Spyshots: 2011 Mercedes M-Klasse

Some two years prior to its release, the future generation M-Klasse had the misfortune to be spied near the company's headquarters. As you can see, even the test driver was caught off-guard.

As we said, the new M-Klasse is expected to become available sometimes in mid-2011. This makes it very difficult to say exactly how the car will eventually look or what type of engines it will use. Two years is a long time in the automotive industry...

Speculations regarding the future engine line-up for the M-Klasse do exist though. Expectations are the new SUV will most likely use similar engines with the ones found on today's version, including both diesel and petrol powerplants.

For the petrol units, displacement will be in between 3.5l and 6.2l, with power outputs ranging from 272 to 510 hp. The diesel engines are expected to be in the 3.0l – 4.0l range, with power outputs of 190 to 305 hp.

Surely, some type of fuel consumption reduction technology will be used on the next M-Klasse. As you may expect, a hybrid version is more a "sure" than a "must" in the future lineup. Details on it are, however, nonexistent at this point.

As for the overall look, as you can see, the car is heavily disguised. Sources say the new ML will be in fact a few inches shorter than the current generation and less heavier. At first, look, the M-Klasse won’t get longer front and rear overhangs.

Additional details are expected to surface from now on, given that the vehicle is on the streets, so keep an eye out.
More images in the gallery below.