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| One photo below optimized for 800x600 screen resolution | 96KB |
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| Graphics: Auto Motor und Sport Additional background retouching by MBEP webmaster |
Translation of an article from German car mag"Auto
Motor und Sport", September 2000
Mercedes increases production in Alabama
New V-Class from USA
Until 2003 Daimler-Chrysler wants to extend their US-location
Tuscaloosa (Alabama) with investions of 600 million dollars (roughly German
Marks 1.33 billion) and with that enhance the capycity from 80.000 units
a year to 160.000. Subsequently not only the successor of the Mercedes
M-Class (debut at the end of the year 2004) shall run off the line, but
also the successor of the V-Class. In the future the big-space sedan doesn`t
share the platform with the front-driven van Vito anymore, but with the
next-generation of the offroader M-Class. To set off better from Chrysler
Voyager the new Mercedes van shall come onto market from the year 2005
on with all-wheel drive, transverse mounted engines instead of longwise
mounted as until now, classic doors ((non-sliding)) and three rows of seats.
Also the designation V-Class shall not be used anymore. It is thought of
two wheelbase versions with 4.8 metres and more than 5 metres car length,
which shall also be available with the then equal M-Class. Both models
are basically equipped with air-suspension. Still this autumn ((2000) Mercedes
wants to make modifications at the all-wheel drive of the M-Class to enhance
the terrain capabilities of the off-raoder. In the summer of the next year
((2001)) the engine-line will be revised where the ML 500 will substitute
the ML 430.
End of article - translation by MBEP
webmaster.
As usual remarks in ((blabla)), but (blabla) belongs
to the original text.
It is a shame for German car magazine "Auto Motor und
Sport" it employs editors who can`t spell the name of Europe`s biggest
industrial group correcty: It is "DaimlerChrysler" and NOT "Daimler-Chrysler"!
Only in June this year MB deleted the 2.3-litre 4-cyl
gas engine ML 230 from the M-Class line (was never available in the US).
Last revised: October 3rd 2000...Visits
since Oct. 3rd '00. |
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