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Mercedes-Benz recalling 5,800 vehicles over potential fires

Jeffrey N. Ross — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 18:31:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Recalls, Safety, Mercedes-Benz

It turns out Ford isn't the only automaker worried about car fire recalls these days. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration today issuing a recall for potential fires on various 2011 and 2012 model year Mercedes-Benz vehicles, occurring from a fault with a fuel filter flange. The problem stems from an issue in the molding process that can allow the flange to crack, leak gasoline and possibly cause a fire.

Only a small number (5,800) of vehicles are affected by the recall, but it includes a total of eight different models (C300, CL550, CL63 AMG, E350, GLK350, S400 Hybrid, S550 and S63 AMG) across five vehicle lines (C-Class, CL-Class, E-Class, GLK-Class and S-Class). To fix the potentially hazardous problem, dealers will replace the fuel filter as a part of the recall, which goes into effect next month.

For the full list of affected models, check out the official NHTSA recall notice posted after the jump.

Continue reading Mercedes-Benz recalling 5,800 vehicles over potential fires

Mercedes-Benz recalling 5,800 vehicles over potential fires originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 12 Dec 2012 18:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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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.

Continue reading 2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK

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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RENNtech fine-tunes its Mercedes GLK Pikes Peak Hybrid [w/video]

Noah Joseph — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 14:01:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Concept Cars, Motorsports, Hybrid, Performance, SUV, Crossover, Mercedes-Benz, Off-Road, Racing

RENNtech Mercedes-Benz GLK350 Hybrid Pikes Peak Rally Car - Click above for high-res image gallery

Trucks and racing don't normally belong in the same sentence, but a few exceptions exist - the NASCAR Craftsman series, the Dakar rally, and, of course, Pikes Peak.

The legendary hill-climb competition has bred some of the most jaw-droppingly monstrous machines known to man. It also inspired the creation of the GLK350 Hybrid Pikes Peak Project which Mercedes-Benz tuner extraordinaire RENNtech unveiled at SEMA in 2008.

Three years later, RENNtech has revisited the concept crossover with a second version, bearing the most aggressive body kit this side of a Star Wars film set and coated in 3M's carbon-look vinyl wrap. (So, no, the body has not be recreated in actual carbon fiber.) Ostensibly based on the 3.5-liter V6 model, RENNtech's concept packs an additional electric boost developed in-house.

The show car is going on tour across America before it's retired to the Mercedes-Benz Classic Vehicle Museum in Irvine, California. Follow the jump for the press blast and video footage, and check out all the images in the mega-gallery below.

Gallery: RENNtech Mercedes-Benz GLK350 Hybrid Pikes Peak Rally Car

[Source: RENNtech]

Continue reading RENNtech fine-tunes its Mercedes GLK Pikes Peak Hybrid [w/video]

RENNtech fine-tunes its Mercedes GLK Pikes Peak Hybrid [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Mar 2011 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mercedes-Benz GLK ready to storm SEMA

Alex Nunez — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Concept Cars, SEMA Show, Tuners, SUV, Mercedes-Benz

Click above for a hi-res gallery of the GLK SEMA show cars

Perhaps you've heard: Mercedes-Benz has this new SUV called the GLK, and it's not just the Sex and the City audience that's being targeted. The compact ute's getting-to-know-you tour will make a stop at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, where four concept versions will be on display. We already told you about RENNtech's hybrid Rally Racer show truck, and now we have some info on the other three versions that'll join it in Vegas.

Naturally, BRABUS will represent, skinning the GLK300 Bluetec in Widestar duds, new wheels, and the de rigeur custom interior. No power upgrade yet, it seems, but knowing BRABUS, they'll have a version putting out approximately a trillion horsepower by the time the GLK is in customers' hands.

Boulevard Customs is prepping the GLK "Urban Whip", a garish creation sporting 26" wheels and a front end that likely depleted the world's supply of mesh grillework. Lord knows what all the other SEMA builders are gonna do now that they're faced with this crisis.

Finally, Legendary Motor Cars will show the Four Corners Rock Crawler, which rolls on big knobby rubber, has an integrated grille guard, and sports a set of roof lights. But all that's dress-up, because off-roading's not the angle. This GLK has some winch rig that lets it pull skaters into position to then grind on the truck's integrated side rails. (G-Wagen ambulance chase vehicle not included.)

Hey, no one ever said SEMA's about being particularly normal. We'll have plenty more live shots from the show in November.

Gallery: Mercedes-Benz GLK SEMA '08 show cars

[Source: Mercedes-Benz]

Continue reading Mercedes-Benz GLK ready to storm SEMA

Mercedes-Benz GLK ready to storm SEMA originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 16 Sep 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Beijing '08 Preview: 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK 350 to debut in China

John Neff — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 11:29:00 EST

Filed under: China, Crossover, Mercedes-Benz, Misc. Auto Shows

Click above to view high-res gallery of the 2010 GLK 350

Mercedes-Benz debuted the GLK last January at the Detroit Auto Show in the form of two lightly veiled concepts: the Townside and the Freeside. Until now, the only place we've glimpsed the production version is on the set of Sex and the City. This weekend Mercedes will be unveiling the production GLK sans Kim Cattrall at the Beijing Motor Show, a.k.a. the Auto China in Bejing. We've also learned that the GLK will have only one engine available when it goes sale in the U.S. next January as a 2010 model. The sole motor will be a 268-horsepower 3.5L V6, which can be paired with a two-wheel-drive or 4MATIC all-wheel-drive platform, the latter being able to hit 60 mph in just 6.5 seconds while also returning 23 mpg on the highway. The design of the GLK, meanwhile, apes other CUVs that want to look tough despite their decidedly non-SUV underpinnings, hence all the angularity and sharp edges. Its standard ten-spoke wheels will be unusually large at 19 inches, and 20-inchers will be optional. The GLK 350 will be a true Mercedes with all the trappings of digital technology inside and a plethora of safety features, and MB is planning five option packages and nine standalone options. It'll be built at the automaker's plant in Bremen, Germany and join the R-Class, M-Class, GL-Class and G-Class as the fifth "SUV" in the Mercedes lineup. No word yet on pricing, though. Check out the first official pics of this new soft-roader in our gallery below and get the official word from Mercedes after the jump.

Gallery: 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK 350

[Source: Mercedes-Benz]

Continue reading Beijing '08 Preview: 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK 350 to debut in China

Beijing '08 Preview: 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK 350 to debut in China originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 18 Apr 2008 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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