The Mercedes-Benz R-Class is a mid-size luxury MPV introduced in 2005 for the 2006 model year. It was shown as a concept called Vision GST at Detroit in 2002 and as the Vision R in 2004, before the production car appeared at the 2005 New York show.
Mercedes-Benz R-Class at a glance
| Introduced | 2005, for the 2006 model year |
|---|---|
| Model code | W251 |
| Concepts | Vision GST (2002) and Vision R (2004) |
| Platform | shared with the M-Class W164 and GL-Class X164 |
| Wheelbases | 2,980 mm standard and 3,215 mm long |
| Seats | five, six or seven from 2007 |
| Built at | Vance, Alabama, until 2015; Mishawaka, Indiana, 2015–2017 |
| Drive | 4MATIC, rear-wheel drive added in 2007 |
| R 63 AMG | 6.2-litre V8, 375 kW (510 PS), 200 built |
| Chinese market | long wheelbase until 2017 |
This article is based on one source, the English Wikipedia article on the Mercedes-Benz R-Class. Free photographs of the R-Class were not available, so the record keeps its earlier picture.
History of the Mercedes-Benz R-Class
After the success of the smaller A- and B-Class MPVs, Mercedes-Benz worked with the coachbuilder Stola on the Vision GST concept, shown at Detroit in 2002, and followed it with the Vision R at Detroit in 2004. The production R-Class was introduced at the New York International Auto Show in 2005 and built at Vance, Alabama, until 2015, when production moved to Mishawaka, Indiana for a smaller volume until 2017.
The W251 shared its platform with the M-Class W164 and the GL-Class X164 and came in two wheelbases, 2,980 mm and 3,215 mm, the long one being the only version sold in the United States and Canada. In 2007 the range gained more engines, including a 3.0-litre V6 in petrol and diesel form, rear-wheel drive on selected models alongside 4MATIC, seating for five, six or seven and an AMG styling option.
A major update for the 2011 model year brought a facelift to the front, rear, grille, mirrors and tail lights, and returned a 5.5-litre V8 to the range as the R 500, though not in North America, where the R 350 4MATIC and R 350 BlueTEC 4MATIC continued with V6 engines. The R 63 AMG 4MATIC of 2007 used the hand-built 6.2-litre M156 V8 with 375 kW (510 PS), a seven-speed AMG gearbox and all-wheel drive, reaching 100 km/h in 4.6 seconds; only 200 were built and it lasted a single model year because of poor handling with the heavy V8. From 2014 to 2017 the long-wheelbase R-Class was sold in China only, as the R 320 and R 400, and was assembled there by AM General from 2015.
Design and features
- Large MPV: a luxury people carrier on SUV underpinnings.
- Two wheelbases: 2,980 mm and 3,215 mm.
- Flexible seating: five, six or seven seats.
- R 63 AMG: 510 PS and all-wheel drive, 200 built.
Mercedes-Benz R-Class versions
- R 350 4MATIC: the main V6 model.
- R 500 and R 550: V8 versions.
- R 63 AMG (2007): 6.2-litre V8, 200 cars.
- 2011 facelift: new front and rear and a returning V8.
- R 320 and R 400: long-wheelbase Chinese models from 2014.
The R-Class shared its platform with the M-Class and GL-Class and followed the B-Class into the MPV market. More in the Mercedes-Benz collection.
Sources
- Mercedes-Benz R-Class, English Wikipedia: concepts, platform, updates, AMG, China
