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2012 Mercedes ML350 BlueTEC w/ On&Offroad Package

Matt Davis — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 11:57:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Mercedes-Benz, Diesel, Luxury, Off-Road, Quick Spins

Getting Deliciously Dirty With Clean Diesel

Back in July, our man Bowman got his first chance to drive the new Mercedes M-Class in the wilds of Montana, and he came away particularly impressed by the ML350 BlueTEC 4Matic. It's great news that this updated diesel powertrain finally got to the United States in November, but in Montana, we missed out on the new-generation On&Offroad Package and innovative Active Curve System.

Fortunately, we were recently afforded the chance to test all of this goodness over a small paved circuit in Austria, as well as up and down a truly hellacious off-road course. By the end of the day, we were convinced that this ML350 diesel 4x4 thus equipped can finally take it to a similarly optioned BMW X5 or Porsche Cayenne. And, as Mercedes Germany tells us, North American buyers will at long last get a crack at this On&Offroad harder-core package for 2013. Are they at risk of messing with the winning on-road recipe that has made the M-Class the world's best-selling premium SUV, with over 1.2 million sold?

Continue reading 2012 Mercedes ML350 BlueTEC w/ On&Offroad Package

2012 Mercedes ML350 BlueTEC w/ On&Offroad Package originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 Jan 2012 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2012 Mercedes-Benz ML350 BlueTec 4Matic [w/video]

Zach Bowman — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 11:58:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Mercedes-Benz, First Drives, Diesel, Luxury

Proof That There's Still Life Left In The SUV Game

It's getting harder and harder to hate SUVs these days. As manufacturers continue to walk down their own personal Green Mile toward stiffer CAFE standards, engineers have been working double-time to come up with creative ways to increase fuel economy without putting drivability or power on the sacrificial altar. As a result, the once-lumbering sport utilities of old have matured into smooth-riding, even-keeled unibody machines with the manners of significantly smaller models. Few vehicles embody that change quite as poignantly as the 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML350 BlueTec.

The M-Class has entered into its third generation of production, and the new model now comes equipped with more power and efficiency while maintaining last year's MSRP. Designers have also taken the time to iron some of the awkward out of the SUV's design with an improved front fascia and other tweaks, and there's more standard technology onboard than ever before. Continue reading to find out why the 2012 ML350 BlueTec 4Matic is the best reason we've seen yet to quit worrying and love the SUV.

Continue reading 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML350 BlueTec 4Matic [w/video]

2012 Mercedes-Benz ML350 BlueTec 4Matic [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 18 Jul 2011 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2012 Mercedes-Benz M-Class priced at $49,865*, same as 2011 model

Jeff Glucker — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 16:01:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Mercedes-Benz, Luxury

2012 Mercedes-Benz M-Class - Click above for high-res image gallery

The more things change, the more they stay the same. Those are apparently words to live by for Mercedes-Benz - the automaker has released a slew of information on its updated 2012 M-Class, yet the starting price remains the same as the sticker on the 2011 version. The U.S.-built luxury SUV is ready to give more, without charging for it.

Initially offered in two flavors, the gas-sipping ML 350 has a starting MSRP of $49,865 and the diesel-drinking BlueTec ML 350 will cost you $51,365 (*including destination). Both versions of the 2012 M-Class get a new front-end that features the familiar three-pointed star, an encroaching chrome "skid plate" and a set of LED daytime running lights.

Under the hood, each M-Class features an updated power source. The ML 350 is motivate by a new 3.5-liter direct-injection V6 engine, which produces 302 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. Also new is the seven-speed automatic transmission to which the motor pairs. If you prefer diesel to traditional gasoline, the ML 350 BlueTec boasts a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 that's rated at 240 horses and an impressive 455 lb-ft of torque. Both M-Class variants come standard with 4Matic all-wheel-drive.

The 2012 Mercedes-Benz M-Class also benefits from upgrades to its interior. Reading like a Hemingway novel, the list of standard features is quite impressive in length while the available options are equally impressive - especially the iPad docking stations built into the front headrests.

What else is on that list of features? Click past the jump for the full press release, and be sure to take a look at the next-generation Mercedes-Benz M-Class in the included gallery.

Continue reading 2012 Mercedes-Benz M-Class priced at $49,865*, same as 2011 model

2012 Mercedes-Benz M-Class priced at $49,865*, same as 2011 model originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 Jul 2011 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chinese police caught rebadging Mercedes as Honda to avoid taxpayer ire

Chris Shunk — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 16:39:00 EST

Filed under: China, Crossover, Honda, Mercedes-Benz

Perhaps there was once a time when the Chinese citizenry couldn't tell the difference between a Mercedes-Benz and a Honda. In today's car-crazy China, however, this is clearly no longer the case. That didn't stop police in Fangchenggang (part of Guangxi Province) from performing a low-tech badge swap on a Mercedes-Benz ML350 in a bid to make it look like a run-of-the-mill Honda, right down to CR-V emblem on the rear liftgate.

Car News China reports that the police did it to fool taxpayers into thinking that the department didn't spend big bucks on a Benz. An ML350 reportedly costs around 900,000 yuan ($139,000 USD), which is a lot more than Honda CR-V, which runs around 200,000 yuan ($30,000 or so). As you may have guessed, the ridiculous (and failed) cover-up attempt by the cops angered residents whole lot more than if they'd simply rolled out, baller style, in the Mercedes from the beginning.

Chinese police caught rebadging Mercedes as Honda to avoid taxpayer ire originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 09 Jul 2011 16:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2012 Mercedes-Benz M-Class shows off updated design, new diesel engines

Steven J. Ewing — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 14:25:00 EST

Filed under: Crossover, Mercedes-Benz

2012 Mercedes-Benz M-Class - Click either image for high-res gallery

Mercedes-Benz will launch its 2012 M-Class crossover in the United States this fall, complete with a range of four- and six-cylinder engines as well as some styling updates. GLobally, the M-Class will be initially offered in ML250 Bluetec, ML350 Bluetec and ML350 BlueEfficiency designations, all of which are mated to 4Matic all-wheel drive. Hybrid and AMG variants are also said to be in the works.

The base ML250 will be powered by a 2.1-liter diesel four-cylinder, rated at 204 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque, while the ML350 Bluetec uses Merc's revised 3.0-liter diesel V6, good for 258 hp and 457 lb-ft. The gas-powered ML350 BlueEfficiency uses the direct-injected 3.5-liter V6 now found in the C- and E-Class vehicles, generating 306 hp and 273 lb-ft in this application. All three engines will be mated to a seven-speed automatic transmission.

Since the 2012 ML shares its platform with the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee, an optional self-leveling Airmatic suspension with selective damping is available, as is a new "On&Offroad" package that offers six different transmission modes to match driving conditions. Wheel sizes range anywhere from 17 to 21 inches in diameter.

Inside, it's the usual smattering of Mercedes-Benz style and technology, though we like how things have been greatly smoothed out versus the current ML. In addition, the COMAND infotainment system has been updated for 2012, and now offers Internet access.

We'll be driving the 2012 M-Class in the coming months, so stay tuned for our full impressions.

2012 Mercedes-Benz M-Class shows off updated design, new diesel engines originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 07 Jun 2011 14:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Complete info, pics on the Mercedes M-Class "Edition 10"

Alex Nunez — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 14:01:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Mercedes-Benz

Click image for photo gallery

Mercedes has followed-up its live press conference shots of the M-Class "Edition10" SUV with complete details and the additional photos we'd been expecting to see. In a nutshell, here's the rundown on the M-Class Edition 10.

Five "Edition 10"models (market availability varies):

ML 420 CDI 4MATIC
ML 280 CDI
ML 320 CDI
ML 350
ML 500

"Edition 10" package includes:

20" alloys in silver or "chrome shadow" finish
Darkened housings for headlamps and foglamps
Titanium-look radiator grille and front bumper guard
Tnted taillamp clusters
Titanium-look rear bumper guard
Squared twin-tip dual exhaust outlets
Blue-tinted glass
Assorted chrome trim elements
Edition 10 badging
Two-tone beige and black interior
Edition 10 floormats

Follow the jump for the total breakdown in the Mercedes-issued press release, and check out more shots of the car in the gallery below.

[Source: Mercedes-Benz]

Gallery: Mercedes-Benz M-Class "Edition 10"

Continue reading Complete info, pics on the Mercedes M-Class "Edition 10"

Complete info, pics on the Mercedes M-Class "Edition 10" originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 Jul 2007 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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