Of course, those Germans - and many other fine European automakers - are known for a few things more than iDrive. Mercedes-Benz, for example, is established around the globe as a builder of premium luxury vehicles. And though recent sub-par results in a variety of quality surveys would indicate that this is a slightly tattered legacy, like Mark McGwire, they're still the Big Mac of the lux-club - and all it takes is a solid connection to make people forget about cheap plastics and confounding "command" centers. The folks at DaimlerChrysler are hoping that their latest New York City darling, the crossover R-Class, will be a shot out of the park and into suburban driveways.
On looks alone, this crossover - ahem, "sports tourer" - may well pique quite a bit of interest. It looks exciting; sporty with a retro feel, and the interior feels extremely spacious and well-appointed. Though much of its parts are shared with the new M-Class, the R-Class looks sufficiently different enough to warrant a close look. According to Mercedes-Benz officials, the R-Class will offer three rows of adult-friendly seating. Judging from the exterior design, those last two adults better be pretty short people. Originally introduced at the 2001 Detroit Auto Show as the Vision Grand Sports Tourer (GST) concept, the R-Class has come full circle and will debut in the US and Europe in the fall of 2005. Pricing was not announced.
