Mercedes R-Class Facelift Spied in the U.S.
Mercedes is apparently planning to give it another try with their slow-selling R-class MPV. Despite a minor facelift introduced only one year into its life cycle and the addition of less expensive models, the R-Class still failed to capture the imagination of the premium MPV market with 2007 global sales seeing only 13,000 units - far from the planned 50,000.
Recently caught in the U.S. wearing massive disguise on front and rear, it is rumored the car will receive a front-end design styled after the B-class. Looking at the photos, not much can be identified from the front, but in the rear we can see the lower portion of the tail lamp will most likely be restyled since it's covered as well as the rear bumper fascia which now holds rectangular exhaust pipes.
Though we doubt sales of the car will take off like a rocket after this facelift, we still hope it looks a bit friendlier and attractive.
It's a shame that they're not modifying the rear end and rear lights as well. I always thought that that end was uglier than the front.
Great - I was looking at trading in my E wagon and was wondering if they'd keep the model. Can't understand why it can't get any respect - tell me it's ugly compared to a Q7, Pacifica or Enclave. Roomy, comfortable, great on the highway and reasonable economy with the diesel. Major beefs - why no SWB version in N. America? Needs to go to Weight Watchers, and how about a hybrid option like the original Vision concept?
mercedes should slowly fade away this model...making only r320 cdi units.
yea seriously... once failed always failed. especially with this car. i mean some have failed and gotten right back up, but seriously, this is just plain ugly. i don't get why someone would buy this... its a pathetic attempt at the MPV market (i kinda see this as a minivan kinda car, and its pathetic). It just so unusual looking, and its just not what you'd expect from mercedes. Look at there whole range and i think the R-class and the B-class (less so than the R-class), are failures. B-class doesn't suite north america... maybe in europe though.
yeah, B-class is quite common in Europe, but this I've seen here maybe twice.
has this car really ever done well??? how many business men are there who cant fit their collegues in an s class has an ofice in the middle of no ware likes driving??? honestly
In some world markets they have already launched the facelifted R Class. What then, is this?
"the R-Class still failed to capture the imagination of the premium MPV market with 2007 global sales seeing only 13,000 units"
Thats pretty good considering that it's a useless, mediorce vehicle.
Reports I've read indicate it actually drives pretty well.
Since Large suv's are station wagons on steroids the mini vans should come back as they transport large groups of people in a lighter vehicle. The R has more style than most other mini vans and I like the regular doors vs the slider.
The format is fine but this represented the nadir of Mercedes design under the old guard. A big ugly slug of a thing - though not quite as revolting as the Audi Q7!
Boo.