New four-valve-per-cylinder engines will supplant Mercedes’ three-valve-per-cylinder V6 and V8 gasoline engines. All boast continuously variable camshaft timing to wield more power and torque. North American sales kick off next year with the ML350 using the new four-valve 3.5-liter V6 with 272 hp. At first it will be joined in the lineup by the existing three-valve 5.0-liter, 292-hp V8 in the ML500; however, Mercedes will replace this engine with the four-valve 4.6-liter V8 making 325 hp in a new mid-range ML450. A level higher will be a four-valve 5.5-liter V8 packing an impressive 410 hp in an ML550.

Crowning the lineup will be the ML63 AMG. Planned for introduction at the Frankfurt motor show in September 2005, the ML63 will be one of the first Mercedes models with AMG’s normally aspirated, four-valve 6.3-liter V8 engine. Conceived as a replacement for today’s three-valve 5.4-liter V8, in the ML63 the 6.3-liter is likely to make about 465 hp, say Stuttgart insiders.

All engines mate to Mercedes’ new 7G-Tronic seven-speed automatic gearbox sending power constantly to all four wheels via an improved version of the 4-ETS (four-wheel-drive electronic traction system). It uses the ABS sensors to detect slip and applies braking force, automatically redirecting power to any unbraked wheels to improve momentum. Drivers are given the choice between high (on-road) and low (off-road) gearing via a dashboard switch.

http://www.autoweek.com/news.cms?newsId=101205

 

Looks like the hood got some SL treatment. Evolutionary design is the common theme these days I guess.