Mercedes-Benz GLK ready to storm SEMA

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.

[Source: Mercedes-Benz]

PRESS RELEASE:
MERCEDES-BENZ GLK IS POISED TO IMPRESS AT SEMA 2008
Official Design Renderings Released of four Customized GLK-Class Showcars

MONTVALE, NJ – Mercedes-Benz will emphasize its "star power" at the 2008 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show with four 2010GLK-Class showcars customized by leading aftermarket tuning firms. The four Mercedes-Benz GLK SEMA concepts showcase the bold, expressive nature of the GLK luxury SUV prior to its official showroom debut in January 2009.

Design Concepts Include:

• RENNTech Rally Racer – Inspired by the unlimited-class rally cars at the storied Pikes Peak Hillclimb, the GLK concept represents the Mercedes-Benz performance specialist's first hybrid powertrain to enhance acceleration off the line and out of the corners.
  
• BRABUS Widestar – Developed by Mercedes-Benz tuning experts Brabus of Bottrop, Germany, this striking wide-track "designer suit" for the GLK300 BLUETEC includes flowing front and rear wheel arch flares and redesigned front and rear bumpers complemented with exclusive BRABUS wheels and an interior to match.
  
• The Urban Whip – Florida-based Boulevard Customs is sure to turn heads with a wide body styling kit, massive 26-inch wheels and tires, redesigned interior and ground-pounding stereo system.
  
• The Four Corners Rock Crawler – Exotic and muscle car restoration specialist Legendary Motor Cars design includes an innovative winching system to propel skate and wakeboarders up to speed and actually "grind" down the vehicle's specially integrated side rails.
  

The new 2010 GLK350 combines bold, aggressive design with versatile SUV capability engineered in a slightly smaller package. Powered by a 3.5-liter 268-horsepower V6 and featuring standard 4MATIC all-wheel drive, the GLK350 will make its showroom debut in January 2009.

The four GLK-Class vehicles will be displayed at this year's SEMA show, taking place November 4-7 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. During the exhibition, attendees will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite design via online and mobile voting. Following the SEMA show, the four vehicles will be displayed at the Los Angeles Auto Show (November 21-30) providing showgoers with another opportunity to cast their vote. Beginning in early October, all four vehicles will be featured in videos on Mercedes-Benz USA website, www.mbusa.com. The votes from the show attendees and www.mbusa.com will be tallied and the winner will be announced on December 2, 2008.