Mercedes-Benz GLK (spy photos & info)

[NarutoRamen]

Re: NEW GLK Spy Photos

All I know is that this thing better look good. I mean seriously, the X3 might sell a million but it's definitely not good looking. Now i'm sure i'm going to get flamed for this...but the the new ford Fusion and the new CR-V looks better than the X3.

 

[dOmInIX]

Re: NEW GLK Spy Photos

I agree.

The A and B-Class are acceptable, but the R-Class is pointless in my opinion although I was quite impressed with it after testdriving one.

This GLK class is meant to take on the BMW X3. The X3 is virtually alone in this segment with the Acura MDX. Is this niche so profitable? I always thought the X3 and MDX didn't sell too well.

Either way, I am not too thrilled about this car as I feel MB could use the investing cash to do something else. Perhaps their marketing research has found demand for such a car. Who knows though...

I agree all these cars are high quality but as you said, I'm also not thrilled too much about these cars. I don't know how they decide to make a new car, I'm sure they do some researches among the buyers but I don't think the market needs all this.

 

[cawimmer430]

Re: NEW GLK Spy Photos

Last year BMW sold over 111,000 units of X3. So more than X5 - its sales were around 101k units.

Aha, profitable indeed. MB now wants a piece of the cake.

 

[cawimmer430]

Re: NEW GLK Spy Photos

I agree all these cars are high quality but as you said, I'm also not thrilled too much about these cars. I don't know how they decide to make a new car, I'm sure they do some researches among the buyers but I don't think the market needs all this.

The A-Class and B-Class are pretty useful here in Europe, though MB is running the risk of hurting A-Class sales with the B-Class - which in fact just happened according to my latest Auto Motor und Sport. A-Class sales are down by 21% while B-Class sales rose by 14.2% last September.

I can live with ^these two^ cars. If I had the choice, I'd wish for a car that looked like the B-Class but had the driving feel and handling of the A-Class.

The R-Class is the car that kind of bugs me. MB already has the M-Class and an E-Class Estate. The M-Class has permanent AWD while the E-Class is available with 4Matic. Both these cars look better than the R-Class though the R-Class supposedly drives better than the M-Class. I've driven both and couldn't really detect a difference. Either way, I feel that the R-Class was a waste of resources.

The GLK-Class is another car. However, the segment it will compete in seems pretty popular and I am sure people will tire of the X3 and MDX, hence the GLK could be a welcome addition. We will see, but so far, I am not a fan of the upcoming GLK.

 

[EnI]

Re: NEW GLK Spy Photos

Boxy lady.

Very Land Rover-ish. A mini GL - GLK(ompakt).
Huckfeldt seems to be spot on again (regarding general shape).

Regarding X3: New X3 is coming in 2010 - a year or two after GLK & Q5 debut - and will be much more sporty looking than today's utilitarian E83. Think something similar to this (what AutoBild wrongly calls X6):

 

[EnI]

Re: NEW GLK Spy Photos

Aha, profitable indeed. MB now wants a piece of the cake.

Don't forget the Audi with Q5! And Lexus is also thinking to introduce something in this range (RAV4 can help ).

Since large SAV segment (eg. X5) is crowded already, and compact SAV segment (eg. X3) is slowly become crowded as well, BMW will start to introduce new segments: SAC - Sport Activity Coupe vehicles (X6, possible X4), and SC - Sport Criuser vehicles (V5 Luxury SC, V3 Compact SC) - which will be more like a huge coupeish hatches / shooting brakes, and NOT VANS! While SACs will be all-purpose coupes, SCs will be perfect sporty versatile cruisers: premium, unique, versatile, sporty & dynamic.

New segments are necessary to take advantage of no competition existing. Note MB CLS ... Or X3.

 

[Yperion]

Re: NEW GLK Spy Photos

I don't like the boxy look of GLK in the spy pics. The X3 might not be the most beautiful car int he world but at least it looks modern, this car looks already dated.

BTW the X3 is a huge success here in Greece , it has sold many cars this year and it's third overall in SUV sales after RAV4 and Suzuki vitara. Believe it or not X3 is close to outsell 3 series which is selling well but not as good as the previous generation.

 

[cawimmer430]

Re: NEW GLK Spy Photos

Don't forget the Audi with Q5! And Lexus is also thinking to introduce something in this range (RAV4 can help ).

Good point. The Audi Q5 and potential Lexus SUV will want some action as well.

All Lexus has to do though is slap a Lexus badge on the RAV 4, add leather and increase the price and sell it as a Lexus RAV 4. j/k

 

[Centurion]

Re: NEW GLK Spy Photos

this car looks already dated.

ROFL Yannis, you could atleast have waited 6 years to say that one.

I really don't understans why Mercedes is coming out with a smaller SUV becasue the ML really isn't that big. The weight difference between the X3 and the X5 isn't that big either.



X3 3.0: 1.730kg
X5(last gen) 3.0: 1.815kg

Either way MB will have the largest SUV line-up in the premium segment. MLK, ML, G and GL.

 

[EnI]

Re: NEW GLK Spy Photos

Either way MB will have the largest SUV line-up in the premium segment. MLK, ML, G and GL.

Don't forget the R-class crossover (which also belongs to "light truck" segment), and possible upcoming GLC / MLC Sport Activity Coupe.

 

[Yperion]

Re: NEW GLK Spy Photos

All Lexus has to do though is slap a Lexus badge on the RAV 4, add leather and increase the price and sell it as a Lexus RAV 4.

You forgot the part where they glue fake wood on the dashboard.

 

[cawimmer430]

Re: NEW GLK Spy Photos

You forgot the part where they glue fake wood on the dashboard.

 

[PHYBENZ]

Re: NEW GLK Spy Photos

Not sure I like the boxiness, but still too much camo.

 

[LaArtist]

Re: NEW GLK Spy Photos

^looks very korean.. but still alot better than the X3

 

[vabboud]

Re: NEW GLK Spy Photos

my dear artist isn't it a bit oxymoronic to base such a harsh judgement as definitely better than X3 just form a couple of camoed pics?

 

[LaArtist]

Re: NEW GLK Spy Photos

you got me wrong..i was talking about the Photoshop..that the Photoshop looks better than the X3..of course i cant say anything about the actuall car..
cause its under camo as you pointed out

 

[vabboud]

Re: NEW GLK Spy Photos

deleted repetition

 

[vabboud]

Re: NEW GLK Spy Photos

right on dude
for the camo part
the chop does nothing for me
seems merc SUV's are all one sausage 3 sizes

 

[bum-man]

Re: NEW GLK Spy Photos

Even with camo on it looks a million times better then the X3. Pitty it will be a wannabe SUV though.

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

Re: NEW GLK Spy Photos

If it turns out like the boxy Huck CGI, it will be pretty cool and appealing to a much younger crowd.