Photo: CarPix
Ever since Porsche launched the Cayenne, there's been an incredible drive in the auto industry to make SUVs as sporty as their sedan and wagon equivalents. Endless sessions of Nurburgring sessions have given us such crazy machines as the tri-turbo X5 M50d, the 550 hp Cayenne Turbo S and two Range Rovers powered by supercharged 5-liter engines.
But the Mercedes-Benz ML has never been part of that philosophy. Oh sure, you can order the mighty ML 63 AMG with a big twin-turbo V8 engine, but besides that, the model range is about being competent, not engaging. The ride is tuned for comfort, not sport, and so are the engines and steering system.
That doesn't mean you don't buy Mercedes' popular SUV with your heart though. A facelift for the ML is coming our way and it's just as beautiful to look at as the S-Class. The latest LED headlights blend with new grille design and sculpted bumpers, as you can see on this thinly camouflaged prototype photographed in Spain.
Like with the E-Class mid-life facelift, the changes are so nicely blended into the design that you can never tell where they've been made. If that's not enough, Mercedes is also working on a coupe version of the ML that will rival the BMW X6.
New engines? Plenty, including updates to the popular 350 BlueTEC diesel and a new twin-turbo V6 to replace the 3.5-liter. V8 models will receive a slight boost in power, while two distinct MLs will wear the AMG badge. The "normal" ML 63 will have 557 hp and and 760 Nm (560 lb ft) of torque, and a new S-Model variant will be introduced with 585 hp and 800 Nm (664 lb ft) of torque.
All models except the AMG will be offered with a new 9G-Tronic transmission, which should contribute to lower CO2 emissions and fuel consumption. Given the advanced state of the ML we've spotted, it could be just a couple of months away from completion, launching at the Paris Motor Show together with the new AMG GT sportscar.
That doesn't mean you don't buy Mercedes' popular SUV with your heart though. A facelift for the ML is coming our way and it's just as beautiful to look at as the S-Class. The latest LED headlights blend with new grille design and sculpted bumpers, as you can see on this thinly camouflaged prototype photographed in Spain.
Like with the E-Class mid-life facelift, the changes are so nicely blended into the design that you can never tell where they've been made. If that's not enough, Mercedes is also working on a coupe version of the ML that will rival the BMW X6.
New engines? Plenty, including updates to the popular 350 BlueTEC diesel and a new twin-turbo V6 to replace the 3.5-liter. V8 models will receive a slight boost in power, while two distinct MLs will wear the AMG badge. The "normal" ML 63 will have 557 hp and and 760 Nm (560 lb ft) of torque, and a new S-Model variant will be introduced with 585 hp and 800 Nm (664 lb ft) of torque.
All models except the AMG will be offered with a new 9G-Tronic transmission, which should contribute to lower CO2 emissions and fuel consumption. Given the advanced state of the ML we've spotted, it could be just a couple of months away from completion, launching at the Paris Motor Show together with the new AMG GT sportscar.
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