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Mercedes-Benz SUV — Powerful Recharge
When Mercedes-Benz introduced its first domesticated SUV, the ML320, part of the press introduction was traversing an off-road course to prove the vehicle’s rugged credentials. For those of us who knew that Mercedes produced the Gelaendewagen, a vehicle that was suitable for military adventures, the off-pavement exercise was not necessary.
In fact, a decade ago, SUV presentations were always accompanied by muddy adventure. This time, Mercedes-Benz executives not only kept us on well-paved roads, we learned that the new ML550 model added AMG styling cues, authentic burl walnut trim, running boards and heated front seats to its luxury statement. And what’s more, the recently redesigned cup holders had won an award in this vital category.
What fun is an SUV if it can’t keep up with sport sedans? That must be the question luxury buyers are asking these days, since nearly every make offers thrilling acceleration and corner clinging abilities to their utility offerings. In the ML550’s case, the new 5.5-liter engine with its seven-speed automatic transmission is capable of propelling the 4,800-pound ML from 0 to 60 in just 5.6-seconds.
Since the 2007 ML500 wasn’t as powerful or fast, you might expect a fuel economy penalty for the new zip in the 2008 ML550. But although the 13-city/18-highway EPA results don’t look impressive, they are based on the tougher and more realistic 2008 measurements, making the numbers roughly equivalent to or better than the ML500’s 14-city/19-highway specification.
Although we didn’t take the ML550 off-pavement, we did subject the SUV to twisting mountain roads around McCall, Idaho with major elevation changes and quick transitions. Even mile-high altitudes didn’t cause the powerful engine to run out of breath and the big 19-inch all-season tires kept their grip with tenacity. On quick downhill runs, the new larger 13.8-inch front and 13-inch rear brakes worked without a hint of fade.
All second generation ML-Class SUVs benefit from a strong uni-body platform that replaced the original ladder frame. The result is better torsional rigidity and a quieter more comfortable ride. But the lack of a truck frame doesn’t hinder modest off-road capability or ambitious towing. The ML550 can take to the reasonable trail as well as any in this class and can tow up to 7,000 pounds with an integrated hitch.
In an era when high fuel prices have had a chilling impact on V8-powered SUV sales, a reasonable person might wonder why Mercedes-Benz would up its power offering by more than 25 percent. The answer is that in premium brands, a V8 option has always been essential, whether or not the buyer has a compelling need for the elevated performance. And as pointed out earlier, the more advanced 5.5-liter engine design is also more efficient.
For those buyers who are more concerned about fuel economy and the planet than added punch and posh, the V6 gas engine in the ML350 performs quite nicely with improved fuel economy. And next year, Mercedes will be able to offer its clean, quiet and powerful ML320 CDI diesel, a vehicle that offers V8 performance with better than six-cylinder mileage numbers. — Brian Douglas
Specifications
Type: Front engine, all-wheel drive
Engine: 5.5-liter,
Horsepower: 382 @ 6,000 rpm
Torque: 391 foot-pounds @ 2,800 to 4,800 rpm
Base Model: $53,175
As Tested: $57,635
Green Machines
The second annual L.A. Auto Show takes place from November 16-25 (with a sneak preview on November 15) at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Car aficionados can get a glimpse of world premiere concept designs from top auto makers. Aligning itself with the green movement, this year’s show will focus on alternative fuels and eco-friendly technologies. Companies already slated to exhibit are Ferrari, Cadillac, Bentley, Lamborghini, Mercedes, Porsche, Rolls Royce, and more. Tickets are $10 — children under 12 are admitted free. (www.laautoshow.com) — Ryan Thomas
The Chateau At Heavenly Village
South Lake Tahoe’s status as a world-class destination is reaching yet another benchmark with the commencement of The Chateau at Heavenly Village (formerly known as "Project 3") on the California/Nevada border. The $420 million redevelopment project will feature two luxury condominium-hotels with 477 rooms, a 50,000-square-foot convention center, with an additional 21,000-square-foot pre-function area, complete destination spa, 1.5-acre park, and a collection of shops and restaurants. The Chateau is just 50 yards from Heavenly Village and gondola access to the ski resort as well as Harveys and Harrah’s Hotel Casinos, and is just a quarter-mile walk to a private Lake Tahoe beach. "Our vision for The Chateau is to create a level of lodging, real estate, and hospitality that far surpasses the expectations of the most sophisticated visitor," says Randy Lane of Lake Tahoe Development Co, LLC, the project’s developer. "This property will enhance the area economically, environmentally, and visually, and will reinforce Lake Tahoe as a destination of choice for visitors." The project aims to be completed by early winter 2009 for the height of the ski season. (866/422-0919, www.chateauheavenlyvillage.com)
— Mia Stefanko
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Golden Ear
Silence may be golden, but being able to hear through Widex’s gold and diamond hearing aid with remote control lends new meaning to the phrase. Encrusted in 24-karat gold and including 220 diamonds, the hearing aid is part of Widex’s M Line, which is geared toward baby boomers — the idea being that just because you’re getting old doesn’t mean you can’t be hip. The earpiece itself resembles a Bluetooth headset more than a hearing aid, so users can perpetuate a friendly ruse if so desired. The M family of aids leverages Widex’s Inteo digital signal processing technologies that reduce feedback, enhance auditory signals in white noise, and automatically adjust in different rooms for optimal acoustical sound. Listening to the world through this Midas-touched device will run you a cool $49,500. (www.widex.com)
Chop Shop
Those who want to make statement with their MacBooks can contact Alex Wiley, owner of Computer Choppers. Wiley and crew have just garnered national attention for their gold plating technique that they employ on laptops. Additionally, Wiley will craft diamond-encrusted logos of your own choosing to fit on the computer as well. "If somebody wants something incredibly custom they’re not going to find it at HP or Dell or Apple," he says. "That’s when they come to me. If it’s out there and people want it done, I’ll do it." Wiley has worked for years with platers, pinstripers, and airbrush artists, always testing the final products in his shop to ensure quality control. He recognizes that most laptops have a lifespan of three years, and says the logos he designs can be removed and placed on newer computers. "We try to make it so that they can transfer a design to something else." Average turnaround time for a project is about six weeks. The rest — price,
style, number of copies — is up to you.
(www.computer-choppers.com)
Touch The Music
I’ve got a friend who keeps his laptop hooked up to his sound system so he can play music off his iTunes program. The only problem is, when he wants to hear a song, he needs to spend two minutes scrolling through the music list to find the one he’s looking for. And oftentimes, it’s not even labeled, so he thinks he’s playing "Song 2" from Blur, but ends up playing Whitney Houston’s "Greatest Love Of All," because it’s also labeled Song 2 — he still hasn’t come up with a good excuse for why he has that one in his files. A better option may be Qsonix’s Q110 touchscreen-based Music Management System. Available in a 250GB, 500GB, or 1TB kit, the software includes an integrated MusicGiants HD Music Downloads store using Qsonix’s album browser drag-and-drop interface. It uses Windows Media Audio’s (WMA) lossless compression format to deliver a bit-for-bit match of the original CD. Up to 3,000 CDs can be stored in the library — 18,000 in compressed mode. The Q10 automatically retrieves the album artwork from the Internet. $7,795. (www.qsonix.com)
— Ryan Thomas
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