Report - Fresh details available on the Mercedes M-Class facelift

Mercedes-Benz is currently road testing the mid-cycle refresh for its SUV, the Mercedes ML Class (M-Class), that will arrive in showrooms during the first half of 2015.

The facelift will borrow design cues from the recently announced Concept Coupé SUV like the new grille, a bolder Mercedes-Benz logo, and a set of re-designed air intakes. The front fascia will be in line with Merc's other new SUVs like the GLA Class and the upcoming, BMW X6-inspired ML-Class Coupe.

Like the front, the rear-end will embrace a redesign that will feature a prominent boot-lip and metallic detailing lower down. Other changes include a new set of LED headlamps similar to the ones fitted to the latest S-Class and C-Class.

The interior will be adorned with new materials and trim that will improve the ML-Class' premium appeal, while the infotainment system will be feature a larger display running the latest COMAND system. Navigating through the system will be made easier with a touch-sensitive controller that can be found in the latest crop of Mercs.

Under the hood, expect tweaks that will improve the fuel efficiency of the current engine line-up, as well as the addition of a hybrid variant that will compete against the Porsche Cayenne S E-Hybrid. Also a new variant - dubbed the ML400 - might replace the ML350, that uses a 3.0-litre direct-injection V6 petrol engine producing the same 328bhp and 480 Nm as found in the SL400. The engines will be coupled to a new 9-speed gearbox that will replace the 7-Speed G-Tronic.

[Source - Autocar.co.uk]