Mercedes-Benz (China) Ltd executives and guests unveiled the M-Class. Photos Provided to China Daily

Whether on the racetrack, off road, on the city streets or over the superhighway, Mercedes-Benz has long brought passion to driving.

The three-pointed star proved it again in 1997 when it literally created the premium sports utility vehicle segment with the original and continuing leader, the M-Class.

Last Friday in Guangzhou, Mercedes-Benz officially unveiled the All-New M-Class with the ML 350 4MATIC Dynamic model priced at 898,000 yuan ($138,153) and the ML 350 4MATIC Luxury priced at 998,000 yuan.

The third-generation M-Class continues the essential elements of the Mercedes-Benz premium SUV family through a dynamic driving experience and extreme comfort.

'SUV Year'

"With the launch of the new M-Class, we also kick off the Mercedes-Benz SUV Year," said Klaus Maier, president and CEO of Mercedes-Benz (China) Co Ltd.

"In 2012, all of our SUV family members will have complete renewals or generation upgrades," he said.

"SUV Year will showcase our strong heritage and innovative leadership in the SUVs and four-wheel-drives, leveraging the innovative leadership of the three-pointed star in China."

At the same time, the German luxury icon also unveiled its new Mercedes-Benz Driving Experience tailored to the Chinese market. It offers customers hands-on test drives of its entire product line.

"Mercedes-Benz achieved encouraging sales here in February with delivery of 20,250 autos, growth of 61 percent over the same period last year, which shows China is a major driver of global growth for Mercedes-Benz," said Maier.

"Our SUV family contributed a lot to our success, especially the M-Class," he added.

"In 2011 we increased sales of our M-Class by 100 percent, so we are very optimistic about the future of the Chinese SUV market. With the launch of the All-New M-Class and Mercedes-Benz Driving Experience Program, the Mercedes-Benz SUV family will certainly be adding to the success."

Maier said that over the past five years, sales of Mercedes-Benz SUVs have grown from less than 10 percent of the total in 2007 to almost 30 percent in 2011 as a range of new SUV models were introduced to China.

After hitting the market in China in 2005, the M-Class had total sales of 113,702 units by the end of 2011.

As China's market matured, the SUV market began to soar in 2007 and has since been the fastest growing segment.

After first owning a sedan, many drivers are choosing an SUV as their second vehicle to better express their individuality and satisfy diverse needs.

Statistics from China Association of Automobile Manufacturers show that 1.6 million SUVs were sold in the nation last year, an increase of more than 20 percent over 2011.

"As consumer tastes become more diverse in China, we think the SUV will continue to appeal to a broad range of consumers," said Maier. "Thanks to the comprehensive and diverse product portfolio of our SUV family, our different models can meet the varied needs of our customers."

Maier noted that Mercedes SUV customers are increasingly younger drivers who want to express their individuality and enjoy more freedom and flexibility with an SUV, a car that can be used for different purposes.

'Master of all surfaces'

"As the master of all surfaces, the All-New M-Class perfectly combines off-road and on-road drivability with dynamic, sporty styling and a complete range of integrated safety technology," said Bj örn Hauber, executive vice-president for Sales & Marketing for Mercedes-Benz (China) Co Ltd.

The All-New ML 350 4MATIC Luxury comes equipped an ON&OFFROAD package, AIRMATIC air suspension and 4MATIC permanent all-wheel drive.

The All-New BlueDIRECT V6 engine delivers 225 kW (306 hp) in power and torque of 370 Nm. It can power the ML 350 from zero to 100 km an hour in just 7.6 seconds.

Its electric steering system provides power assistance that makes parking or maneuvering off road easier than ever.

As well, "facing challenges from increasing fuel prices today, we have made efforts to reduce fuel consumption in the new M-Class through a suite of BlueEFFICIENCY measures, friction-optimized bearings, low-friction axle drives and tires with low rolling resistance, meanwhile providing 35 percent more horsepower", said Maier.

The All-New M-Class also demonstrates the carmaker's "Real Life Safety" principle with as many as nine airbags and a range of the latest Intelligent Assistance Systems. The leading-edge active and passive safety features once again demonstrate the highest level of integrated safety measures in the segment.

"As a true pioneer that invented and defined the premium SUV segment in 1997, we are confident that the third-generation M-Class is here to continue being the trailblazer and benchmark on its masterful journey - on whatever surface it might encounter," said Hauber.

The Mercedes-Benz Driving Experience Program held in conjunction with auto shows is the largest Mercedes-Benz test drive program in China to date, covering some 50 cities and offering a team of about 30 top-level German and Chinese professional instructors. Designed to lead the industry, the year-long, nationwide program includes the entire Mercedes-Benz portfolio.

lifangfang@chinadaily.com.cn