The Mercedes-Benz R-Class has officially been withdrawn from the UK market. The car, which appeared in concept form as the Vision in 2002 went on sale in the UK in 2005, and after initially promising sales, has tailed off in recent years – leading to its demise.

This announcement follows the discontinuance in the U.S., India and other markets, however it is still a strong seller in Mexico, China and Canada. The model will be discontinued in 2015 completely.

The super-sized MPV-cum-4×4 crossover with room for seven has become an increasingly niche choice in a luxury sector that continues to be dominated by more conventionbal saloons, as epitomised by the Mercedes-Benz S-Class or Audi A8.

Apart from the G-Wagen, the R-Class is the oldest model in Mercedes-Benz’s line-up, having been launched in 2005. The range was expanded in 2007, and more comprehensively facelifted in 2010, to feature new front-end styling (above). A Mercedes-Benz spokesman told us this was ‘planned obselescence’, and another said: ‘I can confirm that production of the R-Class is now restricted to the Chinese market. This will also cease soon.’

The fact that the R-Class has not been replaced – in an era that Mercedes-Benz is keen to expand its model protfolio into a new market sectors – speaks volumes for the R-Class’ lack of popularity.