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2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK

Matt Davis — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 11:57:00 EST

Filed under: Crossover, Mercedes-Benz, First Drives, Luxury

Littlest G Rocks The Box With Meaningful Improvements

We admit it: It's easy to dig the Mercedes-Benz GLK. Like many of our preferred Jeep models, the GLK presents itself as a true small, rugged all-rounder that you can use just about any way you need. Yes, the rectilinear design is polarizing, but for us, the poles seem to line up more often than not. And, granted, any sort of utility vehicle that presents itself all in white or off-white - inside and out in this tester's case - with 19-inch Pirellis is going to face a ribbing by manly men. Tooth-whitening brightness and fancy shoes aside, anything that aspires to emulate - even peripherally - the rep of the legendary G-Class is welcome anytime in our driveway.

A gnarly strong off-roader? With only a 3.27:1 rear axle available and two overdrive gears, not truly, no. But get the new Offroad Engineering Package on the 4Matic chassis and the GLK thumps along with its 4.38:1 first and 2.86:1 second gears almost as well as a Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo X 4x4. (We picked that one because the Jeep's base price is right near that of the GLK 350 4Matic and power is roughly the same.) Trouble is that this more rugged GLK package will not be made available in North America any time soon, so the optional $2,000 4Matic all-wheel drive system - with those same ratios - will have to continue to be enough for us.

That's a shame, because our offroad activities in this updated GLK - admittedly executed in a wonderfully torque-filled GLK 350 CDI on 17-inch Bridgestones with the offroad setup prepped specifically for this event - was solid stuff. It seems U.S. dirt country roads with occasional washboarding is realistically the meanest situation envisioned for Yankee GLKs, so U.S. owners are unlikely to know just how capable their vehicle's chassis can be when properly outfitted.

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2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 05 Jun 2012 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mercedes-Benz GLK gets facelift, diesel option ahead of New York

Noah Joseph — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 09:49:00 EST

Filed under: New York Auto Show, SUV, Crossover, Mercedes-Benz, Diesel, Luxury

When the doors open at Manhattahn's Javitz Center for the New York Auto Show in less than two weeks, Mercedes-Benz will have a refreshed version of its GLK-Class on display. But you needn't wait that long, as parent company Daimler has just released the full spectrum of details and photos of its updated entry-level crossover.

Decidedly evolutionary in its refresh, the 2013 GLK is characterized largely by the same sharp lines as the model it replaces, but now, the creases and sculpting is slightly more rounded and more dynamic in appearance. While the exterior has had its sharp edges smoothed out, the interior has likewise been updated, with those SLS AMG-derived retro air vents dominating the restyled dashboard and the gearshift lever moving to a stalk on the steering column in similar fashion to other recent Three-Pointed Star vehicles.

The biggest news, however, comes under the hood. While the existing GLK was only offered with a single engine, the new model will be available in two specs: the GLK350 with direct-injection 3.5-liter V6 now good for 302 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque (up from 268hp and 258 lb-ft), or the GLK250 BlueTEC diesel that, at 190 hp and 369 lb-ft, offers less power but far more twist from its 2.1 liters and four cylinders. While the updated GLK350 will be available starting in the summer, American buyers intent on the diesel will have to wait until early next year. Both are mated to a seven-speed automatic with stop-start system, and can be had in either rear-drive or 4Matic all-wheel drive.

There's plenty more to delve into in the press release after the jump, and a whole mess of high-resolution photos in the gallery, so check 'em out and watch this space for live coverage from the vehicle's unveiling in New York.

Continue reading Mercedes-Benz GLK gets facelift, diesel option ahead of New York

Mercedes-Benz GLK gets facelift, diesel option ahead of New York originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 22 Mar 2012 09:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Refreshed 2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK to get diesel option

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Crossover, Mercedes-Benz, Diesel

Even though spy shots signal that exterior adjustments on the next Mercedes-Benz GLK will be subtle, there's one giant adjustment coming under the hood, and it smells like oil - in a good way. Automotive News says the revamped softroader will gain a new diesel engine option. For its part, Mercedes-Benz hasn't said which of its oilburners it will offer with the GLK, but it's been hinted that it could be the 2.1-liter turbo diesel mill with 204 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque that sees duty in models like the C-Class and M-Class in other lands.

The addition of the GLK and next C-Class will make seven Mercedes model lines offered with diesel in the U.S. With the GLK's fuel economy addressed, the hope is that the entry-level crossover can find roughly 13,000 more buyers per year and close in on 40,000-sales-per-annum threshold. The brand already offers far more diesels than its German competitors here, but still wants to raise percentage of diesel sales from 12-to-20 percent to 15 to 20 percent.

Refreshed 2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK to get diesel option originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 18 Jan 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Mercedes-Benz C-Class diesel coming in 2012

Zach Bowman — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 09:28:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Etc., Mercedes-Benz, Rumormill, Diesel, Luxury

2011 Mercedes-Benz C-Class - Click above for high-res image gallery

We've got good news for the oil-burning fans of United States. Car and Driver is reporting that Mercedes-Benz wants to sell eight diesel models in the land of the free by 2014, and one of those will be a C-Class.

Odds are that the vehicle won't show up until 2013, and when it does, it will come packing the Silver Arrow's 2.1-liter turbo diesel mill with 204 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. That same engine is likely to find its way into the nose of the GLK as well, though the pint-sized crossover is expected to show its face sooner than its sedan cousin.

The GLK is likely to hit showrooms in the fall of this year as a 2012 model. Car and Driver says that when it does, it could bring some tasty figures to the table, including a 0-60 time in the seven second range and fuel economy in the high 30s.

Currently, Mercedes-Benz serves up a diesel option in its E, M, GL and R-Class models. The S-Class is set to join that party by the end of 2011.

Gallery: 2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class

[Source: Car and Driver]

Report: Mercedes-Benz C-Class diesel coming in 2012 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 25 Jan 2011 09:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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