Rumors: Mercedes-Benz to Gun for BMW’s X6 with New GLS

It seems that 2014 is going to be a good year for SUV fans: after the news on Audi’s Q4, Mercedes-Benz is also reportedly planning to release another crossover, according to Autocar. However, this one will be more up-market and will have BMW’s X6 (and Audi's Q6, which is expected in 2016) squarely in its sights.

An obvious movement since the controversially styled SUV from BMW has sold more than 120,000 since its launch in 2009. Like its archrival from Munich, Mercedes’s sporty SUV will be a four-seater with a sporty design.

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Mercedes-Benz GLK to Start from $33,900 in the U.S.

The new Mercedes-Benz GLK has been available for sale in Europe for some time now but in the U.S., the compact SUV will be arriving at the firm's dealerships in January 2009. Available exclusively with Merc's 268-HP 3.0-liter V6 engine, the five-passenger GLK350, with standard 4MATIC all-wheel-drive, will be priced at $35, 900, plus an $875 destination fee. Comparatively, the BMW X3 xDrive30i with its 260-HP 3.0-liter inline 6-cylinder engine starts at $39,400 MSRP. For those that do not need an all-wheel-drive set up, Merc will also offer an entry-level GLK350 with rear-wheel-drive from April, 2009, priced at $33,900 with an additional $875 delivery fee.

Mercedes-Benz Releases Styling Pack and Other Accessories for GLK

GLK owners who wish to add a more individual or functional touch to their vehicle will be happy to know - your Merc dealer will be even happier - that Mercedes-Benz has launched an array of genuine accessories. The range extends from styling products and safety systems to communication and entertainment tools. Starting with the appearance upgrades, Mercedes offers a subtle bodykit that consists of a rear apron, front lip and roof spoiler. The kit can can be combined with chrome strips for the bumpers, fog lamp surrounds, exterior mirror housings and door handle recesses, as well as with new alloy wheel designs available in sizes 19'' and 20''.

On the functional side, GLK owners can choose from a wide range of accessories that include a large roof box with capacity of 450 litres which is available with the opening on the right or the left, an interior ski-bag featuring tension straps and carrying straps and a bicycle rack and

Other available products include over 50 different mobile-phone holders, an iPod Interface Kit, special snow chains, a parking assistance radar system, and child seats.

SEMA: Mercedes-Benz GLK Speedster

*Updated With New High-Resolution Image Gallery

One of the most extreme concepts at this year's Las Vegas SEMA Show is the Urban Whip from Boulevard Customs. The Florida-based coach builder took the new Mercedes-GLK and transformed into a four-door, crossover speedster -that sounds even weirder than it looks... The crew over at Boulevard Customs removed the GLK's rooftop, chopped the windscreen and added the usual bling-bling accessories that SEMA is so famous for like the massive 26-inch alloy wheels and tires, the wide-body kit and more chrome than meets the eye. -Continued

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• Mercedes-Benz to Bring Four Custom-Made GLKs at SEMA
  

SEMA: RENNTech Mercedes-Benz GLK Hybrid Rally Racer

Inspired by the insane rally cars that participate at the annual Pikes Peak Hillclimb, RENNTech built a racing concept of Mercedes-Benz’s brand-new GLK compact SUV. We don’t know many details about the SEMA show prototype other than it will feature an aggressively styled bodykit with an xtra-large roof spoiler and that it will be equipped with a hybrid powertrain that is supposed to enhance acceleration off the line and out of the corners – or at least that’s what the dedicated Mercedes-Benz tuner supports.

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• SEMA Show Mercedes-Benz GLK Speedster Concept
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First Mercedes-Benz GLK Delivered to Customer

The first Mercedes-Benz GLK after the European market launch of the compact-sized SUV was delivered today to its new owner at the German firm's Bremen Customer Center. The vehicle, a GLK 320 CDI 4MATIC in metallic tenorite gray was handed over to 29-year-old Magdalena Dietz by Merc's Bremen plant manager Peter Schabert. "The GLK is our most important new model this year," said Schabert. "It is the first compact sport utility vehicle (SUV) from Mercedes-Benz and the first Mercedes-Benz SUV 'Made in Bremen', so I am particularly delighted to personally hand over the first GLK to its owner." -Continued

The GLK is the fifth production series of the Mercedes-Benz family of SUVs/Crossovers, which also includes the G-Class, GL-Class, M-Class, and R-Class., Approximately 25,000 orders have been placed for the GLK worldwide between its official release for sale on June 30th and the end of September.

Mercedes-Benz GLK prepped by BRABUS

BRABUS, the German tuner for anything that comes out of the Daimler factory has presented an extensive customization program for the newly launched in the European continent, 2009 Mercedes-Benz GLK. The program for Merc's new compact SUV is pretty thorough including performance tuning for all engine variants - gasoline and diesel, a full bodykit, new alloy wheels with matching suspension solutions, and heaps of interior options. -Continued

For the gasoline powered GLK 350, BRABUS offers the B7 power kit which adds 15HP to the V6 engine raising output to 287HP. If you think that's lethargic, the German tuner has developed a 4.0 displacement V6 engine for both the GLK 350 and GLK 280 producing 332HP and a peak torque of 420Nm (310 lb-ft) at 4,200 rpm for a 0 to 100km/h (62mph) sprint time of 6.1 seconds and a new top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph).

Those who prefer the diesel-powered GLK 320 CDI, BRABUS offers its ECO PowerXtra D6 (III) tuning that delivers an additional 48HP and a peak torque of 590Nm (435 lb-ft). With this kit the 272HP GLK 320 CDI sprints from rest to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 6.9 seconds and on to a top speed of 228 km/h (142 mph).

Complementing the power upgrades is a new sports suspension with a ride height lowered by some 35 millimeters (1.4 inches).

In the styling department, there's a full bodykit that consists of a new front apron that houses daytime running lights as well as optional auxiliary high beams and fog lamps, a two-piece roof attachment with integrated LED position lights, rocker panels with integrated LED lights, a rear apron and a roof spoiler. Customers can choose from a variety of alloy wheels starting off from 17-inches and going all the way up to 21-inches. The largest approved tires for front and rear axle measure 255/35 R 21 in size.

The range of available BRABUS accessories for the interior includes stainless-steel scuff plates with illuminated BRABUS logo, various versions of a sport steering wheel, interior trim sets made from wood or from genuine carbon fiber as well as special BRABUS consoles for the seatbacks of the front seats complete with set of 7-inch LCD screens and an integrated DVD player.

Mercedes-Benz to Reveal Four Customized GLK SUVs at SEMA

The marketing folks over at Mercedes seem to have had their fill with the GLK’s femme fatal promo campaign that began with the compact SUV’s appearance at the “Sex and the City Movie” as they are now getting ready to target the male audience with the introduction of four customized versions of the GLK at the this year's SEMA show, taking place November 4-7 in Las Vegas. The customized GLKs are being prepared by RENNTech, Brabus, Boulevard Customs and Legendary Motor Cars. -Continued

Starting off with RENNTech’s Rally Racer, the Florida-based tuning firm said that it has taken inspiration from the iconic Pikes Peak Hillclimb to create this special GLK concept that will be powered by a hybrid-powertrain.

Brabus on its behalf will present the GLK300 BLUETEC Widestar equipped with a wide body aero kit that includes flowing front and rear wheel arch flares and redesigned front and rear bumpers complemented with bespoke wheels and a matching interior.

Continuing with Boulevard Customs, the Florida-based firm’s GLK proposition is dubbed “The Urban Whip” and it features a wide body styling kit, massive 26-inch wheels and tires, redesigned interior and a seriously upgraded stereo system.

Finally, Legendary Motor Cars is readying the “Four Corners Rock Crawler” equipped with massive off-road wheels, roof lights and what the company describes as an “innovative winching system to propel skate and wakeboarders up to speed and actually ‘grind’ down the vehicle's specially integrated side rails” – whatever that means.

Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class Collection

The market launch of Merc’s new GLK-Class compact SUV has brought with it the launch of a dedicated collection from the German automaker that includes key holders, a lightweight umbrella, an iPhone pouch, wallets, outdoor jackets even a special woman’s lineup designed in collaboration with the Austrian crystal specialist Swarovski. The products that make up the GLK-Class Selection will be available from Mercedes-Benz partners and sales and service outlets from the beginning of October. -Continued

Lorinser Preparing Tuning Kit for New Mercedes-Benz GLK

We’re not sure what Lorinser is trying to tell us with the color of choice for the GLK teaser sketches, but fact is the German firm will be one of the first tuners to get their hands on Mercedes-Benz’ all-new compact SUV that’s set to arrive in European dealerships this October with the U.S following in early 2009. Other than the teaser sketches, there’s no official information on what Lorinser is preparing for the GLK but we gather that apart from the full bodykit and new alloy wheels, the tuning firm will also present a sport suspension set-up along with a series of upgrades for the SUV’s engine line-up. -One more image after the jump

Via: Tuningkultur

Mercedes Receives 10,000 Orders for New GLK in Western Europe

Mercedes-Benz’ new compact SUV seem to have hit the spot in Europe as the German luxury carmaker has announced that it has received a total of 10,000 orders in Western Europe just one month after the GLK was released for sale. Deliveries of the GLK-Class are scheduled to commence in Western Europe in October, with market launch in the U.S. set to follow at the beginning of 2009.

From the 10,000 orders, Mercedes-Benz has received 1,000 orders for the GLK “Edition 1” variant (pictured above) which will only be available for the launch of the GLK-Class. Among other things, the special edition GLK model will feature a specially designed exterior and interior with a sports package as well as an AMG multifunction leather steering wheel.

iPhone Leather Pouch for the Mercedes-Benz GLK

After seeing –figuratively speaking- the Mercedes-Benz GLK appear alongside Kim Cattrell, alias Just Do it Samantha, in the chick flick “Sex and the City”, it doesn’t surprise us at all that the German carmaker decided to launch an iPhone cradle femininely trimmed with crystallised Swarovski Elements. The iPhone pouch, which was introduced at the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in Berlin (July 17 to 20), will be available in white nappa or plain black leather. -Continued

However all you Miami Vice fans better hold their horses; production of the white nappa leather iPhone cradle is strictly limited of units, all of which will be raffled for invited guests of the Mercedes-Benz Fashion show.