SUVs & off-roaders

The cross-over concepts have originated in the US market: Here the classical American off-roader was made fit for the city. This concept resulted in the creation of so-called ‘sports utility vehicles’, or SUVs in short: Vehicles with off-road qualities that are comfortable and luxurious at the same time.

Audi Q7
Audi introduces the Audi Q7, a seven-seat all-terrain vehicle. The design has the features of the current model range such as the curved roof line, the high shoulder and the narrow windows as well as the single frame grill on the radiator.

Mercedes’ cross-over concept works exactly the other way round: Here saloon cars are enlarged to the size of off-roaders.

Mercedes R Class
Mercedes calls its new R Class “Grand Sports Tourer”. The body of the European model is 4.9 metres long, while the one for the American market measures 5.16 metres. The front end is dominated by a radiator grill with horizontal lamellae. The headlights are located far on the outside, thus making the car body appear wider. The silhouette of the R Class is long and stretched and reminds of that of a coupé.
 

Mercedes-Benz ML 63 AMG
The Mercedes-Benz ML 63 AMG also belongs to the class of sporting off-road vehicles.
The design is characterised by the AMG-specific radiator grill, wing extensions, and stainless steel side running boards with rubber knobs as well as darkened rear lights. The interior is also dominated by sportiness. The materials used in the interior include nappa leather, which is available in the three colours black, alpaca grey, and cashmere beige. The door sills, the stainless steel sport pedals with rubber knobs as well as the combined instrument with aluminium bezel round off the sporting look.

Our picture gallery “SUVs & Off-Roaders” presents further current examples.