It was twenty years ago that #mercedesbenz presented the M-Class in Tuscaloosa (Alabama/USA). Following the traces of the legendary G-Class, the precursor to today's GLE successfully marked the brand's entry into the Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) segment. At the same time, both vehicles provided the basis for the present, extensive #mercedesbenz #product portfolio in this market segment, which also includes the GLA, GLC and GLS apart from the G-Class and GLE.
Stuttgart. On rough terrain, no star in the passenger car sector shines more brightly than the #mercedesbenz G-Class, which has been in production since 1979. However in the early 1990s, the Stuttgart-based brand also recognised the potential in another segment of the off-road vehicle market: comfortable, sporty vehicles for sport and recreation, with a greater technical similarity with passenger cars.
The key aspects of this vehicle concept were defined in 1993. Three years later, #mercedesbenz presented the near-series study "AAVision" at the North American International #auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit. The name of this concept car referred to the segment of "All Activity Vehicles" (AAVs), later to become commonly known as "Sport Utility Vehicles" (SUVs).
In May 1997, 20 years ago, the W 163 series #mercedesbenz M-Class celebrated its premiere. This off-road capable #suv combined the best of both worlds: all-wheel drive, high ground clearance and generous interior space are important attributes of classic off-roaders. It was accompanied by excellent ride comfort even at high on-road speeds, a highly variable interior and a harmonious design.
It was the sophisticated suspension in particular of the M-Class that made the new level of comfort possible. In contrast to many competitors, the W 163 featured an independent front and rear suspension. The permanent all-wheel drive also differed from conventional systems: the M-Class dispensed with conventional differential locks, instead using an improved version of the Electronic Traction System ETS. If a wheel starts to spin on a slippery surface, ETS brakes that wheel until a certain prescribed speed difference is reached. This increases the drive torque to the wheels that still have good road adhesion. Acting together, the independent suspension and ETS optimise the handling safety and stability of the M-Class, both on and off the road.
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