AutoSaurus

Autoweek is reporting in the Sept 18th Edition that early 2007 the R will receive a 2nd row bench seat. I for one am very happy to read this.

carpersn

It only makes sense...i just wish i could get the GL with second row captains as an option also. But oh well. THe benefit to those of us with young families is that we don't have to unhitch the darn carseat just to allow someone into the third row (a child)...you just make 'em crawl through the middle...

AutoSaurus

I still like the GL better I think.

Calcio

if they would have just made it a mini-van in the first place, it would be selling much better. Yeah I know MB makes the Vito etc. I'm talking about a serious stylish alternative for folks buying loaded Toyota and Honda vans. Sure the industry is saying cross-over vehicles are the way to go, but I still see plenty of people buying mini-vans.

JackStraw

I love my Honda Odyssey Touring. It has much more usable interior space than the R or the GL, that is why I ended up buying it instead of those. I think it is the Honda's front wheel drive configuration that allows its cabin to be so much roomier than the RWD R and GL, even though the overall length is about the same.

I saw the Vito while I was in Spain in August. I think a deluxe version of it could do well in the States. Has anyone driven a Vito?

jdm90

The R is AWD? My Dad has a Honda mini-van, my brother has a R350. Brother 1, Dad 0

cyeung65

I have an Odyssey Touring as well, and have an ML with 7 seats as an option. With 4 kids, 7 seats is a minimum for us. Just gotta have that one extra seat when Grandma needs to ride with us. My wife loves the R but we never considered it seriously because of the lack of 7 seats. Now only if the huge incentives stick around when these come out.

whynot

not to discredit Autoweek, but I would like to know where they got this info. The 07 models (with captian 2nd row seats) are already out and that would be the same model that would be available in early 07.

Wolfgang

I believe someone close to the R-Class product manager in Stuttgart might have leaked it to them. Another, usually very reliable source, JESMB.DE (http://www.jesmb.de) reported on October 11, 2006:

"Die R-Klasse kann alternativ ab Frühjahr 2007 auch mit einer 3er Sitzbank im Fond anstelle der zwei Einzelsessel geordert werden."

Product managers are not always correct, though.

AutoSaurus

Manufacturers can change their products at any time during a model year. It is very possible and I feel very likely.

A recent online survey on the R class hinted that the addition of a 7th seat was/is possible.

whynot

Yes, Manufacturers can change their products at any time during a model year, but we normally do not. Especially just after a model year change.

Anyway, after talking to SQE and PE today this is what I found. The R will get the Bench 2nd row as an option, but will remain a 5 seater. The option will include a 60:40 type 2nd row and no 3rd row seating (more cargo space). The R will still be available with the standard captain 2nd row and 3rd row seating also. The option will come at a yaer model change and will be available on the 08 model's.

JackStraw

Interesting if true. I hope this is a presage that the next generation will be a foot or two longer than the current R is, and that plans are in the works to make it so. The current R is only large enough for 4 if the occupants have any luggage whatsoever. Too much attention was paid to exterior appearance, and not enough to fuctionality and practicality of the interior. Headroom in rear seats also fell victim to aesthetics. I bet it is a sweet ride, too bad I will never know.