SPY PICS: Revitalised R-Class
Mercedes-Benz plans a rework of its bulky R-Class people moverAs these pix shot in the US by spy photographers Carparazzi show, Mercedes-Benz is planning a minor rework of its R-Class MPV.
To be expected, the changes look like they'll be pretty minimal, with the usual re-shaping of head and tail lights, plus front and rear bumpers aimed at making for a more topical appearance.
Visual clues from this disguise-clad prototype indicate that the front end will come in for noticeable visible changes that will include a new, upswept headlight assembly and a new bonnet with dual air vents below the windscreen rather than the single vent on the current model. The grille is sure to come in for a rework as well, although the disguising doesn't allow us to see much.
Matching the swoopy headlights are new tail lights with a semi-detached lens for the reversing lights. As with the front end, the bumper profile appears to be changing too, with a scalloped profile at the trailing edge of the wheel arches -- although the heavy cladding could be contrived to mislead. The side skirts don't appear to have changed at all, nor do the basic, heavily-curved side windows or the side mirrors.
No hints as to when the revised R-Class will appear on world markets, but you'd expect some time next year, after an unveiling at the Frankfurt motor show in September.
The seven-seater R-Class has not exactly been a big seller for Mercedes-Benz in Australia since its local introduction in April 2006, with its best annual sales so far being 305 in 2007. Year-to-date figures for 2008 indicate the total will be a little off last year's.
As a comparison, in 2007 Benz sold 1783 front wheel drive, five-passenger B-Class MPVs, indicating where Australians prefer to go in making family-transport decisions. The B-Class starts at less than $46,000, before on-road costs.
The R-Class is available in R 280 CDI, R 320 CDI, R 350 V6 petrol and long-wheelbase R 500 V8 petrol variants, spanning from just under $80,000 to more than $125,000 pre on-road costs.
-- with Carparazzi
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