Exclusive Special Anniversary Series: M-Class "Edition 10": Top Seller in Tiptop Shape
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 Plant manager Bill Taylor, Alabama Governor Bob Riley and Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management and Head of Mercedes Car Group (left to right) with the “Edition10” special edition M-Class |
The “Edition 10” is a fitting tribute to mark the tenth anniversary of the most successful Mercedes-Benz premium SUV. It recalls the market launch of the M‑Class a decade ago, a vehicle now regarded as the pioneer of the premium SUV. Compared with the series-production models, the anniversary edition sporting the special “Edition 10” logos on the wings features even higher-grade appointments and is instantly recognisable from the exterior, courtesy of its eye-catching design and engineering details.
Highlights include the 20-inch light-alloy wheels shod with 265/45 R 20 V tyres. Depending on the customer’s preference, the light-alloy wheels in gleaming silver provide an interesting contrast to the “Edition 10” design ‑ or blend in harmoniously with if the darkened “chrome shadow” finish is specified. The darkened housings for the bi-xenon headlamps with Active Light System and identically styled fog lamps with integral cornering light function lend the vehicle’s front end an even more striking appearance.
The package of measures at the front end is rounded off with a special radiator grille and simulated stainless steel underride guard, both in titanium-look. Dark-tinted tail light clusters, a simulated stainless steel underride guard in titanium-look and twin-pipe exhaust system with separate chrome tailpipes adorn the rear of the M-Class “Edition 10”. Blue-tinted glass and special chrome trim elements on the door handles, rub strips, radiator grille and rear bumper add the finishing touches to the striking appearance. The special model is available in obsidian black, iridium silver or calcite white.
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The standard equipment of the powerful trendsetter includes the seven-speed automatic transmission 7G-TRONIC with DIRECT SELECT, ESP®, 4MATIC permanent all-wheel drive and the 4ETS traction system with additional functions including Downhill Speed Regulation, hill-start assist and off-road ABS. Difficult terrain is easier to negotiate with the optional Off-Road Pro engineering package, which includes a low-range ratio, electronically controlled multi-disc differential locks for the centre and rear differentials and increased ground clearance. Optional extras include the AIRMATIC air suspension system with the Adaptive Damping System ADS, the COMAND APS telematics system or KEYLESS-GO, all of which add extra comfort and convenience.
A choice of five “Edition 10” models
In addition to the powerful V8 diesel engine with its 700 Nm of torque
in the ML 420 CDI 4MATIC, two superlative V6 diesel units are available.
The V6 entry-level unit in the ML 280 CDI produces 140 kW / 190 hp, the ML
320 CDI develops 165 kW/224 hp from the same displacement. The ML 350 and
the ML 500 with the new 5.5-litre V8 unit bring two petrol versions to the
line-up with outputs of 200 kW/272 hp and 285 kW/388 hp respectively.
Ten years in Tuscaloosa – a German-American success story
The first generation of the M-Class (W 163) was launched in 1997, paving
the way for today’s premium SUVs. Fitted with all-wheel drive as
standard, it combined the comfort and handling safety of a passenger car
with the ruggedness of an off-road vehicle. The Sports Utility Vehicle also
offered ample room and optimum adaptability, virtually assuring its success
from the off: some 600,000 units of the first-generation M-Class were sold
worldwide before it was replaced by the all-new model generation in 2005.
The W 164 series consummately perpetuates this success story; around
250,000 Mercedes-Benz customers have already purchased this model.
Like the first generation, the current M-Class is manufactured at the DaimlerChrysler Tuscaloosa plant in the U.S. state of Alabama. The production facility was opened on May 21, 1997, two years after construction began, and was the first Mercedes-Benz passenger car plant outside Germany. Shortly after production started, worldwide M-Class demand easily outstripped forecasts. In addition to the initial 300 million U.S. dollars, the company invested another 100 million U.S. dollars to increase capacity from 60,000 to 80,000 vehicles a year. In 2002, more than 88,000 M-Class vehicles were produced in Tuscaloosa, setting a new record. Between 1999 and 2002, the M-Class was also produced at Magna Steyr in Graz, Austria, where the legendary G-Class is built.
The Mercedes-Benz all-wheel-drive story began a hundred years ago
In addition to marking the 10th anniversary of the model series, the
launch of the M-Class “Edition 10” in 2007 also recalls another
significant event. In 1907 – exactly a hundred years ago – the
Berlin-Marienfelde plant rolled out the world’s first all-terrain
all-wheel-drive passenger car. This one-off vehicle, painstakingly designed
by Paul Daimler, was used by the German Imperial Colonial Office in German
Southwest Africa, now Namibia. The technology used in the 3.6-tonne vehicle
with its touring car body and six seats was ahead of its time. In addition
to the permanent all-wheel drive, the large vehicle even had all-wheel
steering for better manoeuvrability. The entire powertrain was
encapsulated, making it perfectly suited to the ubiquitous dusty desert
tracks of German Southwest Africa. A sturdy underride guard protected the
transmission.
The “Dernburg Wagen”, named after Bernhard Dernburg, the head of the German Imperial Colonial Office, was used successfully for several years, mainly in the area around Windhoek and Swakopmund, and clocked up no less than 10,000 kilometres. The trail of this unique vehicle went cold in the post-colonial era – its whereabouts are now a mystery.