by Brian Byrne. Mercedes-Benz's brand new segment - the R Class 'sport tourer' - will sell some 60 percent of its production in the US, where the car is being built.
The R Class goes on sale in the US in the autumn and in Europe early next year.
A dedicated website set up in January attracted 2.1 million visitors, of whom 98,000 asked for more information and provided an email address.
Annual sales targets for the car are estimated too be around 50,000 units.
Mercedes-Benz says buyers will be 'affluent early adopters' and who may have started their families late in life.
