Mercedes Benz's R Class (crossover?) car / SUV goes on tour with The Rolling Stones for their 'A Bigger Bang' Concert.OUR AUTOMOBILES CORRESPONDENT
25 August , 2005: Coming to USA in December 2005, the Mercedes- Benz R-Class is the all-new, all wheel drive, six passenger sports touring vehicle from Mercedes-Benz which provides a brand new way for six adults to travel. Combining the practicality and utility of an SUV with the performance, style and luxury of Mercedes-Benz, the R-Class is unlike any other vehicle on the market. With a sharp focus on design, comfort, space and performance, the new R-Class is designed as a roomy vehicle with space for six adults - three pairs of comfortable single seats in a spacious interior.Pricing for the R-Class starts under $50,000. Featuring the R350, powered by a 3.5-liter, 268-horsepower V6 engine, and the R500, which is fitted with a 5.0-liter, 302-horsepower V8 engine, all R-Class models come with a seven- speed automatic transmission and full-time 4MATIC four-wheel drive. The basic vehicle is loaded with standard equipment such as eight-way power front seats, leather seat inserts, birds-eye maple interior trim, split 2nd and 3rd row seats, load-leveling suspension and rain sensing wipers.So what is the connection with Rolling Stones and A Bigger Bang? The R Class vehicles sport a top of the line Harmon Kardon music system - and the R in R-class could now for all you stand for Rock and Roll. That's the general idea. The Mercedes-Benz R-Class will be featured on-location at each concert arena from the tour's launch at Fenway Park in Boston on August 21 through the Fall for over 60 subsequent concert dates."This is a dynamic opportunity to showcase the all-new, breakthrough R-Class vehicle and its state-of-art harman/kardon sound system, with a band that has likewise been a lighting rod to rock-and-roll," says Carol Goll, general manager of brand experience marketing at MBUSA. "This initiative partners the energy and creativity of the world's most legendary band with the automotive industry's most legendary brand," Goll continues.As part of its support of A Bigger Bang tour, Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) will commission a one - off "signature" edition of the new R-Class which will be signed by each member of the Rolling Stones and later auctioned to raise money for charity.On October 26, participating Mercedes-Benz dealerships will celebrate the launch of the highly-anticipated introduction of the R-Class sports tourer nationwide with the Rolling Stones through a fully integrated marketing campaign.