4MATIC 4ALL; Mercedes offers all-wheel drive on everything with four doors.(News)

Byline: NATALIE NEFF

Mercedes-Benz calls all-wheel-drive technology part of its heritage. We'll grant that the German automaker first dabbled in four-wheel drive on the Unimog farm tractor some 50 years ago, then on the military Gelaendewagen in 1979, but the technology didn't significantly penetrate Mercedes' American consumer lineup until 1986 with 4Matic in the midsize 300E. It took another decade before Mercedes really began exploiting the potential of the system on its truck, the M-Class.

That doesn't exactly make for heritage in our minds, especially considering the four-wheel-drive systems of Mercedes' work trucks bear little resemblance to its 4Matic all-wheel drive of its passenger vehicles. But we also grant this: Mercedes sits on the cusp of a new heritage. In 2003, Mercedes will offer the latest- generation 4Matic all-wheel drive on its entire line of sedans and wagons. The move will slot the three-pointed star among the leaders in what it deems an emerging trend in luxury cars and ``part of the price of admission to tomorrow's luxury market.''

Mercedes started the rollout of 4Matic on C-Class and S-Class vehicles late last year, neither of which previously had the option available. To date, Mercedes reports an installation rate of about 50 percent on C-Class since introduction, 30 percent on S-Class.

The recently redesigned E-Class will get 4Matic beginning this year with its 2004 model, and Mercedes ...