Mercedes-Benz R-Class Sedan · R-Class

W251

Luxury tourer — space for six in Mercedes comfort.

Production
2006–2010
Built
173,725
Body
Sports tourer
Chassis
W251
Mercedes-Benz R-Class Sedan (W251)

The W251 R-Class was Mercedes-Benz's answer to a question nobody else was asking — a luxury people carrier based on a passenger-car platform, positioned between the E-Class estate and the V-Class van.

Part saloon, part MPV, the R-Class offered three rows of seating, a car-like driving position, and engines from four-cylinder CDI through V6 and V8 petrol, with 4MATIC available across much of the range. The ML 63 AMG's R 63 sibling proved AMG would build almost anything with sufficient cylinders.

Launched in 2005 and produced through the early 2010s, the W251 found a niche rather than a mass market. It was an experiment in American-friendly luxury packaging — and one of the more singular Mercedes-Benz products of its decade.

W251 interior
Cabin details of the W251, as preserved in period photography.

Every model.

8 model designations across 2006–2010 — engines, chassis codes and production figures for the W251.

ModellModelljahreBaumusterMotorGetriebeGesamt
R 280 CDI2008–2010251.026642.950722.9021,813
R 280 CDI 4MATIC2006–2010251.020642.950722.9023,533
R 320 CDI 4MATIC2006–2010251.022642.950722.90214,911
R 2802008–2010251.054272.945722.999487
R 3502008–2010251.056272.967722.906144
R 350 4MATIC2006–2010251.065272.967722.9064,272
R 500 4MATIC2008–2010251.072273.963722.904144
R 63 AMG 4MATIC2007251.077156.980722.90784

* Die veröffentlichte Produktionszahl umfasst alle Serien dieses Modells; die Quelle schlüsselt sie nicht weiter auf.

W251 side profile
Studio profile of the W251 — the proportions that defined this chassis.
W251 rear three-quarter view
Rear three-quarter view of the W251.

Engines.

Five engine families — the OM642 diesel and the M113 through M273 petrols — as fitted to the W251.

M113

V8
  • 113.971 5.0 L · 4,966 cc

    306 PS

    225 kW · 302 hp bei 5,600 U/min

    460 N·m

    339 lb·ft bei 2,700 U/min

OM642

V6 diesel
  • 642.950 R 280 CDI, R 280 CDI 4MATIC3.0 L · 2,987 cc

    190 PS

    140 kW · 187 hp bei 4,000 U/min

    440 N·m

    325 lb·ft bei 1,400 U/min

  • 642.950 R 320 CDI 4MATIC3.0 L · 2,987 cc

    224 PS

    165 kW · 221 hp bei 3,800 U/min

    510 N·m

    376 lb·ft bei 1,600 U/min

M272

V6
  • 272.945 3.0 L · 2,996 cc

    231 PS

    170 kW · 228 hp bei 6,000 U/min

    300 N·m

    221 lb·ft bei 2,500 U/min

  • 272.967 3.5 L · 3,498 cc

    272 PS

    200 kW · 268 hp bei 6,000 U/min

    350 N·m

    258 lb·ft bei 2,400 U/min

M273

V8
  • 273.963 5.5 L · 5,461 cc

    388 PS

    285 kW · 383 hp bei 6,000 U/min

    530 N·m

    391 lb·ft bei 2,800 U/min

M156

V8
  • 156.980 6.2 L · 6,208 cc

    510 PS

    375 kW · 503 hp bei 6,800 U/min

    630 N·m

    465 lb·ft bei 5,200 U/min