SAFETY

New to the M-Class is Distronic Plus radar-controlled cruise control with Pre-Safe braking.  If the system detects that the car in front suddenly slows down or stops, it automatically engages as much as 40% of available braking power and primes the brakes to deliver full braking power when the driver steps on the pedal.  If the system calculates a potential impact and the driver does not react to an audible alert and brake, the Pre-Safe system will brake automatically.

Another important safety feature is the “Attention Assist” system, which alerts the driver to the fact that he may be a bit sleepy (drowsiness is the cause of more than 100,000 accidents per year in the U.S. alone). I like to call this feature the “Coffee Cup Assist” (a small coffee cup logo is visible on the dash when the feature is active).

The car detects drowsiness by establishing a profile for the driver in the first 20 minutes of the drive.  If a driver is sleepy, the subtle changes in the driver’s steering wheel input, such as lane drift, will reveal a potential problem

Based on the profile, if the driver appears to be driving somewhat erratically at speeds over 80 km/h (50 mph), the car beeps and flashes an Attention Assist warning (“Time for a Rest?”) on the dashboard.

(At the official launch of the new M-Class, I suggested to Ernst Lieb, CEO of Mercedes-Benz USA, that Starbucks might be interested in a tie-in where the navigation system would route drivers to the nearest Starbucks location for a cup of coffee when drowsiness was detected. He said he would study the matter).

Other safety features include a lane departure warning system, a blind spot alert, bi-xenon headlamps with automatic high-beam switching, and nine airbags including a new knee airbag.   

ENGINE
Last year’s ML350 BlueTec had the same engine as the ML320 BlueTec despite the rename. This year, the name stays the same, but power and fuel economy get a substantial boost. The new ML350 BlueTec goes from 400 to 455 pound-feet of torque, a 14% increase.  It also gets a horsepower boost, from 210 to 240.  Fuel economy goes up from 18 mpg in the city and 25 on the highway to 20 city/25 highway.

The ML350 4Matic features a direct-injection 3.5-liter V-6 gas engine that produces 302 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque, increases of 34 and 15 respectively over the 2011 ML350’s port-injection gas V-6.  The new engine should give the 4Matic a 2 mpg boost for both city and highway for estimated ratings of 17/22.

Mercedes plans to offer its new twin-turbo 4.7-liter V-8 on the M-Class early next year, as well as an AMG version and two hybrid variants: a gasoline-electric version with a drive system similar to today’s ML450 hybrid, as well as a new diesel-electric hybrid.

The M-Class line also gets a new seven-speed transmission with an advanced torque converter lock-up clutch that promises better fuel economy and greater responsiveness and durability.  Both models come with 4Matic all-wheel drive.  Mercedes claims that the curb weight for the new model will be comparable to those of the retiring ML, despite new content.

Finally, diesel fans can rejoice in the relocation of the urea tank and filler nozzle.  The tank no longer takes up what would normally be the spare tire well, so the diesel variant now comes with a spare tire and the AdBlue can be added from a port next to the fuel port on the side of the car.

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