RE: [READ ALL ABOUT IT] The R-Class mades its debut in New York
More press reports:
<B>Mercedes unveils new Alabama-built R-Class</B>
Thursday, March 24, 2005
MICHAEL TOMBERLIN
News staff writer
Birmingham News
NEW YORK - For the past three years, Mercedes-Benz has been showing the world what its R-Class crossover vehicle might look like. On Wednesday, the automaker displayed the real thing.
Mercedes unveiled the production version of the R-Class, which will be produced in Alabama, at the New York International Auto Show at the Jacob Javits Convention Center.
As it turns out, the R-Class will have two different looks. The R350 is shorter in length and features a V6 engine. The longer R500 will be powered by a new Mercedes V8. Pricing is expected to start at less than $50,000.
Thomas Weber, a DaimlerChrysler senior executive over research, technology and design, said Mercedes is looking to its Alabama operation to build the first vehicle of its kind to carry the automaker's three-pointed star, just as it did in 1997 with the M-Class sport utility.
"The new R-Class is also a positive signal for the state of Alabama," Weber said during the unveiling of the new vehicle.
Featuring elements of a sport utility vehicle, a minivan and a station wagon, the R-Class represents a new market segment for Mercedes. It will be built exclusively in Alabama, alongside the redesigned M-Class.
Both vehicles will be made on a second, all-new assembly line in Vance, where Mercedes invested $600 million in an expansion. The original line, which has been remodeled, will be used exclusively for M-Class production.
"One of the reasons we put the flexibility into production is so we can let the market drive our mix," said Phil Johnston, an operations vice president for Vance's second line. "Mixed-model production is a big step for us."
Test runs:
Wednesday morning, Johnston phoned the plant, where workers were tackling the chore of mixing in test runs of the two R-Class models with the M-Class.
The result? The test was going well.
Mercedes' flexibility stems from design: A body shop for M-Class production flanks one side of the second assembly line, while a separate shop for the R-Class flanks the other.
Once the different bodies are sent down the line, the big challenge becomes sequencing interior parts and exterior attachments so they are in the right place on the assembly line, Johnston said.
"When you get to production this complex, everything has to flow correctly," he said.
Bill Taylor, chief of Mercedes' Alabama operations, said workers on the Vance assembly line, already excited about building the new M-Class, are even more thrilled to see an R-Class move down the assembly line.
"They love it. They love the styling," he said in an interview after the New York unveiling.
Taylor said the Tuscaloosa County plant is carrying out a second phase of R-Class test runs, with one more trial planned before production of dealer-ready vehicles begin.
Openness:
Mercedes officials said the design of the R-Class is meant to convey openness.
The idea behind the sloping exterior look was to get away from the "boxy" appearance of some minivans and SUVs, even though the interior elements are similar, said Hans-Dieter Futschik, design director for Mercedes passenger cars, including the M-Class and R-Class.
"What you have is a slimming profile without losing space," he said.
Futschik said design ideas for the R-Class changed from the concept car first shown in 2002 and subsequent versions such as the Vision R diploid in January at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
"We've been communicating the idea of what was coming," he said.
Ron Mueller, head of luxury sport utility and touring vehicles for Mercedes' U.S. marketing arm, said he believes the R-Class will be a big seller for Mercedes.
"The people who will be buying the R-Class are the people who are at the forefront of trends," he said. "Those who want what is new, what is exciting - the trendsetters. We're going after the early adopters of the next big thing."
I like it a lot. I'm not in the market for this type of vehicle (have an ML on order), but it will fit many's needs and there will be many willing to plunk down $50k+ (way plus when you start adding the options). I've got to believe the engineering is up to snuff, and I personally like the design. It should be very functional, though it's not much more than a reincarnated station wagon form the 70s with all wheel drive and a higher seating position.
Yes you can put photos of it along side those of minivans and it looks similar, but in the flesh, I think it will outclass them greatly.
__________________
<HTML>
<B>Greg</B> Lake Oswego, Oregon, USA
<HR>
<B>2006 ML350</b> - Pewter/Charcoal Alcantara/Aluminum; Packages: Comfort, Lighting, Entertainment, Appearance, Airmatic, Sunroof; Options: Nav, Sirius, hitch, heated seats, power liftgate, roof rack; Mods: ML500 skid plates, ML63 20" wheels.
<B>2001 BMW M3 Coupe</B> (5/01 prod.) - Titanium/Cinnamon w/ many mods.
I like it a lot. I'm not in the market for this type of vehicle (have an ML on order), but it will fit many's needs and there will be many willing to plunk down $50k+ (way plus when you start adding the options). I've got to believe the engineering is up to snuff, and I personally like the design. It should be very functional, though it's not much more than a reincarnated station wagon form the 70s with all wheel drive and a higher seating position.
Yes you can put photos of it along side those of minivans and it looks similar, but in the flesh, I think it will outclass them greatly.
I agree.It fits my need very well and I like the style.
Pictures don't make justice, remember how you look like in your driver's license?
RE: [READ ALL ABOUT IT] The R-Class mades its debut in New York
HOLY CRAP THAT CAR IS UGLY!!! About a year ago mercedes held this private "high security" study on that car where they paid us $200 for some feedback. I told them it looked cheap and not like a mercedes. Guess they didn't care what i had to say.
On a good note, the inside of the car is fantastic with ample room for 7 adult passengers.
I say with some modification to the front end and some other parts of the vehicle they could come up with something much better than that.
RE: [READ ALL ABOUT IT] The R-Class mades its debut in New York
Well, with Mercedes products one needs patience to reaaly understand what it's alll about to become in the future, because with the exception of "smart" almost all other products have become trend setters in the industry. And the R Class has all the reasons and chances to become such. Just look at its elegance. And no bad pricing policy as well right?
![[READ ALL ABOUT IT] The R-Class mades its debut in New York](http://www.benzworld.org/forums/iconimages/w251-r-class/read-all-about-r-class-mades_ltr.gif)
Linear Mode
