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

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.

Model	Model years	Chassis	Engine	Transmission	Total
R 280 CDI	2008–2010	251.026	642.950	722.902	1,813
R 280 CDI 4MATIC	2006–2010	251.020	642.950	722.902	3,533
R 320 CDI 4MATIC	2006–2010	251.022	642.950	722.902	14,911
R 280	2008–2010	251.054	272.945	722.999	487
R 350	2008–2010	251.056	272.967	722.906	144
R 350 4MATIC	2006–2010	251.065	272.967	722.906	4,272
R 500 4MATIC	2008–2010	251.072	273.963	722.904	144
R 63 AMG 4MATIC	2007	251.077	156.980	722.907	84

* The published production figure covers every series of that model; the source does not break it down further.

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

113.971 5.0 L · 4,966 cc
306 PS
225 kW · 302 hp at 5,600 rpm
460 N·m
339 lb·ft at 2,700 rpm

OM642

V6 diesel

642.950 R 280 CDI, R 280 CDI 4MATIC3.0 L · 2,987 cc
190 PS
140 kW · 187 hp at 4,000 rpm
440 N·m
325 lb·ft at 1,400 rpm
642.950 R 320 CDI 4MATIC3.0 L · 2,987 cc
224 PS
165 kW · 221 hp at 3,800 rpm
510 N·m
376 lb·ft at 1,600 rpm

M272

272.945 3.0 L · 2,996 cc
231 PS
170 kW · 228 hp at 6,000 rpm
300 N·m
221 lb·ft at 2,500 rpm
272.967 3.5 L · 3,498 cc
272 PS
200 kW · 268 hp at 6,000 rpm
350 N·m
258 lb·ft at 2,400 rpm

M273

273.963 5.5 L · 5,461 cc
388 PS
285 kW · 383 hp at 6,000 rpm
530 N·m
391 lb·ft at 2,800 rpm

M156

156.980 6.2 L · 6,208 cc
510 PS
375 kW · 503 hp at 6,800 rpm
630 N·m
465 lb·ft at 5,200 rpm