Mercedes Benz R 550/63 AMG 2007
January 1, 2007
Should one utter the words "minivan" and "R-class" in the same sentence in conversations with Mercedes-Benz officials, they indignantly declare that the R-class is a "luxury crossover" or a "grand sports tourer," not a minivan. We say a minivan is a minivan is a minivan, and, in appearance and packaging, the R-class is more like a minivan than any other vehicle type. And what’s wrong with that? It’s the nicest minivan you’d ever want to ride in, with sumptuous accommodations for six, even those in the third-row seats. An optional panoramic sunroof stretches over all three rows. With an all-wheel-drive chassis based on the ML-class, the R500 is also the nicest minivan you’ve ever driven. And if the R500 wasn’t iconoclastic enough, you can special-order an R-class with the brand-new, state-of-the-art, 6.3-liter AMG V-8. That’s one a heck of a way to get the kids to soccer practice on time.
PRICE: $51,275 (R500); $88,175 (R63 AMG)
ENGINE: 5.0-liter V-8 (R500); 6.2-liter V-8 (R63 AMG)
TRANSMISSION: 7-speed automatic
POWER: 302 hp at 5,600 rpm (R500); 503 hp at 6,800 rpm (R63
AMG)
TORQUE: 339 ft lbs at 2,700 rpm (R500); 465 ft lbs at 5,200 rpm (R63
AMG)
CURB WEIGHT: 4,917 pounds (R500); 5,236 pounds (R63 AMG)
0-60 MPH: 6.5 seconds (R500); 4.9 seconds
(R63 AMG)
TOP SPEED: 130 mph (R500); 155 mph (R63 AMG)
PROS: Luxurious travel for up to six passengers
CONS: Looks suspiciously like a minivan
brought to you by:
advertisement
