Mercedes-Benz chose the 2010 New York International Auto Show to unveil a refreshed R-Class, as well as a wagon variant of its 2010 World Car finalist E-Class, both for the 2011 model year.
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The 2011 R-Class—minivan to the soccer mom-elite—receives styling tweaks to bring it in line with recent MB redesigns. Power comes from a 3.5-liter V6 gasoline engine producing 258 horsepower and 258 lb.-ft. of torque in the R350, and a 3.0-liter turbodiesel engine producing 210 horsepower in the R350 Bluetec. The diesel burning-variant also achieves 18 miles per gallon in the city and 24 on the highway. Both come with Mercedes’ 4MATIC all-wheel drive standard. The kiddie hauler can even a bobsled team, as the USA’s own gold medal-winning four-piece, helmed by Steven Holcomb, drove the R onto the stage.
If you’ve got groceries to lug home but don’t need room for seven passengers, MB also brought the E350 wagon stateside for the first time. Also bringing 4MATIC all-wheel drive standard, the three-star five-door packs the same 268-horsepower, 258 lb.-ft. torque engine in the R-Class. Electronically controlled air springs in the rear of the car maintain a level plane, whether you’re hauling a vacation’s worth of luggage or beach toys. Mercedes spokespeople were quick to point out the E-Class now has a 35 percent share of its segment.
And then there’s the SLS AMG. Spiritual successor to the fabled 1954 300SL gullwing of yore, Mercedes’ two-seat supercar hides a front-mid mounted, 563-horsepower V8 engine that takes occupants from zero to 60 in 3.6 seconds and tops out at 197 miles per hour—not because it can’t go faster, but because it’s electronically limited. Pricing for the SLS starts at $183,000.
