German Car Forum

Good morning ladies and gentlemen, I hope you all had a great weekend.

Although it's been less than a week since the L.A. Auto Show festivities have kicked off, already another auto-show is in full-swing, this time in Detroit, or Motor City as it is so aptly titled.

With the start of the afore-mentioned Detroit Auto Show comes the introduction of four new Mercedes models - two you've heard of and two you haven't.

To get the ball rolling, I figured I'd start with the a model we've already told you about - the Mercedes GL-Class.

If you're unfamiliar with the GL, it's Mercedes' first entry into the mega-SUV market, set to battle the likes of the Lincoln Navigator and Cadillac Escalade. The GL is large enough to seat seven comfortably, features Mercedes 4MATIC permanent four-wheel drive technology, and will come in several variants of gas and diesel V6 or V8 engines, ranging from the 225 horsepower V6 GL 320 CDI to the 388 horsepower V8 GL 500. Of course, the GL-Class also features Mercedes trademark luxury interior as well as a host of safety features never before featured on a super-sized SUV.

I don't want to go into too many specifics of the GL, seeing as how we've already brought you several stories detailing its features, but if you missed our previous stories, check out the photos and the full press release below to get all the juicy details. Enjoy.






OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE


The New Mercedes-Benz GL-Class: First-Class On And Off-Road

Detroit, Jan 08, 2006

Mercedes-Benz is unveiling a new highlight in the luxury Sports Utility Vehicle market segment: the GL-Class. The seven-seater premium off-roader offers excellent handling both on and off-road and pampers occupants with its extremely spacious accommodation and the comfort of a luxury saloon. The GL-Class sets another milestone with the PRE-SAFE® safety system, a first in this market segment.

With its poised, assured presence, the GL-Class leaves one in no doubt about its aspirations to conquer this market segment. The distinctive design idiom exudes power and exclusivity. Calm body surfaces, powerful, wedge-shaped features and striking details give the impression the luxury off-roader is surging forward even when stationary. The spacious body (length 5088 mm, width 1920 mm, height 1840 mm) is beautifully proportioned.

Superlative comfort whatever the conditions

The welcoming interior with its top-quality materials provides passengers with that feel-good atmosphere as only Mercedes knows how, with more than ample space for up to seven people. The GL-Class offers superb comfort on board - whether you’re just popping into town, cruising hundreds of kilometres or negotiating rough terrain. Occupants still enjoy good freedom of movement even on the two full-sized individual seats in the third row of seats. The distance to the middle row of seats is 815 mm, with 979 mm headroom for passengers. If fewer seats are required, the rear individual seats can be stowed electrically at the push of a button, either individually or in tandem to provide a completely flat load surface. The luggage compartment capacity amounts to 1240 litres in the five-seater version. The GL-Class can provide up to 2300 litres of load capacity, with the load compartment measuring 2128 mm in length. In line with the wide range of applications handled by the versatile all-rounder, the THERMATIC automatic climate control system fitted as standard in the GL 320 CDI provides consistent temperature for all seven seats both in the depths of winter and on those sweltering summer days. The versions with V8 engines such as the GL 420 CDI, GL 450 and GL 500 come with the standard-fit multi-zone THERMOTRONIC system, which offers even more climatic comfort. Other standard-fit convenience and comfort appointments include ARTICO man-made leather upholstery combinations, electrically adjustable front seats and a fixed rear glass roof above the third row of seats.

Intelligent solutions promote excellent safety

The GL-Class makes full use of the advantages of its unitised body, combining optimum strength with intelligent lightweight steel design. The result is excellent passive safety. Combined with the front and rear deformation zones, the high-strength occupant cell forms an efficient base for the occupant protection systems that include:


Adaptive, two-stage airbags for the driver and front passenger

Sidebags in the front, and in the middle row of seats as an option

Windowbags across all three rows of seats from the A to the D-pillar

NECK-PRO crash-responsive head restraints for the driver and front passenger as an option

3-point seat belts on all seven seats

Seat-belt tensioners and adaptive belt-force limiters for the driver and front passenger, seat-belt tensioners and belt-force limiters on the outer seats in the middle row
With the optionally available PRE-SAFE® preventive occupant protection system, a world first in this market segment, Mercedes-Benz has raised safety to an even higher level. The system's most striking feature: passive and active safety systems are networked with each other. PRE-SAFE® utilises the sensors in the dynamic handling control systems such as ABS, BAS (Brake Assist) and ESP® and optimises the protective function of the passive safety components in potential accident situations. The GL-Class also takes the issue of pedestrian protection to a new level. The front section includes precisely defined ample crumple space between the body and the major assemblies underneath. In conjunction with impact zones that are designed to yield, this design provides a high degree of protection both for pedestrians and cyclists.

The GL-Class meets all the requirements of a state-of-the-art, luxury SUV and even redefines them on a higher level. Yet the hallmark Mercedes off-roader genes such as superlative robustness, ruggedness and long-term durability have not been compromised. It is not without reason that the model designation echoes the legendary precursor of all Mercedes-Benz off-road vehicles – the G-Class. The evergreen off-roader is now in its 27th year of production and will continue to be marketed alongside the new GL-Class.

Outstanding handling on and off-road

4MATIC – the permanent four-wheel drive from Mercedes-Benz – provides the GL-Class with superior handling whatever the conditions. Together with the standard-fit AIRMATIC air suspension, the precise speed-sensitive power steering and the ADS Adaptive Damper System also fitted as standard, the imposing GL-Class (wheelbase 3075 mm) handles impressively. Handling, when pulling a trailer is no less impressive thanks to ESP® Trailer Stabilisation. It defuses critical driving situations involving a trailer before they become dangerous by precisely applying the brakes, while AIRMATIC provides fully automatic level adjustment.

Special off-road features such as Downhill Speed Regulation (DSR), hill-start as-sist and off-road ABS assist the GL-Class driver off road. The Off-Road Pro engineering package, standard on all ECE models, means the GL-Class can also handle the most extreme off-road terrain. This includes a two-speed transfer case with a low range ratio and 100 percent differential locks for the transfer case and the rear axle. The modified AIRMATIC air suspension, designed specifically for the more demanding conditions, increases the ground clearance to a maximum of 307 millimetres where required, and raises the fording depth to 600 millimetres.

Majestic drive systems: new V6 and V8 engines

The ultra-modern engine line-up in all GL-Class models provides superlative drive comfort and compelling performance coupled with superior fuel consumption figures compared with other vehicles in the class. Alongside the 165-kW/224-hp V6 engine in the GL 320 CDI, the range of diesel models includes the new-generation high-performance V8 diesel in the GL 420 CDI, which now has an output of 225 kW/ 306 hp and maximum torque of 700 Nm. Both diesel-powered versions undercut the EU 4 limits and feature a maintenance-free diesel particulate filter. In addition to the newly developed 5.5-litre, 285-kW/388-hp engine in the GL 500, launched earlier in the new S-Class, the second unit in this ultra-modern V8 family of engines is celebrating its world premiere in the GL-Class. In the GL 450 the 4.6-litre engine develops 250 kW/340 hp. Both engines also fulfil the stringent EU4 limits (USA: LEV II standard).

All GL-Class engine variants come with the 7G-TRONIC seven-speed automatic transmission with DIRECT SELECT as standard. Excellent performance and low fuel consumption result from the perfect combination of ultra-modern engines with 7G-TRONIC and the friction-optimised powertrain. Another important factor is the comparatively low gross vehicle weight thanks to the unitised body and the excellent aerodynamics (Cd 0.37) for such a large vehicle.

Success story from state-of-the-art production facilities

"Mercedes Quality – Made in the USA" has established itself as the company’s new trademark on the other side of the Atlantic and illustrates the success story of the DaimlerChrysler plant in Tuscaloosa/Alabama. The birthplace of the GL-Class started production in 1997 as the first Mercedes-Benz plant outside Europe. Around 600 million US dollars have been invested since 2001 in expanding and constantly modernising the plant; overall the company has invested around 1 billion US dollars. Following the extension of the Tuscaloosa plant in May 2005, its theoretical annual production capacity for all model series stands at 160,000 units. The new GL-Class is now the third model series to be built here, alongside the M-Class and the R-Class.

The world premiere of the new Mercedes-Benz GL-Class takes place at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit in January 2006. U.S. customers will be the first to savour the delights of the new trendsetter in the spring; European customers will have to wait until September 2006 for a taste of the versatile off-roader.

Copyright © 2006, DaimlerChrysler AG

Tech Specs Of The Mercedes-Benz GL-ClassPosted on January 9, 2006 at 12:45 PM CST

If you still haven't had your fill of Mercedes GL information for the day, DaimlerChrysler has put out a press release detailing the official technical specifications of their newest SUV.

To view the full list of tech specs, you can view DaimlerChrysler's full press release via PDF file by clicking here.

Looks good to me. I hope that color is an option it looks nice. There was also a ML with a burgundy red that looked equally as good.

Another

wow it looks like a angry rinho.. in a good way
Love the colour

I must say that last photo is very impressive looking.
That would be some experience to be able to go from the GL and then on to the Q7 in one day in one place.

edit: I love those bulges in the hood.

That last photo is rediculous, those bluetec color cars are beautiful. Incredibly aggressive. And dead sexy.

Found the correct linked picture for that thumbnail. EMercedesBenz had it incorrect on their story.

Looks pretty good. In fact, looks better than the ML class, though I doubt I would ever want a vehicle so large and cumbersome. And that picture of it driving up that lump of rock is insane..

the rear doesn't look particularly good though right? I like the ML's rear better..

This is a really nice car.I particularly like this pic:



The big size compliments the car and unlike it's American rivals it doesn't look bulky.

New Mercedes-Benz GL-Class Details @ GCF

The G class is now superfluous.

In spite of my initial reservations, this GL is looking very much like a worthy successor to the G class, as was originally intended.

Mercedes would do themselves a big favor by specifying bigger and better looking standard wheels. The G in the above pic looks ok, but the wheels suck. Now the picture in the post before Roberto's, the GL looks a lot better. This same problem exists on the ML and R-Classes too.

This looks great:




M

I think I like Benz's SUVs. I liked the new ML at the auto show and I think I like this GL. Good job Benzy, you pulled yet another trick from ye sleeve.

Roberto: my dad used to tell me about new benzes that u'll rarely like them from the first sight ... u'll need more time till they grow on u ... and actually I found this happening to me .. first I disliked the new S class .. now I love it and appreciate the design from all aspects ... the ML .. E Class .. and many others .. I dunno but this might be true ..

only few cars I liked from the first day till now .. like the CLS and CL

I've had that happen with me too when the W210 E came out, but I think I would have resented anything that dared try to take the place of the W124!

The CLS was the same thing. I thought the concept was the ugliest thing I'd ever seen, but now its my favorite Benz. Displacing the former champ - the CL.

M

A first U.S. testdrive of the GL450 by Edmunds.com:

















We've driven much more expensive premium SUVs that don't offer this level of luxury or standard equipment. As self-evident as it may sound, the interior of the GL feels and looks like a premium product. The cabin is an exercise in taste and restraint despite the laundry list of equipment. The seats are exceptionally comfortable and well bolstered, feeling like they might've come out of the specialty AMG performance division rather than the M-B passenger car pool.

The new 4.6-liter V8 is a free-revving and energetic engine that, when paired with the standard seven-speed automatic transmission, is never at a loss for power or in the wrong gear at the wrong time. It's the kind of perfect pairing that any manufacturer would strive to achieve, with a level of intelligence and habit-learning software that nearly makes the manual-shift pads on the back of the steering wheel unnecessary.

As a "premium full-size tow-rated sport-utility," the GL450 might indicate that the SUV pie is inexorably slivering into ever smaller niches, but as a practical tool (and even as an everyday driver), it sets a new benchmark. Nothing from Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Range Rover or Volvo can compare to the GL's combined size, capabilities and drivability.

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/FirstDrives/articleId=109812?synpartner=edmunds&pageurl=www.ed munds.com/insideline/do/Drives/FirstDrives/articleId=109812#4

M

Awesome review! Perhaps it deserved it's own thread.



I particularly like this picture, do the knobby wheels come as an option from Mercedes. That would be pretty cool if they did.

Not only is it that good, it's the best looking SUV out there imo