 |
| Move over, International CXT - the Unimog U 500 Black Edition is the new hot ride on the block. (Photo: Mercedes-Benz Canada) |
DaimlerChrysler, on the other hand, was proud to display something that you can buy - a new, special edition of the Unimog. Called the U 500 Black Edition, it is essentially DaimlerChrysler's hardest-working commercial vehicle, retrofitted with all the luxuries and goodies one might expect in a high-end S-Class. Brabus, the world-famous tuner for Mercedes-Benz and the official tuner of smart, has reworked this mechanical workhorse into a veritable collector's item.
 |
| Skyscraper view, terrain-crushing tires, suede headliner and Benz'sfinest navigation system make for a different mix. (Photo:Mercedes-Benz Canada) |
The U 500 Black Edition is an open and shut textbook case of customization. Its exterior modifications are limited to a monochrome paintjob, sports-tuned exhaust and chrome-plated roll bar. Inside, standard work-grade seats have been replaced with fully-adjustable buckets trimmed in Benz's finest 'Mastik' leather, while the dashboard has been accented in real carbon fibre. Benz's top of the line COMMAND DVD navigation/hi fi system has been retrofitted into the dash as has dual-zone climate control.
 |
| Despite the Brabus badge, there are no mechanical updates to be found.. (Photo: Mercedes-Benz Canada) |
And while Brabus was in charge of the conversion, the engine, a 6.4 litre turbodiesel that generates 280 horsepower and 811 lb-ft of torque hasn't been changed. All that power and torque make for excellent pulling power, but not much by the way of performance: it has a top speed of 120 km/h and its 0-100 km/h acceleration time is deep into the double-digits. And those wheels? They might not be chrome plated, but their 24-inch diameter ought to be good for some street cred, if not taking the Unimog across everything from deserts to peat bogs.
