Carlsson Launches 22-Inch SUV Alloy

German based specialist Carlsson has but one make of car in mind when designing a new alloy wheel, so it comes as no surprise that the company has become very good at what it does. From its headquarters in a sprawling estate once owned by an aristocratic horse breeder, the company strives to create what it calls individual cars for individualists and wheels that will create a completely new image for any Mercedes.

The newest addition to the Carlsson stable is the ‘2/11 Brilliant Edition,’ a lightweight 2-piece 22-inch wheel designed for the M and GL class 4×4 and R Class crossover “multi-activity vehicle.” Featuring an 11-spoke design and highly lustrous silver paint finish with a highly polished outer rim, the 2/11 Brilliant Edition creates a particularly energetic image when paired with low profile high-performance tyres while at the same time providing the required touch of elegance expected on a luxury vehicle. The appearance of the Carlsson wheel is distinctly different from the five-spoke variety fitted as original equipment to all three Mercedes-Benz models (and the seven-spoke factory option available on the R-Class) and offers customers an extra two inches diameter compared with the largest size factory fitted wheel.

Although not designed with off-road use in mind, even an urban jungle can be gruelling at times and Carlsson claim that the 2/11 Brilliant Edition is built to maintain its appearance. Carlsson wheels feature a stainless steel rim base, and the stainless steel finish on the wheel’s outboard flange ensures that corrosion resulting from kerb scratching or stone impact will not occur, keeping the wheel free from the tiny yet ugly rust spots that plague many aging alloys.

Through the use of forged wheel rims, Carlsson has succeeded in reducing the weight of the new 22″ version of the 2/11 Brilliant Edition to less than 19 kg. Lightweight wheels tend to tramp less (reduced unsprung weight) and thus offer superior road contact, allowing for higher cornering forces, greater driving safety and more comfort compared to fully cast wheels, which on average weigh around 20 per cent more.

The Carlsson 2/11 Brilliant Edition is now available in 10 x 22 ET 60 and 11 x 22 ET 60 sizes for the following Mercedes-Benz models: M Class (W164), R Class (W251) and G Class (X164).