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" The Mercedes-Benz R-Class always seemed to have a bit of an identity crisis, torn between the worlds of the SUV and the minivan. The 2011 R-Class debuting at the New York Auto Show tackles that issue by taking on a more deliberate look, with sharpened styling that recalls a kinship to stablemates like the GL and the E-Class. The 2011 R-Class is available as the R350 4Matic or the R350 BlueTEC 4Matic; the former is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 gasoline engine that produces 268 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque, and the latter is motivated by a 3.0-liter turbodiesel that manages 210 hp and a considerable 400 lb-ft of torque. Clean-diesel skeptics should note that the BlueTEC version achieves 18 mpg city/24 mpg highway (versus 14/19 for the gasoline engine); it slips only two-tenths of a second from 0 to 60 mph, reaching that speed in 8.2 seconds. Though a short-wheelbase version is available in some international markets, the U.S. gets a six-passenger seating arrangement with 84 cubic feet of luggage that can be configured with an optional jump seat for a total of seven passengers. Standard amenities include an in-dash six-disc DVD/CD changer, dual-zone climate control and a tire-pressure monitoring system. Optional items include ventilated and heated seats, a power liftgate, a panorama glass roof, blind-spot assist and a hard-drive navigation system. Distronic adaptive cruise control and Airmatic air suspension with adaptive damping are available for special order in the U.S. With its new design direction and more substantial look, the R-Class appears ready to find a niche in this competitive field. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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