The Mercedes-Benz ML430 was a variant of the W163 M-Class that was introduced for the 1999 model year. The ML430 was the first V8 powered M-Class variant to be built, featuring Mercedes' M113.942 engine. This powerplant was a 4.3L V8 that generated 272hp and 288 lb ft of torque which was sent to all four wheels via a 5 speed automatic transmission. A total of 50,354 examples of the W163 Mercedes-Benz ML430 were built before the end of production in 2001, when the ML430 was replaced by the W163 Mercedes-Benz ML500.