Body style: SUV (Sports Utility Vehicle)
Segment: Premium SUV
Production years: 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002
After a great start with important sales for the 1997 Mercedes-Benz ML, the company decided to drop a big, performant, 5.5-liter V8 under the hood of its first SUV. And so, the 1999 AMG version of the ML-Class was born.
The body-on-frame idea remained the same, but it was adapted to accommodate full independent suspension, both front, and rear, bolted to sub-frames that were designed to absorb the energy of a collision. There were ten bushings between the bodywork and the sub-frames to reduce the road noise and bumps in the road. For the AMG version, side skirts and painted flared wheel-arches were installed. These created space for 285/50 R18 tires and improved the visual appeal. Standard 9 x 18” light-alloy AMG five-spoke wheels were installed. In the rear, under the redesigned bumper a dual chrome-finish exhaust alluded its AMG provenience.
Inside, the ML featured elements from other Mercedes-Benz cars, such as the steering wheel, the dashboard, buttons, and commands. For the ML 55 AMG, the car featured luxury sports seats with buffalo leather covers, surrounded by dark-brown burr-walnut wood trim and velour carpets. Also included in the standard equipment were xenon headlights, a power tilting/sliding sunroof, and an MB Audio 30 stereo car system.
The 5.5-liter engine was modified from the 5.0-liter V8 from the S-Class. Its high-performance camshafts were designed for motorsport and it offered its peak torque at 2800 rpm, which was very good for a heavy vehicle such as the ML. It was mated to a 5-speed automatic and the standard ESP (Electronic Stability Program) was calibrated for better road-performance.
ENGINE SPECS - 5.4L V8 5AT (347 HP) | |
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Cylinders: | V8 |
Displacement: | 5439 cm3 |
Power: | 255 KW @ 5500 RPM 347 HP @ 5500 RPM 342 BHP @ 5500 RPM |
Torque: | 376 lb-ft @ 2800-4500 RPM 510 Nm @ 2800-4500 RPM |
Fuel System: | Multipoint Injection |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
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Top Speed: | 146 mph (235 km/h) |
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph): | 6.9 s |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
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Drive Type: | All Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | 5-Speed automatic With AMG Speedshift |
BRAKES SPECS | |
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Front: | Ventilated Discs |
Rear: | Ventilated Discs |
TIRES SPECS | |
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Tire Size: | 285/50 R18 |
DIMENSIONS | |
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Length: | 182.5 in (4636 mm) |
Width: | 74.6 in (1895 mm) |
Height: | 71 in (1803 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 61.2/61.2 in (1,554/1,554 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 111 in (2819 mm) |
Ground Clearance: | 7.6 in (193 mm) |
Cargo Volume: | 22.4 cuFT (634 L) |
Aerodynamics (Cd): | 0.35 |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
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Unladen Weight: | 4541 lbs (2060 kg) |
Gross Weight Limit: | 6062 lbs (2750 kg) |
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC) | |
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City: | 11.9 mpg US (19.8 L/100Km) |
Highway: | 21.2 mpg US (11.1 L/100Km) |
Combined: | 16.4 mpg US (14.3 L/100Km) |
CO2 Emissions: | 345 g/km |