Straightline

If Bluetec was upstaged by Sheryl Crow last night, Mercedes-Benz officials were resolutely on-message today. At no point was diesel ever not part of the discussion at this morning's press conference at New York's Javits Center. "At Mercedes we believe that Bluetec and soon Bluetec hybrids will keep the luxury SUV alive and kicking," Ernst Lieb, president and CEO of Mercedes-Benz USA, told the crowd.



Accordingly, the 2009 Mercedes-Benz M-Class has license to get a little more adventurous with its styling. "The updated M-Class appears even more confident," Lieb noted, pointing out the larger, more unsettling front fascia on the 2009 Mercedes-Benz ML320 Bluetec next to him.

On the way up to the stage, we passed by a 2009 Mercedes ML63 AMG, which takes the aggression even further.





We saw the serrated skid plates and swollen wheel arches, and hurried past.



Popping balloons turned out to be the bigger scare after the press conference, as a torrent of balloons came down to urge a "yes" vote for Bluetec.

We took a look at the updated interior furnishings in the 2009 Mercedes M-Class, and they are indeed high-quality in appearance and on par with the materials in the BMW X5 and Audi Q7.



The MLs get Benz's new-generation navigation system this year, including voice recognition, and a UCI interface. New standard safety items include the PreSafe accident preparedness system and active front head restraints.

Look for the 2009 Mercedes-Benz M-Class to go on sale in the fall of 2008. The gasoline models will show up at U.S. dealers first, followed in short order by the Bluetec diesel. -- Erin Riches, Senior Editor, Inside Line