Mercedes Benz is readying up a mid-life refreshed version of the M-Class SUV and the same will be launched next year. The facelifted SUV is said to be in its final phases of testing and will debut later this year, before going on sale internationally in 2015. The M-Class has become a popular mid-size luxury SUV globally and locks horns with the likes of Audi Q5, BMW X3 and Volvo XC60. The SUV has been clocking decent numbers in India and these figures could get better in the times to come as the facelifted model’s launch is just around the corner.
The 2015 M-Class SUV will get a cosmetic facelift to bring the design of the car in sync with the Mercedes Benz’s latest design philosophy as seen on cars such as the W222 S-Class and W205 C-Class. The front headlamp cluster will see a revision along with a bigger grille sitting up front. The tail lamp cluster will remain more or less similar to the current set up and will be revised slightly to keep pace with the overall facelift. The bumpers are expected to be tweaked too.
The interiors will also be refreshed, with better quality materials alongside a slew of customisation options being made available. You can expect a bigger screen for the infotainment system with the COMAND interface getting neatly integrated. The SUV is also expected to get a touch sensitive controller which we first saw on the V-Class MPV. The current engine options with which the M-Class SUV is sold in India include 2.2 liter and 3.0 liter turbo diesel engines, which are expected to be tweaked a bit for better performance and fuel efficiency.
Rumours also suggest that the SUV will get a new ML400 variant as a top of the line model. The ML400 variant is likely to feature a 3 liter, V6 turbo petrol motor under the hood. The engine could churn out a maximum power of 328 Bhp and a peak torque of 480 NM. Expect the 2015 M-Class to hit Indian shores in 2015, with CKD assembly continuing at Chakan.
Source AutoCarUK
