Mercedes-Benz
GLK-Class
Mercedes-Benz has planned
to assemble a compact entry-level luxury crossover SUV to
compete with the Acura RDX, Volkswagen Tiguan the Land Rover
LR2/Freelander and the future Audi Q3, BMW F3 and Volvo XC60.
The name of this series is not yet known, but Daimler-Benz
has already made preparations to use "X-Class" and
"MLK-Class". According to Autobild, it should rather
be called "GLK-Class", K standing for Kurz (short).
This is likely because BMW already uses the X prefix on their
"sports activity vehicles." The model will slot
below the M-Class in the lineup.
The upcoming GLK-Class
will probably launch in 2008 as a 2009 model and be built
in Germany, the first Mercedes SUV to be built there. Rumored
engines are the 2.8L V6 and the 3.5L V6 making up the GLK280
and the GLK350. Perhaps an AMG variant will be built, but
that remains to be seen. Its design is expected to include
styling cues from other Mercedes-Benz SUVs.
The history of the GLK
class was designed by Harald Pietschmann after he was approached
by Jim Rogers and asked to create the ultimate 4WD convertible
for a trip around the world. The project involved using two
already existing Mercedes Benz models, the G-Class and the
SLK-Class [1].
It is speculated that
the GLK-Class will share the C-Class (W204) platform, and
production plans continued after the demise of the similar
Smart Formore. Later, a compact true off-roader (it may retain
the G-Class name) may be built on the same platform. In 2005,
it was announced that the vehicle will be built in Bremen,
Germany, rather than at the company's Juiz de Fora, Brazil
factory as had been expected.
The GL was launched in
2006 to compete with Range Rover and some US brands.
