Mercedes Benz

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

Stuttgart, Germany, Jun 11, 2010

Please take a seat: interior appointments: Sitting comfortably in spacious luxury

If there were a versatility test for automobile interiors, the R-Class would undoubtedly be a candidate for the top score. A wide variety of options are available when it comes to seat variations in particular: designed for a relaxed, safe driving environment, the saloon offers five seats as standard in both the normal and long-wheelbase versions, but four, six or even seven-seat configurations are also possible.


Seating arrangement: from 2-2-0 or 2-3-0 and 2-2-2 right up to a 2-3-2 system

The space provided behind the front seats is so generous that up to three child safety seats can be installed at the same time. If only four seats are required, the centre backrest can be folded down to serve as an armrest. Alternatively, the six-seater version features a console as standard in place of the centre seat. This also enables the R-Class to shine with four luxurious individual seats.

R-Class customers who particularly like variety are able to produce other formations by opting for two individual seats in the rear. With three passengers seated in the middle row, this gives a total seating capacity of seven. Groups of up to six people choose the popular 2-2-2 seating system, which provides all the occupants with an individual seat. The R-Class comes with partially power-adjustable seats for driver and front passenger as standard, while as an option front passengers can also enjoy the luxury of actively ventilated and heated multicontour seats with full power adjustment and memory function.

The R-Class also reveals another benefit in the form of its large, versatile luggage compartment: this has a capacity of up to 1950 litres, while the long-wheelbase version boasts 2385 litres. In all five-seat variants there is a separate stowage compartment beneath the load compartment floor, while the optional EASY PACK tailgate, which can be operated remotely by means of a switch or key, also makes access to the luggage compartment easier. This makes the R-Class the most variable and spacious vehicle in the entire Mercedes-Benz passenger car product range.

Refined atmosphere for maximum driving pleasure

The high-class interior - which seems even more spacious when fitted with the optional panoramic glass sunroof - makes use of new materials and colour combinations to enhance the high-class appeal and quality of this luxury tourer. At the same time they underline the sense of wellbeing which is so typical of a Mercedes-Benz interior. Available interior appointments include the upholstery combination of "Aspen" fabric and breathable, soft-touch ARTICO man-made leather.
Two-tone interior appointments are a new addition to the range: this is where the base colour almond beige can be combined with the contrasting shade mocha brown. Alternatively, the base colour alpaca grey combined with contrasting dark basalt grey is also available. Both colour combinations are used on the dashboard, steering wheel, centre console, seats, door linings and floor coverings. When choosing ARTICO or leather appointments at the same time - in this case the seats feature a new transverse and linear piping design - the piping is finished in a contrasting colour. As alternatives to the aluminium trim with a dark longitudinal grain or the chrome trim in silver shadow, it is also possible to order luxurious wood trims in high-gloss brown eucalyptus, high-gloss brown burred walnut or high-gloss anthracite poplar.

The cockpit impresses with its newly designed instrument cluster. The dials and needles have a white background, and are even easier to read thanks to a three-dimensional effect.

That’s entertainment – telematics and multimedia in the R-Class

The telematics of the R-Class impress with intuitive and user-friendly operation, high performance and great versatility. The luxury tourer is fitted as standard with the Audio 20 CD system with CD changer. This includes a 12.7 cm (5-inch) colour display, a twin tuner for better radio reception, speed-sensitive volume control, eight loudspeakers and a keypad for entering telephone numbers and radio frequencies. A hands-free system with Bluetooth interface and an Aux-in connection for mobile audio devices such as an iPod are also integrated. On request, a Media Interface (UCI) is also available to connect an external music memory to the onboard electronics and the control system, so that music tracks are shown in the instrument cluster and the colour display in the centre console, and can be conveniently accessed using the keys in the multifunction steering wheel. The battery of the audio device is charged at the same time.

Passengers can also enjoy full, concert-hall surround-sound with the optional, latest-generation Harman Kardon® Logic7® sound system. With a high output, a digital signal processor (DSP) and Dolby Digital 5.1, this ensures an outstandingly clear listening experience. As an optional extra, there is also a rear seat entertainment system with two large 20.3 cm (8‑inch) screens, a DVD player and two wireless headsets for greater freedom of movement, plus a remote control unit.

One particularly impressive optional extra is the COMAND APS system, for which the customer receives free navigation map updates covering 39 European countries for a period of three years after first registration. In addition to the features of Audio 20 CD, this multimedia system has a 6-disc CD changer, a high-resolution 16.5 cm (6.5-inch) colour display, a 4 GB memory for MP3 files (Music Register) and a memory card slot (SD cards). The HDD navigation system with various map displays and automatic traffic tailback reporting (TMC) rapidly guides the driver to the desired destination. COMAND APS also includes a DVD audio/video player and a compass function, which is shown in both the instrument cluster and the central COMAND display. Like the Audio 50 system, COMAND APS features the latest LINGUATRONIC voice-operated control system.