Test drive Mercedes Benz ML class W166 since 2011 SUV
M-class on a new scale
A comfortable all -resistant from a Mercedes has become more powerful, faster, safer. And even more prestigious. They are not looking for good from good
At the foot of the man -made sandy mountains piled up in the inconspicuous number of reddened metal cylinders. Looking around, guessed - there were videos on which the tape of a hefty conveyor once glided, taking sand from a career. The dull landscape of one of his recesses suddenly revived last summer: here, in the vicinity of Leipzig, the new generation of M-class Mercedes was presented to journalists.
It is a little strange to talk about the new generation of an alternate, who is not even five years old: compare with the half-century history of Nissan-Patrol, Lend Rover Defender, two decades of the Mercedes Gelendevagen. Well, the M-class all-around not so much followed the historical traditions of the company as he laid new ones. He became the first passenger Mercedes -Ben American -made for the local market and the first car in the history of the brand of the SUV -Suvi -Sport UTILITI.
Four years from the moment of development confirmed the correctness of the choice. Recall, after all, at the start of the project, the criterion for success determined the sale of 30 thousand altitude. This figure achieved in the first, incomplete year of production, begun in May 1997. In 2000, they were already sold 106 thousand. The popularity of M-class quickly reached the Old World. This, firstly, made it organize its assembly in Europe, and secondly, it became the reason for the presentation of new models, as they say now, in the historical homeland.
Maybe it was the success of the model that made the developers of her modernized heiress not be too zealous of the appearance of the M-class. A different design of the bumper (fog lights are now built in the front), and signature mirrors with turns indicators that were debuted three years ago at the S -class - this is all that the full -wheel drive American German modeling differs from its predecessor.
Nevertheless, the manufacturer who, having updated the model, would not indicate in the press release: so many hundred changes were made. The M -class says that there are more than 1100. Without questioning such an impressive figure, I note: in this modernization there is a simple logic - all the best and most progressive that is used by Mercedes in recent years in other classes, now it has now settled on an omnivorum.
Made in Austria
When in the summer of 1998 it became clear that the factory in Tuskaluz (Alabama) was not enough to satisfy the demand for the M-Class, the leadership of the Daimler-Coisler decided to establish his release at the Steir-Dimler-Pooh plant in Graz. Since 1979, almost one and a half thousand Gelendevagenes have been released in this Austrian city, since 1994 they gathered a jeep of Grand Counts for the European Market (more than 30 thousand), and since December 1998 they launched an E-class performed by Fir-Matik.
At first, all ML modifications came from the assembly line in Austria, but soon they decided to concentrate the production of only diesel machines. So now about 80 thousand gasoline (including the ML55AMG) are collected in the USA, and in Graz - approximately 30 thousand diesel M -class alternating Herders.
All the achievements of the Mercedes economy I will not be cunning: with a brief acquaintance, I managed to appreciate far from all the advantages of these machines. In the very career where the presentation began, the 4-TS system showed itself well. Inhibiting the slipping or hanged wheel, it redistributes torque in favor of the wheels, more reliably clinging to the soil - so difficult areas are overcome. In fact, the 4-TS performs the same function as the blocked differentials-to burden them with a transmission in a general highway, were considered excessive.
However, such a solution is not news-an electronic system that weighs less than usual locks is cheaper and does not require special skills from the driver, the M-class received in the inheritance from the fir-material of the class E. But the installation of climate control was designed Reveal. Now it is distinguished by the simplicity and convenience of setting, and the rear seat passengers were pammered with additional deflectors and a fan.
There are improvements, the usefulness of which would not be checked by yourself - we are talking about passive safety. The inflatable curtains of substantial (50 x 200 cm) sizes added to the two frontal and two lateral (in the front doors) pillows. This is a regular equipment, and pillows and in the rear doors will be installed for the surcharge.
Two chairs in the third row will be set for a surcharge;
failures near them - with electric drive
All this protective arsenal may not wait in the wings (which we sincerely wish passengers!). But you use the brakes in a minute - and here the owners of the new M -class are winning. Because all models put brakes of increased dimension: they were required primarily for the eight -cylinder ML500 and ML400CDI. The brakes pulled the wheels of a larger diameter-17-inch with low-profile tires instead of 16-inch were the standard.
It was necessary to increase not only brakes, but also fuel tanks - from 70 to 83 liters. What to do: and the most modern devices are not able to lower even the front cost number five hundred below 15 l/100 km - well, perhaps for one tenth but diesel 400CDI with similar indicators more economically by a quarter!
It is worth simply listing some more of the new M-class equipment: bixenon headlights, as on the CL-class compartment-the luminous flux is half the possibilities of the halogok; Parctronics - it signals a dangerous convergence of an obstacle; The light sensor (rather, an indicator of darkness) - according to his signal, the headlights are turned on themselves. The team system combines the management of the audio center, navigation and other telecommunication devices, making them the obedient voice of the driver.
On an updated central console, flywheels of the control of climate control and navigator display are distinguished
In equipment, the M-Classes will now not yield to the latest Mercedes models.
Power and Glory S-Class Let someone perceive the list with irony: they say, all this does not affect the speed or cross-country ability! Perhaps (although you can’t say that about a good head light). But it reminds the buyer: you acquire not just an alternate - Mercedes. In essence, new motors from the same series of arguments: not just M-class-the most powerful, the fastest among M-class Mercedes.
It would seem that the previous models can not be attributed to the slow -moving or, good, small, small. However, 8-cylinder engines that migrated to the hood of an all-resistant from the flagship of the S-class company are actually setting a new scale (their favorite slogan, perhaps, all German firms). They are set not only with the maximum speed for 200, not only with a record torque of a diesel engine (560 Newtonians!), But the main thing is how the characteristics of these powerful engines and the modes of five -speed machines harmoniously combine. In the same way as in the suspension, comfort and sports supplement each other, riding a heavy machine from excessive rolls in quick corners and swinging on irregularities. Apart is a forced ML55AMG model with a 5.5-liter eight, clearly sharpened under a high-speed ride.
But no matter what model we are talking about, the element of such an alternate, of course, asphalt. There is a dynamics, and tenacious brakes, and the whole set of comfortable bells and whistles: after all, not up to music, when thoughts are absorbed in how to slip off -road. It’s not without reason that in serial configuration to replace all -terrain (All Terran) tires came all -season - in fact, road. But if the asphalt suddenly bored (or ended), we need confidence that, having moved from it, you will not get stuck in the first puddle, on a sandy or slippery rise. Having climbed over the bottom and the slopes of the quarry, the author and his colleagues gained such confidence.
New 8 -cylinder machines will replace the previous eight with a working volume of 4266 cm in the production program, and the production of ML230, ML320 and diesel ML270CDI will continue - of course, in the updated dress. So the second-generation M-class has every chance to strengthen their position in the market. Including in Russian - which of us does not like to quickly ride a Mercedes!
The ML55AMG model is recognized by the relief frame of the wheel arches, 18-inch wheels and silver radiator cladding
The volume of the trunk (in this form 2020 l) fully meets the purpose of the machine
Mercedes-Benz ML500 (ML400CDI)
general information
Body
5-seater station wagon
Equipped mass, kg
2210
Complete mass, kg
2870 (2870)
Maximum speed, km/h
222 (213)
Acceleration time 0-100 km/h, with
7.7 (8.1)
Fuel consumption, l/100 km
14.6 (10.9)
Fuel supply, l
83
Engine
Location
The front is longing
Design
8-cylinder, V-shaped, with two upper distribution shafts
The number of valves per cylinder
3 (4)
Cylinder diameter /piston stroke, mm
97/84 (86/86)
Working volume, SMZ
4966 (3996)
Compression ratio
10.0 (18.5)
Power, L.S. (kW) at rpm
292/5600 (250/4000)
Torque, kgsm (nm) at rpm
44.9/2700-4250 (57,1/2800-4500)
Chassis
Transmission
permanent drive to all wheels, electronic traction control system 4-ts
Transmission
5-speed automatic
Suspension:
with reptile stabilizers
and two -pipe gas shock absorbers:
front
independent, torsion, upper lever - from aluminum alloy,
lower - steel
behind
independent, spring,
upper and lower levers -from aluminum alloy
Steering
rack type, with an amplifier of servo -spine and damper
Brakes:
hydraulic, disk, ventilated, with a vacuum amplifier,
break Essist and 4-TS/ESP traction control system
The size of the tires
275/55 R17
Vladimir Arkush, photo Daimler-Benz
A source: Magazine "Limousine" [08/01]
