08 Aug 06
The heart of the difference between this R-Class and other cars in its class is under the bonnet: the 503bhp 6.3-litre V8 all-aluminium naturally aspirated engine produces 465lb-ft of torque at 5,200rpm. Fire up this awesome unit and put your foot down and even those not naturally predisposed to appreciate a good engine note will find themselves grinning at the sound emanating from the two sets of chromed oval twin tailpipes.
Continue pressing the right stainless steel sports pedal and - thanks to the effortless acceleration, smooth seven-speed automatic gearbox and cosseted driving experience - you will soon find yourself driving at illegal speeds, unless close attention is paid to the speedometer. On the German autobahns of the car launch's test route I found myself at 140mph without the car sounding like it was breaking sweat - which can be a problem - although the massive brakes do a reassuringly good job of slowing things down too.
There's a ruthless efficiency to the way the power is laid down, but there's still a slight feeling of detachment from the driving experience that goes with it - the steering doesn't feel as direct as a BMW M car for instance.
