what do you guys think the next m-class would look like? check this link out:

sketch drawing:
http://www.jesmb.de/news/news/pics/m2004-1.jpg

spy photo:
http://www.jesmb.de/news/news/pics/m2004-2.jpg

Does anyone know what would the next generation m-class engines will be? will there be diesel format engines coming to the US or Canada. it would be really great if they offered diesel here. i got this quote from a site about the upcoming engines :
"The next generation of M class is going to debut in late winter 2004 in USA. At the beginning of 2005 it will be launched in Europe. Total length of the car: 4,70 metres. The new M class will have at its disposal new body, which will be much safer. The design of the new M class will be more brawny as well as angular. Because of the suspension driveability will be better not only on the streets but al.so on mountain roads. The suspention Airmatic DC will be offered as option. It will be offered as standard feature with V8 engines. In addition you can vary the ground clearance in models equipped with Airmatic DC. The ground clearance will be raised at about 30 cm. New M class will be equipped with 4matic and gear reduction. M class will be equipped with SBC (Sensotronic Brake Control). In next M class new engines CGI is going to debut. Besides other new engines will be available: ML 270 (193 hp), ML 360 (260 hp), ML 500 (326 hp), ML 55 AMG (390 hp). There will be also some Diesel engines (III generation of Common-Rail): ML 250 CDI (170 hp), ML 300 CDI (205 hp), ML 400 CDI (250 hp)"

thx for your response

-6th

 

Good god no!! If this really is how they're gonna make the ML look, I've lost my faith in the benz designers.... I really hope not, I like how it looks now! Aghh!

Aghh!

 

Oh no!!! I hope it doesn't look like the sketch. Those "eyes" are ugly. The truck is borderline ugly in it's current configuration. We don't want it any uglier. I hope the next gen. has some differentiation from the regualr box that it is now. I also hope it's just a tad longer so the 3rd rows don't hug the rear glass. I also hope it comes with a rear glass that can be opened or powered down. I also hope it comes with a "door ajar" alarm/indicator. There are many things I hope the new ML will have 'casue I plan to definitely buy one. Please, MB, make it more attractive!!!!!

 

I don't think MB will make the next-gen ML ugly by any means - artist's conceptions like that are almost always wrong. Plus there is the fact that the W164 will be available is 2 different wheelbases, the short and long versions. The GST will also share the same platform, 4wd system, drivetrain, etc.

For good spy photos see:
http://www.mbspy.com/w164.htm

If you look at the photos closely, the general shape of the headlight seems to be the same as it is in the W163. Of course it will follow MB's new design theme and the new urge for performance, etc. - it will probably be lighter.

Here are two pictures from passion-auto (where MBSPY got them from)

 

Here's a size comparison, with an '02 ML in front, the GST in the middle, and the W164 in the rear.

 

do you guys know about what kind of engines will be coming to N.america in the next gen. M-class? will there be any diesel engine selections., most ppl in europe buy the 270 diesel engine it would be really nice if they did.
-6th

 

Well the introduction of diesel engines back to N America (the last diesel MB in the US was the '98 E300 Turbodiesel I believe), if it happens, will come in a huge wave, with almost every model getting an option of a diesel engine. So it will be all models or nothing. To do that, MB will have to spend tremendous amounts of money and R&D effort, which is being studied for its cost-effectiveness (or lack thereof).

It would be nice to get the MB diesels here - I hear they have great gas mileage, super quiet, and have huge amounts of torque. The ML400CDI seems nice - many good reviews of the engine - some say it feels more powerful than the ML500. And it's more fuel efficient. Even though one caveat is that unlike in most of the world, diesel in NA is generally more expensive than gas. Plus N. American diesel is usually 'commercial grade' (meant for comm. trucks, etc.) and is full of pollutants like Sulfur and Carbon - which would dirty up and harm the clean MB engines.

As for the gas engine options, as you said the W164 will probably have new CGI versions of the 3.7L V6 (ML350) and the 5.0L V8 (ML500) and for the ML55, either a slightly tuned version of the 5.5L V8 that is currently there, which would have ~400hp or the supercharged version of the engine (which the SL55, S55, and CL55 have) with ~500hp (which would probably be enough to possibly blow away some Cayenne's). Expect better gas mileage and power due to the CGI for all of them.

Also SBC, Airmatic (probably not for the 350), and perhaps MB's other by-wire systems. The ML will have an updated version of its 4wd system, which is already enhanced over the normal 4Matic of other MB's. The ML55 might have the Sequentronic transmission, which is similar to BMW's SMG box and is currently used in the new SL350.

Additionally the GST will be using almost all of the mechanicals of the W164 and the MLG/next-gen G, if it is made, will be based on a slightly modified (ruggedized) version of the W164 platform.

There isn't much more conclusive info than that at this moment maybe more coming around soon.

Hope it helps.

 

thx, a lot for your reply that really cleared some things up. i just hope they provide diesel engines in the next ML, i would trade in mines and purchase a Diesel ML. my friend bought a E400 turbo diesel about a year ago and he said it runs great and cheap in gas. he only gas about once every 3-4 weeks depending how much he drives it.