Description
Mercedes-Benz W163 Hardcover book (fragment of the text)
The Mercedes-Benz G-Class SUV, for all its charisma, looked too conservative. Furthermo re, the company became interested in the experience of Land Rover, which introduced the Range Rover luxury SUV back in 1970.
The competitors’ success, especially in the American market, vexed the Daimler-Benz management, so in 1991 in Stuttgart, they decided to create a new model of a premium SUV that would be not so much a worthy replacement for the G-Class as an alternative to the British Range Rover.
Initially, it was planned that the Japanese company Mitsubishi would take part in creating the new car, but after a comprehensive analysis, Mercedes-Benz decided to carry out the project itself – from a clean slate, so to speak.
The mid-1990s were marked by the appearance of a new type of car – a crossover, combining the roominess of a station wagon, the off-road ability of an SUV, and a high level of driving comfort. Mercedes-Benz was one of the “pioneers” of this new trend, which displayed the promising model AAVisionat the Detroit Auto Show in January 1996.
The car attracted attention with its futuristic design and original concept. It was the first result of the work of the company’s engineers and designers to create an All-Activity Vehicle (AAV), which was entering the design phase.
The AAVision concept was demonstrated to residents of the Old World two months later at the prestigious Geneva Motor Show. At the presentation of the new vehicle, it was announced that the future model would be the precursor of the new M-Class family.
Exactly one year after the demonstration of the AAVision prototype at the Detroit Auto Show, the first generation of the M-Class made its official debut. A 4-wheel drive chassis was on display at the company’s stand, as well as a brand new 3.2-liter 6-cylinder V-engine.
On May 21, 1997, the first production copy of the new SUV with a 3-pointed star on the hood came off the assembly line of the American plant in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The ceremony was attended by more than 5,000 guests, including executives from the German concern and the governor of Alabama.
The M-Class, internally designated W163, was a clear indication of the company’s desire for globalization. Along with the CLK and A-Class, the M-Class was the progenitor of one of three completely new families that debuted in 1997.
The new SUV was well-received by the press and the public, and the production facilities could barely meet the demand.
The main market for the future luxury SUV was supposed to be the United States, so to reduce logistics costs and shorten the delivery time of cars to customers, it was decided to build a new factory directly in the United States.
After a long search, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, was chosen in the fall of 1993. Mercedes-Benz U.S. International, Inc. (MBUSI) was founded specifically to manage all processes on the American continent. It was responsible for the design, planning, and production of the future M-Class.
The first employees of the new division were hired in the spring of 1995. MBUSI arranged for 65 contractors to supply the necessary components for the M-Class.
Read the continuation of Mercedes-Benz W163 (ML) story in the book.
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