rating for 2009. The 2009 Mercedes-Benz R-Class did very well in the frontal offset and side impact tests with "Good" ratings in both tests (models manufactured after 9/2008 with the standard side ...
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Spy Shots: R-Class facelift 1225117740

The R-Class won a design award, went on tour with the Rolling Stones, was dropped in price, and still sold so poorly that Mercedes admitted the car was a failure. Yet M-B head man Dieter Zetsche said the car isn't going away, so as one does with continuing product, the R-Class is getting some face and tail work done. Those who whisper about such things ...
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Mercedes cutting production in Alabama 1217021580

As consumer demand for thirsty vehicles continues to wane, Mercedes-Benz is being forced to slow production at the Alabama plant which manufactures their GL- and ML-Class SUVs and the R-Class crossover. Sales of Mercedes domestic trucks fell to 5,090 vehicles in June, representing an 11.9 percent decline from the same period last year. The move marks ...
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Mercedes admits R-Class was a failure 1200413460

click above to view more images of the Mercedes-Benz R-Class That the R-Class has not been the most successful vehicle in the history of Mercedes-Benz is no big secret, but after staunchly espousing its virtues for year, the automaker has finally admitted it. And as any recovering addict could tell you, admitting you have a problem is the first step on the ...
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Mercedes takes R-Class down a notch 1187008320

After selling only 18,168 samples of their R-Class in 2007, even after dropping the base price by $5,000, Mercedes will try taking the uber-wagon downmarket in 2008.For starters, the cheapest R-Class you can get next year will be the 268hp R350, which has a V6 and does without all wheel drive to come in under $43,000. Originally, the cheapest R350 started ...
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Spy shots: BMW V-series mule 1184533740

With Audi and Mercedes rampantly trying to fill every conceivable segment, BMW has been stepping up development of its own niche vehicles, including the X6 CUV and now, a contender in the it's-not-a-minivan crowd, the V-Series.The 3-Series wagon-bodied prototype supposedly foretells what BMW plans to pit against the Mercedes R-Class, sporting third-row ...
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Mercedes-Benz reveals updated R-Class with more features 1178883180

Click image for photo galleryFor 2008, Mercedes-Benz has performed a series of updates on its R-Class people mover (Mercedes calls it an "SUV Tourer" -- identity crisis, anyone?), and as was previously reported, RWD-only variants are now in the mix. There's quite a bit more to the update than just that, however, and Mercedes is certainly hoping that the new ...