Mercedes-Benz R-Class

red dot: best of the best
red dot award: product design 2006

All-rounder -
language of form for mobility
Mobility means the quality or state of being mobile. Human beings are today highly mobile, accustomed to spontaneously undertaking long journeys by car. They have very clear and differentiated conceptions of what kind of vehicle fits their particular lifestyle. The R-Class reflects this current differentiation of demands; it has been designed for individuals who want to realise their own concepts of mobility. The R-Class has been defined as a combination of a versatile and a sporting vehicle. It combines a variety of automobile concepts, such as estate car, van and SUV (sport utility vehicle), into one language of form to create an interesting new class of a vehicle - its language of form is comprehensive and emotionalising. The design of this vehicle focuses on offering generous interior space, security and travel comfort for up to six passengers. The dynamic and individual appearance of the R-Class result from a distinctively designed radiator grille with horizontally stretched fins. The headlights have been placed far towards the edge to additionally emphasise the broad look of the body. An important and dominating feature of this appearance is the flowing line of the roof, which with its elongated silhouette is reminiscent of a coupe. The R-Class is equipped with a high-performance V6 or V8 engine that achieves a maximum torque of 510Nm. Innovative is the so-called "preventive safety system" that automatically recognises critical driving situations, immediately warning the passengers and preparing the vehicle in the event of a collision. With 2385 litres of load volume, this vehicle offers a high degree of spatial comfort and generous proportions in the interior.