April 2006
 

KSPG also inside the new R-Class

Mercedes-Benz supplements lineup: the Grand Sports Tourer

Mercedes-Benz has introduced the new R-Class: Is it a van, a station wagon or even an off-road vehicle? No, it is simply a Grand Sports Tourer offering plenty of space for six persons. The new Mercedes was initially launched on the North American market in October 2005 and is now also available in Europe.
 

Housed under the engine hood of the new Mercedes-Benz R-Class: modern technology from Kolbenschmidt Pierburg, including the variable-length magnesium intake manifold, lightweight pistons, plain bearings, and bearing shells. (Photo: DaimlerChrysler)

The name of the new Mercedes-Benz highlights its hallmarks:

• "Grand" standing for size, space, and practicality;
• "Sports" designating dynamism, power, and driving fun;
• "Tourer" denoting the comfortable ride of a car engineered for long distances.

With its new vehicle concept, Mercedes has combined the advantages of familiar car categories like the limousine, station wagon and SUV in an entirely new and unique model. The concept study Vision GST first presented to the public in 2002 has been transformed into a series vehicle within only three years.

Featuring numerous Kolbenschmidt Pierburg products, the powerful engines with an output of between 165 kW/224 hp and 225 kW/306 hp offer dynamic drive response and unique long-distance comfort. Engine types include two gasoline—the R350 and R500, with a six or eight cylinder V-engine developing 272 and 306 hp (200 and 225 kW), respectively, and the new Mercedes-Benz V6 diesel.

The R350 6-cylinder gasoline engine includes Pierburg components: the intake section has the two-length magnesium intake manifold which is already installed in Mercedes S-Class vehicles and manufactured at Pierburg's Nettetal site. The air supply to the engine can be varied depending on load and RPM thanks to the proven technology of the magnesium intake manifold.

KS Kolbenschmidt GmbH supplies both the 5.0-l and the 5.5-l light-weight pistons of the type LiteKS for the V8 engine of the R-Class. The piston which is only manufactured at Neckarsulm is remarkable for its enhanced durability coupled with distinct weight reduction.

Various products from KS Gleitlager GmbH inside the new 6-cylinder R320 CDI diesel engine with common rail direct injection of the third generation ensure smooth engine operation. The main bearings (8 main bearing shells are needed per engine) as well as the connecting rod big end bearings (of which 12 are required per engine) are supplied by the Papenburg plain bearings plant.

The thrust washers (4 per engine) and connecting rod small end bearings ( 6 per engine) for the 224 hp 6-cylinder diesel engine which accelerates the CDI from 0 to 100 kph within just 8.8 seconds and reaches top speeds of 222 km/h are manufactured at the company headquarters in St. Leon-Rot.

All the plain bearings used in the new R-Class are subjected to high loads—irrespective of whether manufactured from steel aluminum, steel bronze or steel brass composites. It is therefore crucial to provide the best possible combination of materials, bearing design and high-precision manufacture to withstand the punishing loads typical of modern diesel engines.

The bearing halves subjected to the most extreme loads are therefore provided with sliding layers with special sputter coatings applied in a PVD process. These layers are distinguished by high load resistance and excellent sliding properties. The sputter coatings were developed especially for these engines.