The Mercedes-Benz ML 350 BlueTEC Sport has triumphed in the 2013 Towcar of the Year Awards, winning its category.
The vehicle, which won its class for Vehicle Excise Duty bands J, K, L and M, was subjected to mid-range 30-60 mph acceleration assessment, high-speed towing circuits, emergency braking, ride and handling evaluations and hill-stop and restart tests.
Grenville Chamberlain, Caravan Club Chairman, said: “The Mercedes-Benz ML 350 BlueTEC Sport performed faultlessly. Its strong performance made easy work of the hills, with stop/starts just as easily dismissed. The M-Class has a spacious interior with expected quality feel, comfortable seating and good ergonomics.”
With an updated version of the Mercedes-Benz 3.0-litre V6 CDI engine, the ML 350 BlueTEC Sport, which was launched April 2012, develops 258 hp at 3,600 rpm and 620 Nm of torque between 1,600 and 2,400 rpm. With combined economy of 39.2 mpg, the ML 350 BlueTEC shows a 20.6 per cent improvement over the previous model, while the CO₂figures of 189 to 194 g/km represent a reduction of up to 17.8 per cent. The performance increase means the ML 350 can accelerate from 0-62 mph in 7.4 seconds and reach a top speed of 139 mph.
Gary Savage, Managing Director of Mercedes-Benz Passenger Cars UK, said: “We are incredibly proud of the M-Class, with its reduction in CO2 and improvements in performance and economy; the vehicle really is class-leading. The category win in the 2013 Towcar of the Year Awards further demonstrates its outstanding capabilities.”
Priced at £48,475 on the road, the ML 350 BlueTEC Sport features 4MATIC intelligent electronic all-wheel drive via the Mercedes-Benz seven-speed 7G-TRONIC PLUS automatic transmission, as well as self-levelling, automatic headlamp adjustment, ESP® Trailer Stability Assist and limited slip differential as standard.
