CAR AND DRIVER ML500 W163 2002年路试

丽江文子

As mid-cycle product updates go, this one's a peach. Mercedes slipped a bigger V-8 into the ML430 sport-ute and called it the ML500. This second-quickest Benz ute climbs farther up the performance ladder, closer to the pavement-eating ML55 AMG.

By increasing the engine's bore just 0.27 inch, the 24-valve V-8 now displaces 302 cubic inches and has 20 more horsepower (288 at 5600 rpm) and 37 more pound-feet of torque (325 at 2700 rpm) than last year's 4.3-liter mill. Once spanked at the drag strip by the sportier BMW X5 4.4i, the ML500 now finishes first, scampering to 60 mph in a definitely untrucklike 6.7 seconds, 0.2 second quicker than the Bimmer.



Keep the throttle pinned and let the throaty 90-degree V-8 ratchet through the five-speed automatic transmission, and the big Benz doesn't stop pulling, further widening the gap with the BMW sport-ute. At 100 mph, the Benz is 1.8 seconds ahead, reaching the century mark in 18.6 seconds.

That amount of zip makes you forget you're hauling around 4869 pounds. The wide, flat torque curve (peak torque occurs from 2700 to 4250 rpm) provides prompt throttle response, and the tranny makes nearly transparent shifts.

But when you have to turn, it's back to Physics 101. This powerful specimen is still a truck, and its tires howl and its heavy body lists as it generates 0.75 g of grip. Still, that's a 0.02-g improvement over that of last year's model, thanks to the single running-gear change--17-inch wheels and tires replace last year's 16-inchers. Mercedes, however, didn't see fit to change the ML's standard electronic stability program (ESP). When activated, it puts an end to any spin, but putting the dash-mounted ESP switch in the off position disables only the engine cutoff function and leaves the brakes to curtail slides. This Benz avoids even slight slides at all costs, and it's like having the fun police continually on call.

We doubt many potential ML owners will fret over an aggressive anti-skid system, however. They'll pay more attention to the revised bodywork and interior.

Both the ML320 and the ML500 have new front and rear bumpers, taillights, clear headlight lenses, and those 17-inch wheels. The changes are subtle but easily identified. Other than badges, the only exterior differences between the ML500 and ML320 are the ML500's wider tires (275/55VR-17 versus 255/60SR-17) and chrome strips on the ML500's tailgate and door handles. The ML55 AMG's exterior is unchanged.



Inside, this ML now has curtain airbags in addition to the front and side airbags, burled-walnut trim around the center console, and rotary climate-control switches. A navigation system is a $1700 option on the ML320 and standard on the two upper-end models. Absent are steering-wheel-mounted radio controls, which would be appreciated because operating the dash-mounted radio and navigation system requires an uncomfortable stretch. The new climate controls, however, look smart and are easy to use.

The rest of the car is standard-issue Benz M-class. You sit high, thronelike, and the hood slopes away dramatically, providing excellent forward visibility. The full-time four-wheel-drive system is always on call, and the electronic traction-control system acts like a limited-slip device. A standard hill-descent system automatically creeps the ML down hills when a dash-mounted button is pressed.

But this Benz is no hard-core off-roader. On road, it feels more sedan than truck, more family hauler than sports car. BMW's X5 4.4i clearly trumps it in on-road handling (our long-term X5 4.4 towed a race car to the track and was then used for demonstration hot laps there, a feat we wouldn't enjoy in the softer and duller Benz), but the Mercedes does offer far greater cargo space and optional third-row seating. With just the middle seats up, the Benz has 35 cubic feet of space compared with the X5's 24. And the ML500 is less expensive--$45,615 to the BMW X5 4.4i's base price of $50,045.

But wait, the plot thickens. With 288 horsepower, the ML500 outhorses the 2001 X5 4.4 by six. For 2002, BMW added 8 hp, so it has a scant two more than the Benz. With Chevy surrendering the Ford Mustang/Chevy Camaro performance race later this year, could these two V-8 utes be the ones to take their place?

[size=0.75]SHORT TAKE ROAD TEST
PRICE AS TESTED: $45,615 (base price: $45,615)
ENGINE TYPE: SOHC 24-valve V-8, aluminum block and heads, Bosch Motronic ME2.8 engine-control system with port fuel injection
Displacement: 302 cu in, 4945cc
Power (SAE net): 288 bhp @ 5600 rpm
Torque (SAE net): 325 lb-ft @ 2700 rpm
TRANSMISSION: 5-speed automatic with lockup torque converter

DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 111.0 in Length: 182.6 in
Curb weight: 4869 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS:
Zero to 60 mph: 6.7 sec
Zero to 100 mph: 18.6 sec
Street start, 5-60 mph: 7.1 sec
Standing 1/4-mile: 15.3 sec @ 92 mph
Top speed (drag limited): 135 mph
Braking, 70-0 mph 183 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.75 g
FUEL ECONOMY:
EPA city driving: 14 mpg
C/D-observed fuel economy: 15 mpg

丽江文子

随着产品更新周期中去，奔驰把一大V8移植到ml430。这第二快奔驰SUV爬更远的绩效阶梯，接近路面吃ml55 AMG。

通过增加引擎的口径只有0.27英寸，24阀V8现在的排水量为302立方英寸，20马力（288转5600）和37磅英尺的扭矩（325转2700）比去年的4.3升发动机。一旦打在阻力带的运动4.4i宝马X5的SUV，现在首先完成，跑60英里6.7秒，比宝马快0.2秒。

保持节气门别让低沉90度V-8棘轮通过五速自动变速器，和大奔驰不停拉，进一步拉大差距的宝马SUV。以每小时100英里的速度奔驰，这是提前1.8秒，在18.6秒到达100英里标记。

大量的拉力让你忘了你要拖着4869磅左右。宽，平坦的扭矩曲线（峰值扭矩发生从2700到4250 rpm）提供及时的油门响应，并使几乎透明的变速转变。

但当你转来转去，又回到物理101。这个强大的标本仍然是一辆卡车，其轮胎的嚎叫，其沉重的身体名单产生0.75克的抓地力。不过，那是在去年的一0.02-g改进模型，由于单运行的齿轮变化——17英寸的车轮和轮胎取代去年的16英寸。奔驰，不过，没看到适合改变ML的标准电子稳定程序（ESP）。当被激活时，它结束了自旋，但把仪表安装在关闭位置，ESP开关禁用只有发动机关机功能叶刹车缩短幻灯片。这避免了轻微的幻灯片奔驰甚至不惜一切代价，就像不断有有趣的警察打电话。

我们怀疑许多潜在的ML的车主将担心激进的防滑系统，然而。他们会更注重修正车身和内饰。
无论是ML320和ML500有新的前后保险杠，尾灯，清晰的透镜大灯，和17英寸的车轮。变化是微妙而容易识别。除了徽章，唯一的外部差异与ML320安纳之间是安纳的宽轮胎（275 / 255 / 55vr-17与60sr-17）和镀铬条在安纳的挡板和门把手。ml55 AMG的外观是不变的。

这里面，ML现在有帘式安全气囊除了正面和侧面安全气囊，核桃瘿木内饰在中心控制台，和旋转的气候控制开关。导航系统是对两上端车型ML320和标准1700美元的期权。缺席的是方向盘上的无线电控制，这将不胜感激，因为操作仪表安装无线电导航系统需要一个不舒服的伸展。新的气候控制，然而，看起来聪明和易于使用。

其余的车是奔驰M级标准问题。你坐在高高在上的皇位上，坡度很大，提供良好的前方视野。的全时四轮驱动系统总是随叫随到，和电子牵引力控制系统的作用就像一个限滑装置。一个标准的陡坡缓降系统自动爬行毫升下山破折号式按钮被按下时。

但这是没有核心的奔驰越野车。在路上，感觉比卡车轿车，比跑车更家庭机。宝马X5的4.4i显然胜过它在道路上处理（我们长期的X5 4.4拖一辆赛车的轨道，然后用于演示热圈有一个壮举，我们不喜欢在柔软的迟钝，但奔驰奔驰）提供更大的载货空间和可选的第三排座椅。只有中间的座位上，奔驰与X5的24相比有35立方英尺的空间。和ML500更便宜——45615美元的宝马X5 4.4i的基础价格50045美元。

但是等一下，事情变得复杂了。288马力的outhorses X5，安纳2001 4.4六。2002，宝马加8惠普，所以它有一个不足两超过奔驰。与雪佛兰将福特野马/雪佛兰卡玛洛表演比赛今年晚些时候，可能这两个V8 SUV的取代他们的位置？