brabus g36

this time almost no camo

jlbunting

I bet it will have E-Class lights. I like the looks of my 2006 R better.

hmp10

I like the headlights better, but the height of the leading edge of the hood that is now required by European regulations looks bad in profile. Otherwise, the body from the A-pillars back seems unchanged.

I hope the U.S. version gets the LED fog light strips instead of the round ones VelociRaptor saw at the factory. The ones on my R8 are a bit over the top, but on this vehicle they look great.

chilledbenz

Ah some fresh pictures! New head lights check (supposedly in line with the C class and not the E), new bumpers check, new tail lights check, new wheels check, new mirrors check. Ha ha looks like its all there. As for the light strip..doubtful it makes it to the U.S. spec cars, only because the l.e.d. light strip is only available with the Xenon lighting package, and that package was dropped from the R back in 08. So if it holds true to other MB models, it will get the dual fog look...in reality the outer light of the two is the fog and the inner light is a daytime running light.

MyMercedes012

looks smaller? did the width of the vehicle change?

chilledbenz

Its not the all new R...its just a refresh, so its the exactly the same as the 2010 model as far as measurements ect, only the things mentioned above have changed (headlights, bumpers, wheels, mirrors) It is however possible that the above picture is of the shortened wheel based version that is Euro spec only. I'm not as familiar with it, but it appears to be a U.S. spec long based version to me.

hmp10

It looks like the long-wheelbase version to me, too. However, these photos were taken in Germany. (There is German signage on a building in the background.)

I wonder if that means the Euro versions are going to get the led running lights, while the U.S. versions will get conventional fog and running lights?

chilledbenz

As I mentioned above, the l.e.d. light strip is only available on Mercedes Benz vehicles equip with the Xenon lighting package. As of right now, the Xenon lighting package isn't available on the R class (dropped for the 08 model year) so as it stands the l.e.d. light strip seems dead for U.S. spec R's. They will instead have the two "fog" lights (one a fog, one a day time running light). They could however return the Xenon lighting package for the refresh, it doesnt make sense why they dropped it from the U.S. option list anyways, they still offer it in all the other markets.

kenny23

Is this suppose to be the new R350? If it is, there's not much of a difference besides the lighting and the front fascia...

chilledbenz

I posted this response a bit earlier, but this is only a refresh to tie us over till the all new redesign hits. There are pictures on this board somewhere of the new redesign which has the new front end on it, its much higher and up right to blend in more with the GLK, ML, GL.

manwagon

With the exception of current R-Class owners, I don't think anyone else would ever notice the design changes. I have been an R-Class owner for almost 4 years and an automotive enthusiast and I have to confess that these changes are so subtle that even I had to look a little carefully to see them.

That being said and based upon R-Class sales nobody can accuse MB of not being tanacious in their devotion to this vehicle. Proof of a "freshened" 2011 R-Class model is good news for us R-Class believers/owners and most probably a testament to the fact that the additional/incremental costs of producing this vehicle alongside its ML and GL brothers are low enough to justify its continued production.

R KLASSE

These pictures have been out for awhile (few months) I've seen them posted elsewhere and when I saw the thread title was expecting un-camouflaged pictures by now, either way it good for those who haven't seen them yet. Anyway like the others stated since this vehicle is so rare in most parts I bet most people won't be able to tell a 2011 from a 2006. Especially since it looks like a throwback to the 2006 in the front bumper design *notes the triangular shapes in the air dam like the 2006-07. I prefer the +08 AMG design front bumper but who know what MB is thinking??

I wonder if there are any engine changes? 300+ hp V6? with DI? or a return to the US with the 5.5 motor? 6.3??? We will have to see.

h2o_247

Picture of the rear lights; courtesy of JESMB.de



Cheers

R KLASSE

I also don't think the rectangle (2010 E-Class & GL550) Exhaust tips look right on the R. The car is more rounded than square and the tips contrast the styling of the rear. Also those added reflectors on the bumper like the GL has look horrible on the R-Class, almost like an afterthought. Personally I think 2008-2010 was the nicer looking years, but prefer the black grille from the '09+. I bet we will almost ever see a new 2011 on the road, so most people will just assume the '06-2010 is the current model. Heck some people can't believe they still make this car at all.

hmp10

I was at the Chicago Auto Show this weekend, hoping to see the R-class updates. All the Mercedes U.S. models were represented there . . . except the R-Class in any form. I get the feeling Mercedes isn't even trying to market this car any longer.

memli

looks good, i like to front lights very similar lines to s class and c class, wheels make the car stand out and it has been lowered a bit.

great machine...

yenlard55

maybe its on display at the china auto show.....from what ive read its pretty popular over there. its really a shame that the vehicle never caught on in the us. our lease is up in a few months and will probably get another one. hopefully a 2011

chilledbenz

You guys are pretty much dead on with people unfamiliar with MB's to not notice the changes, but then thats how Mercedes rolls out their updates. They do just enough for current owners to feel their cars are dated. This is the "refresh" to hold us over till the all new design comes about...if it comes about that is..you never know. At any rate, if your a MB fan or a fan of the R class in general, you will notice the changes, while small, they are still changes.

New hood vents. Two vents replace the current long vent.
New head lights. A single housing replaces the current two. (by the way, a closer look reveals the headlights are more like the two step GLK and ML's)
New grill.Three solid chrome slats replace the current chrome edged one. (Although something looks fishy with those pictures, sort of looks like someone Photo Shopped the star in.)
New Front Bumper. Incorporates new L.E.D. running lights (I've also found out that if you order the Xenon lighting package you get L.E.D. running lights at the expense of fog lights.) Why they thought removing the fog lights in favor of lights that are just for looks was a good thing is beyond me. Non Xenon equipped cars "should" get the dual fog light look, one a running light one a true fog.
The Return Of Xenon Lights. They haven't been an option, or at least one that's been advertised for the last few model years.
New Side Mirrors.
New Wheels. This may or may not hold up. They can put any wheels they want on a test mule, doesn't mean they will make it to production.
New Rear Bumper. Reflectors in the rear bumper are similar to those on the new ML. But it also appears this test mule is in an European country where those tend to be standard.
New Exhaust Ports.
New Tail Lights. This one is more of an assumption as we can't really tell if anything has changed, but since they are blacked out I'll just assume.

There will probably be a few interior upgrades as well, but I wouldn't expect anything too drastic as the 2009 model got most of the interior upgrades. A switch to the ML's seats wouldn't surprise me though.

mercdriver

My 2010 has Xenon lights.

aggst1

my 2006 R500 also has Xenon lights

chilledbenz

The Xenon lighting package was dropped from the options list in 2008 in the United States, other markets still have them available. Although it's looking like a lot of the options are still available in the U.S. if you or your salesman can come up with the order codes and you feel like paying a special order fee.

mercdriver

Too the best of my knowledge, the Xenon lights are now "standard" here in Canada. Do you think that may be why they no longer show up in the US as an "option"?

Its hard to imagine that in this day and age that they would not be offered at all. Why the heck would MB do that???

chilledbenz

Price. The Xenon lighting package was a $900 option, still is on the ML. If they were to include them as standard equipment (which I think they should, this is a Benz after all) the base price would rise $900 on a car they already have to heavily discount to sell. Although why they dropped them from the options list all together doesn't make a whole lot of sense, but they did the same for a handful of other options as well. I've recently found that some options such as the leather seating package can still be ordered if you know the ordering code, so maybe dealers still have the options show up on the ordering system, but they have been removed from the U.S. spec brochures and websites. I'm actually surprised the Xenon lights havent rolled into the P2 package like on the cars.

R KLASSE

Honestly lighting is the only real complaint I have with the R-Class. In all seriousness our '08 has probably the poorest lighting I've experienced since an 1980's car with sealed beam. We just got back from a mini vacation that involved driving through unlit winding mountain roads with almost no traffic. I had to pretty much leave the bights on to see anything. If anyone can recommend a decent aftermarket HID kit for our car that won't throw any codes I'm open for suggestions.

mercdriver

Wow. Sorry to hear that! The lighting on my car is staggeringly bright!