There are a few special order options for our SUVs that do not show up on the Mercedes-Benz website. Lately I have had a lot of questions about the Upholstery Wrapped Dashboard (code U09) that is available for the ML-Class and GL-Class. It is a $330 option, plus the special order charge of $250. It adds stitched MB-Tex to the dashboard and door panels. I have included pictures of a 2013 ML550 with this option and the special order option H09 – Brown Satin Ash Wood Trim. Thanks for sharing Lloyd!

We have had some gorgeous vehicles arriving at the dealership lately! Some were ordered months ago for clients willing to take a chance on interiors they had never seen and some were lucky guesses by the inventory manager! Here are a couple that look even better in person!

Click on the thumbnails to enlarge!

designo Porcelain Interior: This is in a 2013 GL550. An absolute knockout! Everyone in dealership has been by to look at this interior. Order now…availability is limited!

Special Order Grey/Black Leather: This is a 2013 ML350 Bluetec. Love the piping and the black carpets make it so easy to keep clean.

Brown/Black Premium Leather: This is a 2013 SL550. The Brown/Black combo is a nice change of pace from the usual Almond and the black piping makes it look very custom.

The 2013 diesels have been released! They should start shipping to dealerships in the next few days and arrival time will depend on trucking. Luckily my dealership is near the factory so we should see them soon!

Our very first 2013 Cinnabar Red vehcile arrived over the weekend and I thought a little comparison was in order. From left to right you have a 2013 ML350 in Cinnabar Red, a 2013 CLS550 in Storm Red and a 2013 C250 in Mars Red. Cinnabar Red is the least red of the group. I would say it is a reddish-brown with lots of copper metallic. The Storm Red is what I would call a candy apple red. Mars Red is the traditional bright red you would expect for a color called Red. I know pictures are no substitute for seeing them in person…but I perhaps side-by-side it will help you see the scale of red-ness.

This 2012 ML350 already has an owner but it is the first one I have seen with this interior combination! This is the Auburn Brown/Black Leather and the Brown Satin Ash Wood trim. Both are special order options.

The Brown Satin Ash Wood trim feels very smooth and silky. You can actually feel the grain of the wood on the dashboard sections. It would be great for hiding fingerprints that show on the glossy finishes!

I love the full leather interiors on the 2012 ML-Class. The contrast piping and additional stitching look like a million dollars! I have now seen the Auburn Brown/Black leather interior with Black, Dakota Brown and Diamond White paints. It worked with all of them!

Sold – March 2012

Our first 2012 ML63 AMG arrived at the dealership today! It is Black with Black Leather and all of the bells and whistles. I took it for a test drive and I am a big fan! It is easy to drive but has an amazing kick when you ask for it. The exhaust note is fantastic! It is currently without an owner and looking for a good home!

2012 Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG

• Black
• Black Leather
• Burl Walnut Wood
• P30 Performance Package
• 997 Driver Assistance Package
• 3-Zone Climate Control
• Panoramic Sunroof
• Trailer Hitch
• Wheel Locks
• Rear Seat Entertainment Pre-Wire
• 21″ AMG Twin 5-Spoke Alloy Wheels
• Running Boards
• MSRP $109,185

The 2012 ML350 has been a huge success! It is a pleasure to drive, gets excellent fuel economy and has great options! Several of my previous M-Class owners have ordered their new 2012 ML350s and have taken advantage of a few special order options that Mercedes-Benz makes available. The options aren’t listed in the Build Your Own section of MBUSA.com but can be added by your salesperson for a $250 special order charge plus the cost of the option. Maybe one of these options will make the it absolute perfect vehicle for you!

• 2nd Row Pass Through – $160
• Heated/Ventilated Front Seats – $570 – requires full leather upholstery
• 3-Zone Climate Control – $790
• Night View Assist PLUS – $1780 – requires lighting package
• Cargo Management System – $300
• MB-Tex wrapped Dashboard – $300
• Auburn Brown/Black Leather – $1620
• Almond Beige/Black Leather – $1620
• Grey/Black Leather – $1620
• Black Premium Leather – $1370
• Black Dinamica/MB Tex – $0
• Brown Satin Ash Wood Trim – $0
• Aluminum Trim – $0
• Anthracite Poplar Wood Trim – $0

The Foldable Cargo Liner has been available for the GL-Class for a few months and is now available for the 2006-2011 ML-Class. The mat for the 2012 M-Class should be available next month. This is a really handy accessory for drivers who want to protect the carpeted cargo area from spills and scuffs while still folding the seats at will. You can order this item from your local parts department.

Part # BQ6750038 GL-Class Foldable Cargo Liner MY07-12, Black MSRP $145.00

Part # BQ6750039 M-Class Foldable Cargo Liner MY06-11, Black MSRP $145.00

“No rational person can make an argument for buying a 525-hp SUV. The fact that AMG offers a performance package that bumps the power up to 557 hp makes me believe there aren’t a lot of rational people responsible for building them, either. Have we mentioned we love AMG?”

“Even with a 40/60 front/rear power split, the stability control won’t allow you to drive the car with the throttle. Once things start to get out of shape, the electronics call a timeout and reel things back in. It is amazing just how hard you have to push to find those limits, and the idea of any rational person finding them is unlikely.”

“Interior quality took a major leap forward in the redesigned ML, and the AMG version takes it another step farther. Material quality is luxurious and attention to detail abounds in spots only contortionists would be able to see. Even the doorjambs look as though they spent time in the design department to match the clean, uncluttered aesthetic.”

“Herr Kallenius boasts that the new ML 63 AMG is the most powerful SUV for sale today. In the same train of thought, he also says the AMG biturbo V-8 is among the cleanest engines for the power output. “AMG is a test lab for new technology that will trickle down into lower segments at Mercedes.”"

Read the full Motor Trend article and view the photo gallery here.