2009 Mercedes-Benz R320 CDI

This diesel R-class makes a lot of sense, but the EPA numbers seem very low. I had to go to fueleconomy.gov to verify that they were correct. I easily saw 30+ mpg indicated on my commute home and an average of 24 mpg after a lot of spirited driving and running around town. The new EPA ratings seem to be giving diesel vehicles the short end of the stick. If those fuel economy numbers don't scare you off, the R-class makes for a very comfortable ride that will move four large adults many miles in comfort and luxury. The second row has tons of legroom, and there's more than enough cargo room for four adults to go on a weekend outing with the third row of seats stowed away. Mix in the typical Mercedes interior, refinement, and luxury touches and it's amazing that you don't see more of these on the road. I know the styling isn't for everyone, and a vehicle that functions like a cross between a minivan and a station wagon is pretty much doomed in the U.S., but I really enjoyed my evening with the R-class. I know shoppers may be concerned about the cost and availability of AdBlue (let alone its source), but there's a bigger concern: oil. With a little more than 6000 miles on the clock, I was startled by a "check oil soon" message on my way home. Sure enough, the dipstick read nearly two quarts low. Yikes! Scary that may be, but just you try to figure out what blend of petroleum to pump through the 3.0-liter V-6's crankcase. Although Mercedes sees fit to provide all sorts of specifications within the owners' manual, it manages to skip over the issue of oil specifications. Don't look for an underhood label-the only one there refers to reading the owners' manual to find the proper grade. The manual instead tells me to hit up the MBUSA.com website, where - following a good hour of searching - I still couldn't find the oil specs. To Rotella T or not to Rotella T - that is the question! I drove the R320 Bluetec nearly 200 miles over the weekend and got an indicated 23 mpg, which I think is very impressive considering that the vehicle is even heavier than my right foot. There's plenty of passing torque, and the seven-speed gearbox helps make the most of it. True, there is some lag off the line, but this is barely noticeable unless your goal is a drag-racing launch. Inside, the R-class has a comfortable, luxurious interior with beautiful wood, although some of the black door panels have a somewhat cheap feel to them. There's a strange glitch with this vehicle's navigation system, however: it couldn't locate a certain section of Ann Arbor - twice - but on one occasion (strangely between the two others) in the same neighborhood, the dash-mounted atlas happily displayed all of the nearby roads. I'm not quite sure what's up with that. The exterior of the R-class is not pretty, to my mind. It looks fairly similar to the insectlike Buick Enclave from the front, in fact. But I drove the long Benz a lot in downtown Detroit on Sunday, and I actually saw three other R-classes, including one with big rims, so it's nice to see that some owners are proud of their M-B R. It'd take a lot of convincing to get me to purchase a minivan-like Mercedes without the convenience of sliding doors, though. Based on the R's sales numbers, a lot of people feel that way. 2009 Mercedes-Benz R320 CDI Base Price (with destination): $50,025 Price as tested: $62,865 Options: -Barolo Red Paint - $720 -Tele Aid - $650 -Panorama Sunroof - $1050 -Rear Seat Entertainment - $1850 -Heated Front Seats - $720 -P02 Package - $7,850 Fuel Economy: 18 / 24 / 20 mpg (city/hwy/combined) Engine: Size: 3.0L DOHC 24V Turbocharged V6 HP: 210 hp @ 3800 RPM Torque: 398 lb-ft @ 1600-2400 RPM Transmission: 7-speed Automatic Weight: 5092 lb Wheel/Tire Info: 19" aluminum wheels(size) 255/50 R 19 All-Season (run flat) tires P02 Package: - Power Passenger Seat w/ Memory - Autodimming Mirror - Power Dr. Seat & Steering Col. w/ Memory - Rear Side Window Blinds - Telescoping Steering Column - Power Folding Mirrors - 3-Zone Climate Control - Climate Control / Rear Compartment

 

2010 Mercedes Benz E-Class Estate wagon

The next-generation Mercedes Benz E-class has again been spotted in testing but this time the prototype is for the Mercedes Benz E-class'Estate' wagon version. The images were taken near the carmaker's headquarters in Germany and reveal the final shape of the car, with only the finer details being masked by the black camouflage material. These new renderings and spy shots, however, gives us a good indication as to how the final version will look.   We can clearly see the design of the grille and some details on the tail-lights. The next E-Class is expected to debut at next year's Geneva Motor Show before going on sale later that same year as a 2010 model. The wagon 'Estate' variant, meanwhile, should be unveiled at the following Frankfurt Motor Show in September. © Source: autofans

 

Matte stop-gap: 2009 Mercedes-Benz CLS Grand Edition

2009 Mercedes-Benz CLS Grand Edition The Mercedes-Benz CLS is due for a refresh within the next two years, but before M-B releases an all-new version of its pioneering and often imitated four-door "coupe," at least one special edition is in order. The 2009 Mercedes-Benz CLS Grand Edition features a set of bi-xenon headlamps, with an integrated cleaning and range adjustment system, along with fog lamps that swivel with the steering wheel to illuminate around the bend. AMG provides a set of 18-inch, five-spoke wheels coated in titanium grey and wrapped in 245/40 (front) and 275/35 (rear) rubber, while "Grand Edition" badges adorn the front fenders and floor mats. By far, the most intriguing part of the CLS Grand Edition is the available platinum matte paint which M-B assures is highly scratch- and dirt-resistant, but for those not particularly partial to the low-gloss coating, obsidian black, iridium silver, carneol red or flint grey metallic finishes are available. Inside, the "designo" interior (a Benz customization option) features anthracite Alcantara headliner and joins "marron," sand, black, mystic red, porcelain or Chablis leather seats and accents, along with laurel wood trim and stainless steel pedals. Orders for the CLS Grand Edition begin abroad today, with four engines choices, a starting price of 67,294 euros and deliveries starting in March. Gallery: Mercedes-Benz CLS Grand Edition

 

Another Look At The Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe

If the photos we directed you to yesterday weren't enough to satisfy your desire to see the new Mercedes E-Class Coupe, we've got yet another round that may do the trick – this time with the model's side profile completely visible with all but the tiniest of masking. I won't bore you with another synopsis of the E-Class Coupe's styling, seeing as how we've already broached the subject on more than one occasion, but for all you CLK owners wondering what lies in store for the next-generation of the model, you now have yet another remarkably clear vision of what to expect in the coming days.

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