2000 Mercedes ML55 AMG

Hot Rod Fun With SUV Versatility

By Brenda Priddy

Blowing Rock, NC: One doesn't ordinarily consider an SUV, let alone a Mercedes-Benz, when they think of a "muscle car", but Mercedes' close association with AMG has turned the mild mannered M-Class into the fastest SUV on the planet.

The U.S.-built M-Class was first shown as a concept vehicle at the Detroit Auto Show in 1996. Introduced as the AA Vision Concept, the press and public were unusually enthusiastic. The AA Vision, in spite of being saddled with fender flares and an obvious steroid problem, was still the highlight of the show for Mercedes. Dressed in jungle camouflage, the new Mercedes made a sneak-peek in the Jurassic Park movie sequel a year later. The ML320, a 215-HP V6, was at dealerships by the fall of 1997.

But, more is more, and Mercedes sent their dealers a 4.3-liter V-8 Version with 268 horses just a year later.

AMG, well-known for their high-performance modifications of Mercedes vehicles since 1967, began a joint venture with Mercedes-Benz and started selling AMG versions through M-B dealerships in 1995.

Apparently Mercedes liked what they saw, as they took over AMG in 1998, with plans to develop AMG versions throughout their product lineup. Mercedes-AMG GmbH started operations on January 1, 1999, created through the acquisition of a majority interest in the former AMG GmbH by DaimlerChrysler AG, the company is headquartered in Affalterbach near Stuttgart.

Bigger is better and that brings us to the present day. The "Fastest SUV in the World" is about to reach your local Mercedes dealer and Mercedes is grinning ear to ear. And who wouldn't be with the introduction of a luxury SUV that's been clocked at 0-60 in 6.4 seconds?

Who needs a 342-horsepower SUV? Mercedes says the "driving enthusiast", someone in the market for a Porsche 911 or other high performance "look at me" vehicle, perhaps someone going through the mid-life crisis syndrome. But most importantly, someone who can drop $64,900 for an SUV that's really not meant to do excessive off-roading.

With fifty percent of all luxury vehicles sold today being a sport utility vehicle, and the M-Class currently accounting for almost one quarter of all Mercedes North American sales, it's a sure bet that all of the 1500 AMG versions allotted for this country will be snatched up quickly.