R-rated AMG Benz debuts

Mercedes-Benz has upped the ante in the people-mover stakes with the announcment of AMG kits for its upcoming R-Class six-seater.

Dubbed a 'Grand Sports Tourer' the R-Class is more low-slung all-wheel-drive than people mover in actuality. Set to arrive in Australia in 2006 (perhaps as early as February our spies tell us!) the local R-Class will be more closely matched to the European version of the B-Class big brother.

Though America gets only the stretched (275mm longer) R-Class, we'll get the choice. Both Aussie R-classes will still feature three rows of seats, but both long and standard wheelbase variants will have the sportier suspension tune of the Euro-model.

In it's AMG guise, the R-Class echoes the Vision R 63 AMG show car displayed at IAA in FRankfurt back in September -- though no word yet on the availability of the Vision's stonking 6.3-litre V8!

The AMG body kit and big 19-inch alloys will be offered across all models and both body variants of the new R-Class.

The AMG body kit includes body-coloured front and rear aprons with enlarged air intakes. According to M-B, "two diagonal struts and two horizontal louvres in the front apron give the R-Class an even broader, lower-slung appearance."

The AMG rear apron features a blacked out inlay and brushed stainless steel luggage guard/accent.