Extending the Line

Mercedes’s new R-Class for 2006 has a futuristic profile that defies categorization. It’s not a sedan, not exactly a station wagon, and not an SUV, either.

But forget what it isn’t, because the R-Class represents new automotive territory. Both the R500 and R350 have three pairs of side-by-side bucket seats inside a body that’s four inches longer than a Cadillac Escalade. Thirty-nine inches separate the first row of seats from the second; there are 30 inches between the second and third rows. The center-row seats slide back about six inches for even better legroom, or tilt forward and slide ahead to create easy access—really!—for six-footers climbing into the back row. All second- and third-row seats fold flat into the floor, as well.

The sunroof provides light, with two enormous panoramic panels that tilt or slide open. The front panel slides up and over the rear, to create an opening that’s five feet, seven inches long, almost the

full length of the roof. Technology is everywhere, but the R never loses its sense of Mercedes luxury. Dark maple trims the leather and brushed aluminum up front—austere, but classy.

Minnesota winters are a snap with the R’s sophisticated four-wheel-drive system, with front, center, and rear differentials. Torque shifts from 50-50 on each axle to 100 percent on one wheel if the other three are spinning.

The R500 has V8 power, but the R350 that I tested was easily adequate. Its 3.5-liter V6 engine is the latest in Mercedes technology, attaining 268 horsepower and 258 foot-pounds of torque with variable valve timing and a two-stage intake manifold. The seven-speed automatic transmission shifts smoothly, and you can opt to shift using fingertip toggle switches on the back side of the steering wheel for a dose of sporty fun. That’s just in case you need more from a $50,000 people mover than luxury, safety, innovation, and stunning looks.