The Mercedes R-Class
Multi-facetted, a station wagon, SUV, sedan and monospace all in one.
This Grand Sports Tourer is a station wagon, SUV, sedan and monospace all in one : in other words, multi-facetted.
To be revealed in early 2006…
Versatile, dynamic, a blend of cool design and panoramic space, the new R-Class is about to revolutionize 2006. For more reasons than one. First of all, esthetically. The front of the car is dominated by a radiator grille with long horizontal bars, synonymous with power and character. Angled outwards, the headlights further emphasize the impression of a very wide body. The arched roof elongates the silhouette, like that of a coupé. Finally, its strongly muscled flanks bear witness to a real sports model. As for space, this 6-seater is incredibly generous : the figures speak for themselves. The distance between the seats in the first and second rows is
92 centimetres, with 84 centimetres between the second and third rows. Though for the latter, the distance can reach 92 centimetres depending on the position of the seats. The distance from seat to roof (up to 1 metre at the rear) and the space at shoulder level (1.53 metres at the front and 1.51 at the rear) give the cabin quite exceptional dimensions. Living is easy in the R-Class ! As for comfort, passengers benefit from individual seats with armrests (for the second row) and a central console (as an option), plus real risk-free storage space accommodating glasses and bottles in holders designed for the purpose. One last detail : it takes just a few seconds to fold down the four rear seats individually to obtain cargo room superior to that of a classic station wagon (2.385 litres).
TOP-NOTCH SECURITY
Safety is basically summed up in two words : Presafe and Neck-Pro. Presafe (as an option) is a preventive protection system which detects critical situations and immediately prepares the vehicle and its occupants for a possible collision. It does this by tightening the seatbelts of the driver and front-seat passenger, positioning the latter’s seat so that any impact will be resisted as effectively as possible, and by closing the sunroof automatically. Also available as an option, Neck-Pro head-rests move forward 44 millimetres and upwards 30 millimetres in a quarter of a second in the event of a collision from the rear, in order to protect the driver’s head and that of the front-seat passenger and reduce the risk of whiplash injury. Standard equipment includes ABS, ASR, ESP and assisted emergency braking... Plus the latest version of the dynamic behaviour regulation system which keeps an eye on tyre pressure. Air temperature (inside the tyres) is checked by captors placed at valve level. The data is transmitted by radio to antennas situated in the wheel passages and connected to a micro-processor. Which gives the driver ultra-precise information on pressure in all four tyres on the instrument panel.
By Cécile Olivéro - photos : press
