Mercedes-Benz ML-Class

Mercedes-Benz M-Class
Overview
Manufacturer	Mercedes-Benz
Also called	Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class (2015–present)
Production	1997–present
Body and chassis
Class	Mid-size SUV (1997–2005) Mid-size crossover SUV (2005–present)
Body style	5-door SUV
Layout	Front-engine, rear-wheel drive Front-engine, four-wheel drive

W163
Overview
Production	May 1997 – December 2004
Model years	1998–2005
Assembly	Austria: Graz (1999–2002) United States: Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Designer	Bruno Sacco & Peter Pfeiffer (1993)
Powertrain
Engine	2.3 L M111.970 I4 (petrol) 2.7 L OM612 I5 (t/c diesel) 3.2 L M112 E32 V6 (petrol) 3.7 L M112 E37 V6 (petrol) 4.0 L OM628 V8 (t/c diesel) 4.3 L M113 E43 V8 (petrol) 5.0 L M113 E50 V8 (petrol) 5.4 L M113 E55 V8 (petrol)
Transmission	5-speed manual 5-speed 5G-Tronic automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	111.0 in (2,819 mm)
Length	1997–02: 180.6 in (4,587 mm) 2002–05: 182.6 in (4,638 mm) AMG: 182.5 in (4,636 mm)
Width	1997–02: 72.2 in (1,834 mm) 2002–05: 72.4 in (1,839 mm) AMG: 74.6 in (1,895 mm)
Height	1997–02: 69.9 in (1,775 mm) 2002–05: 71.7 in (1,821 mm) AMG: 69.3 in (1,760 mm)
Curb weight	4,614 lb (2,093 kg)

W164
Overview
Production	2005–2011
Model years	2006–2011
Assembly	United States: Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Designer	Steve Mattin (2001)
Powertrain
Engine	3.5 L V6 5.0 L V8 4.6 L V8 5.5 L V8 6.2 L V8 3.0 L turbo-diesel V6 4.0 L turbo-diesel V8
Transmission	7-speed 7G-Tronic automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	114.7 in (2,913 mm)
Length	4788 mm (188.5 in) AMG: 189.8 in (4,821 mm) Hybrid: 188.2 in (4,780 mm)
Width	1910 mm (75.2 in) AMG: 76.8 in (1,951 mm) Hybrid: 77.8 in (1,976 mm)
Height	1815 mm (71.5 in) AMG: 73.3 in (1,862 mm)
Curb weight	2150 kg (4740 lb)

W166
Mercedes Benz ML 350 BlueTEC
Overview
Also called	Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class (facelift)
Production	July 2011–present
Model years	2012–present
Assembly	United States: Tuscaloosa, Alabama India: Pune, Maharashtra Indonesia: Wanaherang, Bogor Thailand: Thonburi Automotive Assembly Plant
Designer	Emiel Burki (2008)
Powertrain
Engine	3.5L V6 4.7L Bi-turbo V8 5.5L Bi-turbo V8 2.1L I4 turbo-diesel 3.0L V6 turbo-diesel
Transmission	7-speed automatic 9-speed automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	114.8 in (2,916 mm)
Length	4,803 mm (189.1 in) AMG: 4,820 mm (189.8 in) Hybrid: 4,780 mm (188.2 in)
Width	1,926 mm (75.8 in) AMG: 1,950 mm (76.8 in) Hybrid: 1,980 mm (77.8 in)
Height	1,796 mm (70.7 in) AMG: 1,860 mm (73.3 in)
Curb weight	2,150 kg (4,740 lb)

The Mercedes-Benz M-Class, renamed GLE-Class in 2015, is a mid-size luxury crossover, SUV produced by the German automaker Mercedes-Benz since 1997. In terms of size, it is slotted in between the smaller GLC-Class (based on the C-Class) and the larger GLS-Class, with which it shares platforms. For a short time, between 1999 and 2002, the M-Class was also built by Magna Steyr in Graz, Austria, for the European market, before all the production moved to the U.S. plant near Vance, Alabama. From late 2012, the M-Class was also assembled at new plants in India and Indonesia.

Although grouped under the "M-Class" naming banner since launch, BMW, who sells M models such as the M3, objected to the car being badged "M" with the three-digit engine level afterwards (e.g. M 320). This forced Mercedes-Benz to defer to a double-tiered marketing strategy of "ML" badging (e.g. ML 320) under an M-Class umbrella. There has been some confusion surrounding this nomenclature, with many sources erroneously referring to the series as the "ML-Class", including Mercedes-Benz itself.

From 2015, with the release of the facelifted W166 third generation model at the New York Auto Show in April, the M-Class was renamed to GLE-Class as per the revised nomenclature adopted by the brand. Under this scheme, SUVs use the base name "GL", followed by the model's placement in Mercedes-Benz hierarchy. The "G" is for geländewagen (German off land wagon for off-road vehicle) and alludes the long-running G-Wagen. This is followed by the letter "L" that acts as a linkage with the letter "E"—the GLE being the SUV equivalent to the E-Class.