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• Five cylinder diesel: CDI technology brings 4WD fuel consumption down to just 9.4 litres

Mercedes-Benz has released its newest, price-sharp, M-class with power on tap. The new diesel ML 270 CDI with five-cylinder engine, extends the portfolio of successful M-Class models in Australia. Three variants are now offered, ML430, ML320 and ML270 CDI.

The M-Class was originally launched in the USA late 1997 before being premiered in Australia in September 1998. During this brief period, the versatile all-activity vehicle has already conquered pole positions in international registration statistics. Australians have snapped up more than 2160 M-class vehicles since sales began and between late 1997 and January 2200 Mercedes-Benz manufactured around 150,000 M-Class models.

Accolades from international trade journals, including the awards "Sport Utility Vehicle of the Year", "Best Buy" or "Car of the Year" are also very much part of the M-Class success story. In addition, it has recently been hailed by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in the USA which, having carried out a number of different crash tests, found it to be the "safest car" in the sport utility vehicle segment. The M-class also won RACQ and NRMA Best Recreational 4WD award in Australia in 1999 and the NRMA's Best 4WD award in 1998.

ML 270 CDI: Five-cylinder diesel with high-tech features

The new ML 270 CDI is the first M-Class diesel variant Mercedes-Benz offers. Advanced common rail direct injection, four-valves-per-cylinder technology, VNT turbocharger and intercooler are just some of the special technical attributes of the newly developed five-cylinder engine.

The engine delivers 120 kW and provides an enormous maximum torque of 400 Newton meters with the 5-speed electronic automatic transmission fitted standard in Australia.

The CDI engine not only has excellent flexibility at low and medium revs - the fuel gauge points to another of its major strengths: overall fuel consumption of the ML 270 CDI Australian specification is a frugal 9.3 litres per 100 kilometers (NEDC figures) . Key specs at a glance:

Mercedes-Benz ML 270 CDI
Displacement cc	2688
Output kW	120
Max. torque Nm at rpm	400/1800 - 2600
Acceleration 0 -100 km/h secs	11.6
Maximum speed km/h	185
Fuel consumption l/100 km*	9.3

Provisional data. - * NEDC overall consumption

The five-cylinder unit owes its high pulling power from low revs mainly to the use of a variable nozzle turbine (VNT) turbocharger that varies the air flow cross section to reflect the current engine operating point thereby producing the optimum charging pressure. Thanks to the dynamic adjustment of the guide vanes inside the turbocharger, the entire emission energy is used to maximum efficiency.

The equipment of the new ML 270 CDI will also meet the highest demands. Brake Assist, Electronic Stability Program (ESP) and alloy wheels are just as much part of the standard package as air conditioning, cruise control and side bags for the driver and front seat passenger.

Upgrade: for safety, comfort and function

The M-class enters the model year 2000 with a number of new features which significantly enhance its safety, comfort, functionality and visual appeal.

Safety: Three inertia-reel belts are now provided for rear seat occupants. The automatic retractors for the outer seats feature belt tensioners which in the event of an accident take away the slack instantly and effectively prevent passengers moving forward. A passive head-protection system is also provided. The system mainly consists of padded roof and pillar linings. Side bags are now also optionally available for the rear doors of the M-class. On the new ML55 AMG these are part of the standard equipment.

Comfort: Redesigned front seats with ruffled pockets on the seat backs offer M-class passengers an even higher level of comfort. Standard courtesy lights fitted in the doors and to the underside of the instrument panel make entry and exit more convenient as well as safer. In Australia, the standard automatic transmission is equipped with the newly developed one-touch gearshift. Gears can be selected manually by simply tapping the selector lever to the left or right. Another new development concerns the indicators: it has a flick-flash function making the appropriate indicator flash three times. This setting is particularly useful when overtaking other vehicles on the highway.

Functionality: Rear seat bench and backrest of the M-class can now be splitfolded in a 60:40 ratio to improve cabin versatility.

The new bench division also offers rear seat passengers greater comfort when one side of the seat bench or backrest is folded down. Better still: a new feature makes it even easier to adjust the rear bench. On model year 2000 vehicles, opening the bonnet is made even more convenient thanks to the standard-fitting of gas-filled struts.

Looks: From model year 2000, the leather trim (standard on ML430 and luxury pack versions) now extends to door trims and the surface of door handles.

Standard Equipment M-Class "Classic" Package

ML 270 CDI and ML 320

Comfort

• Active Service System ASSYST (displays distance to next service based on the cars' operating data)
• Air conditioning with electrostatic dust-and pollen filter. 100 % CFC-free
• 16 inch Alloy wheels (5-hole design)
• AM/FM Radio/Cassette, aerial integrated into rear window
• Armrests front (with storage compartment) and rear
• Cargo Cover
• Cloth Upholstery
• Courtesy ligtht in all doors, footwell lights in front
• Cupholder front and rear
• Driver-adaptive 5-speed automatic transmission with Tipshifting feature in gear indication in tachometer
• Electronic cruise control and variable speed limiter (Speedtronic)
• Engine "touch-start" function
• Headrests adjustable up-down and fore/aft
• Heated rear window with integrated wiper switching on automatically when rear gear is selected and front wipers are on
• Heated side mirrors, electrically adjustable and foldable
• Illuminated vanity mirrors in sunvisors
• Interior trim in "Carbon Optic"
• Map pockets on front seatbacks
• Mobile phone pre-installation (antenna and wiring for hands-free system)
• Outside temperature gauge
• Power-assisted steering with safety steering column
• Power windows (front & rear), remote opening & closing with car key
• Reading lamps in rear
• Remote central locking system with interior switch and crash sensor (automatic opening). Rolling-ode signal protects from transmitter cloning
• Steering Column height adjustable
• Tinted safety glass all around with integrated windscreen band filter

Safety

• Anchor points in luggage compartment
• Anti-lock braking system (ABS) with off-raod mode
• Brake assist (BAS, automatic brake boosting in critical braking situations, can shorten braking distances by as much as 45%)
• Child-proof locks on rear doors
• Double roller-blind for luggage cover and passenger protection (wagons only)
• Engine Immobilizer with electronic drive authorisation system (ELCODE)
• Electronic Stability Program (ESP, prevents wheel slippage when accelerating and swerve of vehicle on slippery surfaces by automatic braking of individual wheels)
• Front airbags and sidebags for driver and front passenger
• Halogen front fog lamps, rear fog lamp
• Integrated first aid kit
• Seat belts with emergency pre-tensioner (front and outer rear seats) and belt force limiter
• Seat occupancy sensor (prevents front passenger airbags and belt pre-tensioner from deploying if seat is unoccupied)
• Anti-lock braking system (ABS)

• Folding rear seat bench 60:40 split, adjustable fore/aft, with 3 removable headrests and 3 three-point seat belts
• 12 V power outles in front passenger footwell and in boot

• Permanent Four wheel Drive
• Four wheel Electronic Traction System (4-ETS) ensures torque is applied automatically to the wheel(s) with the most grip
• Electronically selectable low range gear ratio

ML 430 (in addition to ML 270 CDI / ML 320)

• "Luxury" package (see below)
• 17 inch alloy wheels with wider tyres, 7-hole star design
• Anti-theft alarm system with tow-away protection and glass breakage sensor
• Burr walnut gear shift lever
• Heated Front seats

"Luxury" Package (optional)

• Anti-Dazzle rear view mirror
• Burr Walnut interior trim
• Full Leather Upholstery
• Leather-bound steering wheel and shift lever
• Power Front Seats
• Trip Computer

Mercedes-Benz Offers the Best Residuals

An independent survey has confirmed that the Mercedes-Benz M-class offers the best-retained value of any recreational 4WD on the market.

The recently published Glass's Guide Residuals quotes the M-class as returning "97 per cent to its owner after 12 months, losing barely $2000 in value in a year".

Mercedes-Benz easily outstripped many other prestigious car manufacturers to fill the first six places in the list. The ML 320 offers the best residuals, followed by the CLK 320 Elegance Cabriolet, CLK230 Elegance Cabriolet, the CLK 230 Sport Cabriolet, the SLK 230 Sport Coupé and the E320 Wagon.

Launched in Australia in September 1998, the M-class is an award-winner with the ML320 receiving the 1999 NRMA/RACV Best Recreational 4WD Vehicle.