Manufacturer Mercedes-Benz Model years 2006–2012 | Production 23 June 2005 – 2012 Body style 5-door CUV | |
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Assembly United States: Vance, Alabama (2005-2015)
AM General (2015) Class Full-size CUV / Large MPV (M) | ||
The Mercedes-Benz R-Class is a luxury multi-purpose vehicle introduced by Mercedes-Benz for the 2006 model year. It is the first full-sized multi-purpose vehicle ever produced by Mercedes-Benz. It was first seen at the 2002 Detroit Auto Show as the Vision GST (Grand Sports Tourer) concept, and the final production vehicle was shown at the 2005 New York International Auto Show. The R-Class was built on the W251 chassis, and is assembled in Vance, Alabama. It was priced between the M-Class and the GL-Class. It was initially marketed by Mercedes-Benz as a "Sports Cruiser" and later as a "Family Tourer".
Contents
- Powertrains
- Safety and security
- 2007 changes to lineup
- 2011 mid generational refresh
- Sales
- R63 AMG
- References
The R-Class was offered in two wheelbases, 2,980 mm (117.3 in) and 3,215 mm (126.6 in), the latter being the sole offering in the US.
Models using the BlueTec diesel engine were introduced for the 2009 model year in certain markets, with other markets getting Mercedes' BlueEFFICIENCY technology.
Powertrains
Not all engines are available in all markets.
Safety and security
The R-Class scored "Good" in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) front crash test. But it was only given an "Acceptable" rating in the side impact crash test before 2009 models built after September 2008 because the test dummy's torso faced excessive loads. For 2009 models built after September 2008, Mercedes modified the seatbelts and interior door trim and the IIHS rated the R-class "Good" overall in side impacts allowing the R-Class to receive the Top Safety Pick award.
Thatcham's New Car Whiplash Ratings (NCWR) organisation tested the R-Class for its ability to protect occupants against whiplash injuries with the car achieving the top 'Good' rating overall.
The R-Class was tested by Thatcham's New Vehicle Security Ratings (NVSR) organisation and achieved the following ratings:
2007 changes to lineup
Mercedes-Benz announced in May 2007 that the R-Class range would be broadened. Rear-wheel drive variants became available in addition to the four-wheel-drive versions, and more flexible seating options (5, 6, or 7-seat versions) offered, AMG styling and new 3.0L engine is available in the R280 (petrol) and R300 CDI (diesel).
2011 mid-generational refresh
The R-Class received a redesigned front fascia, grille, side mirrors, taillights, and revised rear-end styling for 2011. The facelifted model was unveiled at the 2010 New York International Auto Show. Also introduced at the 2010 New York International Auto Show was the 2011 R550. It was powered by Mercedes' 382 horsepower, 5.5L V8 used in the ML and GL550's respectively. The R550 was only available in certain markets for that model year. R Class production leader Mierk Vahner stated "The R Class had no eight cylinder model since 2007, and we wanted to bring that back". Once again, due to poor sales, the R550 was dropped from the lineup for the 2012 model year.
Sales
Sales have not met with manufacturer's expectations, having fallen well short of a planned 50,000 a year, with half of units destined for the United States. In 2007 only 13,031 vehicles were sold in the US. Poor sales of the model have been attributed to a crowded marketplace, poor marketing positioning, and fuel efficiency concerns among consumers at the time the vehicle was launched.
The lukewarm reception to the R-Class in Canada and the United States was similar to the poor sales of the Chrysler Pacifica, a large crossover produced from 2003 to 2007 by Mercedes-Benz's parent DaimlerChrysler, under the Chrysler division. Like the Pacifica, the R-Class is supposed to share the attributes of the minivan, SUV, and a wagon. Similar to Chrysler's marketing of the Pacifica which was unsuccessful, Mercedes was unable to convince the public that the R-Class was a pioneer of new category of vehicle, as consumers preferred more traditional SUV-style crossovers. Despite the R-Class being more upscale and sophisticated (compared to the Pacifica's minivan platform) with a better executed launch (while the Pacifica was plagued with production and marketing flaws), it has sold poorly compared to the GLK and M-Classes. Due to low sales, the R-Class was discontinued after the 2012 model year in the United States (Discontinued after 2013 in Europe) and was replaced by the second generation GL/GLS Class and the Mercedes Benz Metris.
R63 AMG
The AMG version of the W251, the R63 AMG, was introduced at the 2006 North American International Auto Show as a 2007 model. It features a handbuilt 6.2 L M156 V8 engine producing 503 hp (375 kW) and 465 lb·ft (630 N·m) of torque. Mercedes-Benz's 7G-Tronic seven-speed automatic transmission is standard across the R-Class lineup, with the R63's version of the gearbox featuring AMG-calibrated shift times with shifting buttons on the back of the steering wheel. The R63 AMG is electronically limited to a top speed of 155 mph (250 km/h), with 0–62 mph time of 4.6 seconds. The R63 AMG features 4MATIC all-wheel drive like the ML63 AMG, with no rear-wheel drive option available, which was standard on most AMG models.
The notion of a high-performance AMG version of the R-Class was not well-received, given the heavy weight of the vehicle, and as Mercedes-AMG in general was accused of stuffing huge engines into chassis with poor handling dynamics. Due to low sales, as the majority chose diesel-powered vehicles, the R63 was taken out of production after the 2007 model year along with several changes in the R-Class lineup.