Mercedes readying BMW X3-fighter?
Well, Detroit's automakers may be struggling with their SUV models, but that's not stopping Europe's luxury brands from filling out their sport-ute lineups. The latest rumored entry in the soft-roader wars is the Mercedes Benz GLK, which comes to us courtesy of the Photoshop wizards at Auto Bild.
The baby GL will go up against the BMW X3 and the Audi Q5 in the entry-level luxury SUV segment, and offer both RWD and AWD powertrains, the latter to be based on the 4Matic version of the new C-Class. The RWD GLK will be offered with either a new 2.2-liter, four-cylinder diesel or a 3-liter V6, while the AWD version will be available with either a 3-liter diesel or a 3.5-liter gasoline engine.
Auto Bild reports that we can expect the GLK to hit the market around the end of 2008.
[Source: Auto Bild via eMercedesBenz.com]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jason 5:43PM (6/29/2006)
Looks nice but...what a ghastly color that is. Metallic infant vomit?
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Brad 6:00PM (6/29/2006)
Almost as ugly as an X3! Looks like MB is taking this seriously!
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Mark MacLeod 6:46PM (6/29/2006)
Was making it ugly one of the design requirements?
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Anthony Albertus 7:08PM (6/29/2006)
MB is addicted to that cheesy swoosh line that messes up the side of the ML, B-class, A-class, R-classes.. ugg. TOO MUCH of a bad thing.
Luckly the GL and S-classes have escaped this over-wrought styling frillyness.
Are the Koreans are creating better looking cars lately. Gimmiky bodywork like that belongs on a '85 Acura Legend, not a 2006 anything.
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PJ 7:44PM (6/29/2006)
You have to keep a sense of scale in mind when judging its looks. It'd be hideous if it was the size of the GL. But as a bite-sized RDX rival, it could be kind of cute--which I'm assuming was the goal.
It's interesting that this segment of SUVs--the "compact premium" segment--has proliferated so quickly. It's gone from nothing to a class of four in just a couple of years.
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CH 10:09PM (6/29/2006)
I'd definitely take the x3!
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Shoaib 10:15PM (6/29/2006)
Im confused, wats the MLK gonna be then?
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carman 3:34AM (6/30/2006)
Ahh. Stuttgart takes yet another dump. Add that to their arsenal of stroke enducing vehicles, and weve got a perfect match. Maybe I should file a lawsuit against MB for ruining my eyesight? Should keep the Munich boys pleased, woot woot?
In the meantime, ill be here enjoying my tea and crumpets.
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Andre 7:07AM (6/30/2006)
Well, there are two different images on the internet, very different style... after all they all are only a GUESS by professional photoshopists/editors (very skilled ones though).
This picture is based on the GL-class, others (which I think more likelz to be right are based on thew M-class design...
no matter how it looks, it will likely be named MLK
the spy shots indicate clearly that this rendering is completely wrong, I do not understand why it is still around...
look here
http://www.autobild.de/erlkoenige/neuheiten/artikel.php?artikel_id=8544
will look more like the M-class for sure...
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