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A Mercedes Benz Mclass ML320 at the
Melbourne Motor Show.
This one had all the luxury touches
down to a wood-grain steering wheel.
Room in the front and passenger seats is good
but the optional seat in the rear load space is strictly for
ankle-biters.
The interesting bit of pipe bending
for the spare wheel carrier means that the number plate and high-level
central brake-light can stay fixed to it at all times.
The carrier does have a fair bit of flex in it -
hopefully it has been tested on a few thousand km of corrugations?
Mercedes Benz 3.2 litre V6 provides the kW. It uses lean burn technology (and has twin spark plugs in each cylinder) for good claimed fuel-economy. There is an engine-driven viscous-coupled fan plus twin electric fans. The engine is coupled to a 5-speed automatic gearbox.
The ABS brakes have a special feature of locking the front wheels
(if required) under 40km/h in low-range to improve braking on dirt tracks.
The ABS brakes also contribute to the electronic traction
control system which replaces any differential locks -
the Mclass has 3 open differentials.
The rear suspension (and front) uses double wishbone suspension
attached to subframes. This protects the differentials
and gives good car-like handling but restricts the suspension
travel, particularly downwards, and thus wheel grip
in rough terrain; perhaps the traction control will make up for this.
URL:/4WD.html
Go to the
M-Class,
1999 ML320
& France,
1997,
AAV (I),
and
Mercedes Benz (main)
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