Mercedes
Vision GLK Freeside
Concept: Luxury Crossover SUV
Motoring Channel Staff - 3/January/2008
|
Mercedes Vision GLK Freeside Concept
Powered by a range of diesel and petrol
engines, the new model will launch in '08
While the vehicle is very much an off-roader,
the GLK will also offer high levels of luxury
Mercedes new GLK crossover SUV may
also get an AMG tune with a tough V8 mill
|
Stuttgart,
Germany —
Much has been said about the rumoured AWD crossover vehicle from
Mercedes, and we now finally have some concrete information.
German car maker Mercedes-Benz has come
clean with a new concept vehicle - the Vision GLK Freeside - which is
an early look at the new 2009 model GLK-Class.
Officially unveiled at the 2008 Detroit
Motor Show, the new model was recently spied on the set of the
new chick flick, Sex
And The City, which suggests that Mercedes wants to appeal to affluent,
fashionable drivers.
The new vehicle features a far more original
design than a lot of crossover SUVs, highlighted by its angular lines
and squared off corners.
"The Vision GLK
Freeside study, now close to series
production, has a distinctive design and combines typical SUV
characteristics such as robustness and off-road capability with refined
motoring characteristics on “normal” roads," reads
the Mercedes-Benz literature.
Designed to give Mercedes more traction in
the mid-sized SUV market, the new model will be launched in
Europe late in 2008. It will then hit roads in the USA in early 2009.
However, the luxury SUV is believed to be only a
left-hand-drive vehicle at this stage due to the mechanical design of
the vehicle.
This means the new GLK has not been confirmed for
right-hand drive markets, such as England and Australia.
As well as the sharp new design, Mercedes
has equipped the Vision GLK Freeside with a range
of interesting features, such as:
 Agility Control:
advanced suspension system ensures "excellent
handling dynamics and agility, coupled with excellent ride comfort and
pioneering active safety" says Mercedes.
BlueTec
Diesel Engine: this next generation 4-cylinder
diesel engine sounds like 'BlueTooth' and is expected to be one of the
most economical and
environmentally friendly engines.
7G-Tronic:
this 7-speed automatic
transmission combines with the Mercedes GLK's new 4Matic all-wheel
drive system that "ensures highly
appealing performance".
The Vision GLK
Freeside concept car is very close in design and construction to the
final production version of the GLK-Class, and will also features
things like the anticipatory Pre-Safe technology, the Intelligent Light
System (ILS), the
intuitively controlled COMAND APS infotainment center with two
LCD screens and triple zone automatic
climate control.
Mercedes says the
Vision GLK Freeside concept will undergo its first test of
character at the
NAIAS in Detroit, where it will be judged by the press and the public.
"The Vision GLK
illustrates the logical way in which
our extremely successful model strategy can be continued in the SUV
segment," said Dr. Dieter Zetsche, the CEO of Daimler AG.
Dr. Zetsche
has a very close connection with the compact and distinctive Vision GLK
Freeside, based on his time as a vehicle developer back in the
mid-1980s. One of Dr. Zetsche’s areas of responsibility at
that time
was the development of the boxy G-Class, a rugged 4WD used by some
military forces.
Looking back, he
explained, "The needs profiles are different now. But there’s
one thing
that hasn’t changed: if a Mercedes has a G in its name, it
has to
perform exceptionally in all conditions."
Dr. Zetsche’s comments suggest that the new model will be a serious
off-roader. While it is being pitched at well-to-do socialites and
fashionistas, it's also expected to be a rock solid mud slinger.
It will come with
driving aids like Downhill
Speed Regulation (DSR), an off-road ESP setting and there's also a 'G'
button on the center console that activates the vehicles off-road
persona.
The concept car in these photos, which will shown
at the 2008 Detroit Motor Show, sit on large 20-inch alloy wheels which
probably wouldn't be very good for off-roading.
Power for the new GLK-Class will com from a range
of petrol and diesel engines including the new generation, eco
friendly BlueTec diesel engine.
This 4-cylinder unit
displaces 2.2-litres and "allows
impressive performance figures" according to Mercedes, outputting 125kW
(168hp) of power and what is expected to be around 400Nm of torque.
Petrol engines for the
final 2009 production version of the GLK Freeside concept will include
V6 and V8 engines.
The Mercedes-owned
performance group, AMG, is also expected to work on the GLK and will
probably drop the 6.2-litre V8 into the SUV's engine bay which
would output more than 330kW (450hp).
Based on
the Mercedes C-Class wagon underpinnings, the new model will make its
first public appearance at the 2008 Detroit Motor Show (NAIAS).
Related
Articles:
- Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 GT (2007)
- Mercedes-Benz F 700 Concept (2007)
- Mercedes-Benz C 63 AMG Estate (2008)
- Mercedes-Benz
C-Class Estate (2008)
- Mercedes-Benz
New C-Class (2008)
- Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG (2008)
- Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster (2007)
- Mercedes-Benz
CL 65 AMG (2008)
- Mercedes-Benz
CL-Class (2007)
- Mercedes-Benz
Ocean Drive (concept)
- Mercedes-Benz
GL-Class (2006)
|
