As you may remember, back in July we brought word that Mercedes would be releasing a limited-production version of the Mercedes M-Class to commemmorate the luxury SUV's 10 year anniversary - a version aptly-title the M-Class "Edition 10."  Yesterday, Mercedes-Benz officially launched the model, detailing yet again what to expect should you procure one of the only 1,000 units planned for production.

In case you've forgotten, here's a quick recap of what comes standard on the M-Class Edition 10:

• Your choice of Obsidian Black or Arctic white paint (go with the white; it's so much fresher)
  
  
• Birchwood, Macadamia and Black leather interior
  
  
• Aluminum instrument cluster
  
  
• Aluminum sport pedals
  
  
• Black headlight surrounds
  
  
• Tinted tail lights
  
  
• Chrome shadow finish on the grille and front and rear skid plates
  
  
• "Edition 10" badging and custom floor mats
  
  
• Rear view camera
  
  
• GPS navigation
  
  
• Power liftgate
  
  
• Rain-sensor wipers
  
  
• Heated front seats
  
  
• Harman/kardon premium audio system w/ six-disc CD changer and rear audio controls
  
  
• Sirius satelite radio
  
  
• Integrated hands-free phone system
  
  

Also worth noting: when originally announced, it was reported the M-Class Edition 10 would be available in your choice of numerous gas and diesel engine variants.  While this still may hold true for other countries, here in the U.S. you're limited to the V6-powered ML350 variant only (at least for now), meaning those of you in the market for a ML320 CDI or ML550 in the "Edition 10" flavor are unfortunately out of luck.

Pricing for the ML350 "Edition 10," although not reported in the press release, is rumored to be set at $52,705 - about $8K over a standard ML350; as with all non-official pricing info, however, check with your local dealer for the exact figure.

To learn more about the ML350 Edition 10, keep scrolling for a number of photos showcasing the limited-production model, followed by the full press release detailing its extensive feature set.

Enjoy.

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE


MERCEDES-BENZ LAUNCHES “EDITION 10” M-CLASS LUXURY SUV - ML350 “Edition 10” Model Celebrates a Decade of M-Class in the U.S.

MONTVALE, NJ – This September marks the ten-year anniversary of the M-Class, the first SUV built by Mercedes-Benz in the U.S. To help celebrate this important milestone, Mercedes-Benz is launching a special limited edition of its popular M-Class sport utility that’s appropriately badged “Edition 10.” The V6-powered ML350 Edition 10 model features a unique Birch Wood and Macadamia and Black leather interior with an aluminum instrument cluster and sport pedals. With 1,000 vehicles scheduled to be offered in the U.S., the limited-production Edition 10 comes in a choice of Obsidian Black or Arctic White paint with eye-catching black headlight surrounds, tinted tail lights and a chrome shadow finish on the grille as well as the front and rear skid plates. Its exterior and interior are finished with aluminum “Edition 10” badging and floor mats.

Limited-Production M-Class Edition 10 Loaded with Features

In addition to its exclusive exterior and interior finish, the Edition 10 comes with an enhanced list of standard equipment. A rear-view camera, GPS navigation, power liftgate, rain-sensor wipers and heated front seats are all standard, along with a harman/kardon premium audio system with six-disc CD changer, rear audio controls, Sirius satellite radio and an integrated hands-free phone system.

The new ML350 Edition 10 is part of the 2008 M-Class family that includes the fuel-efficient ML320 CDI diesel with a 215-hp V-6 engine, the ML350 (the most popular M-Class model) with a 268-hp V-6, the powerful new ML550 with a 382-hp V-8, and the high-performance ML63 AMG with a 503-hp V-8. The M-Class line features a sleek exterior with a unibody platform and four-wheel independent suspension that deliver impressive on-road driving performance and comfort. Useful technology abounds in the M-Class, including a standard seven-speed automatic transmission, full-time four-wheel-drive and four-wheel traction control.

The First Sport Utility That Drove Like a Mercedes

When the 1998 Mercedes-Benz M-Class first arrived, the new sport utility vehicle started a trend that inspired the entire auto industry to shift toward more luxurious car-like SUVs. Launched as the only sport utility in its class with four-wheel independent suspension, the original M-Class was one of the first to be designed from the ground up, rather than being based on an existing truck platform. The first-generation M-Class won many awards, including the prestigious North American Truck of the Year.

During the eight-year life cycle of the first-generation vehicle, more than 570,000 M-Class SUVs were produced at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, with about half of them sold in the U.S. The second-generation M-Class reasserted its industry leadership in a highly competitive market that had grown dramatically since the launch of the original Mercedes-Benz SUV.

Copyright © 2007, Mercedes-Benz USA