GL-Class (X166) Next Generation GL-Class (Spy Pics, Renderings, and Info)

[SKY]

why is that

I never like camoed cars, do you?.

 

[coolraoul]

Well the C-Coupe is nothing :more than a shortened W204, no real work here. GL and ML same deal. The CLS is 90% W212 so here again, no real R&D work.

Do you think MB would screw-up by lack of resources? C'mon you know better than that. It's not the first "product offensive", and BTW all those designs were finalized long ago.

I don't know where you read that the W221 was the last new MB, but... The E-Classes are all based on the W124's fundaments in terms of chassis (same basic pseudo McPherson strouts front and multi-link rear axle), it's not like every new car was a totally new design. The W221 and 220 share a lot too in terms of suspension technology and geometry.

Don't get carried away by marketing. No new car starts from a blank sheet.

As far as design is concerned, well... They won't spare on that, they're not dumb. They are creating a new design theme, be sure they'll apply it on their new cars. They hired a lot of very talented designers from other brands lately, it's not to spare on that area don't you think?

 

[fortuner]

This is a car i will be eagerly waiting for and hope the interior will have some differences from the ML and off superior quality.

 

[Nicks]

I never like camoed cars, do you?.

i thought u were taking about uncovered cars

 

[Merc1]

Well the C-Coupe is nothing :more than a shortened W204, no real work here. GL and ML same deal. The CLS is 90% W212 so here again, no real R&D work.

Do you think MB would screw-up by lack of resources? C'mon you know better than that. It's not the first "product offensive", and BTW all those designs were finalized long ago.

I don't know where you read that the W221 was the last new MB, but... The E-Classes are all based on the W124's fundaments in terms of chassis (same basic pseudo McPherson strouts front and multi-link rear axle), it's not like every new car was a totally new design. The W221 and 220 share a lot too in terms of suspension technology and geometry.

Don't get carried away by marketing. No new car starts from a blank sheet.

As far as design is concerned, well... They won't spare on that, they're not dumb. They are creating a new design theme, be sure they'll apply it on their new cars. They hired a lot of very talented designers from other brands lately, it's not to spare on that area don't you think?

It was in an interview with Schremp or whatever his name was, he stated the W221 would be the last new from the ground up Mercedes-Benz. So far that seems to have been the case.

The W204 and both the W212 I've read more than once are based on a heavily revised versions of their respective previous platforms. Not merely a facelift, but not all-new either.

Are you kidding raoul? Mercedes has screwd up plenty of cars before during previous years trying to be save a buck here and there. All I'm saying is that to me it seems they're stretched kinda thin right now. If we're not to fall for the marketing then don't you fall for thinking Mercedes is incapable of being less than perfect.


Cars start from a blank sheet sometime too. The SLS did.


M

 

[Nicks]

i don't need my car to be like "all new" just for the sake of it
if it's better than previous generation, that's enough

 

[Merc1]

I don't need one to be all new either, that isn't the point whether it is or not.

M

 

[data]

I don't need one to be all new either, that isn't the point whether it is or not.

M

Why you have to start from scratch to make a new model?The cars currently rely on constant updates and improvements, so a new model has something of the former.
The W212 without going further won the "Euro Car Body" 2009 sign that things are doing well.

And as for the design, Mercedes is a brand that difference very well about their products ranges predecesoresy a few others. What would you say if Mercedes do as Audi A4, A6 and A8 and BMW: 3, 5, 7 and its design continues ......

I do not understand your questions about new products.

 

[coolraoul]

It was in an interview with Schremp or whatever his name was, he stated the W221 would be the last new from the ground up Mercedes-Benz. So far that seems to have been the case.

The W204 and both the W212 I've read more than once are based on a heavily revised versions of their respective previous platforms. Not merely a facelift, but not all-new either.

Are you kidding raoul? Mercedes has screwd up plenty of cars before during previous years trying to be save a buck here and there. All I'm saying is that to me it seems they're stretched kinda thin right now. If we're not to fall for the marketing then don't you fall for thinking Mercedes is incapable of being less than perfect.


Cars start from a blank sheet sometime too. The SLS did.


M

The W221 is not all-new at all, neither was the W211. Like I said, all E-Classes are refined and reworked versions of the W124 in terms of suspensions and even chassis.

The chassis difference are way bigger between a W123 and a W124 than between a W124 and a W210. And both W211 and W212 are reworked W210s in terms of chassis/suspensions.

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

As far as I knew, the w211 was a completely new vehicle. The basic suspension set up may have been the same, but I believe it was engineered from scratch from the ground up.

And this is what MB will NOT do anymore. It's simply too costly and too open to problems with quality and reliability. I recall reading the same article that Marcus is talking about.

 

[Merc1]

It has been said many times by various MB execs that the W221 was all new so I'm going with that.

Just because a car keeps the same suspension design doesn't mean the rest of the car isn't or can't be all new.


The W211 and W212 have nothing do with the the W124, beyond having a similar rear suspension in principle. The W124 chassis is way to short and narrow to be lurking under the W211 or W212 in any shape or form. The hard points for the dash and everything else is totally different.

The W210 and W211 share and the W211 to W212, but the W124 is history beyond passing down its suspension design in the rear.

M

 

[PHYBENZ]

 

[HighestOfHigh]

Size does matter. Sometimes, anyway. It definitely matters when you need to haul around six of your favorite people, and the Mercedes-Benz GL-Class is one of the few ways to do it in luxury and style. That style is soon to get an update, as our spy photographers have snapped these images of the 2012 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class in testing today.

Based on the same underpinnings and drivetrain as the ML-Class, the new GL-Class is still largely shrouded in mystery. Power can be expected to get the Mercedes MOVE family of new direct-injection V-6s and twin-turbo V-8s, but specific power figures and model names will have to wait for the official release.

Do expect a vehicle with very similar proportions and lines to the existing GL, though the heavy camo along the front and sides obscure the more cosmetic changes. Behind the screen overlaid on the nose, we can see hints of a two- or three-bar grille, a reduction in count from the current GL's number--or at least set at wider spacing.

The headlights look slightly different in layout, and the tail lights look to be at least partially moved onto the rear lift gate. The exhaust and rear bumper on the vehicle spied don't look to be dressed in production trim, but it should still be a two-exit system with one tip on each side of the rear.

We'll bring you the latest details and spy shots as we get them, so stay tuned to see what Mercedes has in the works for its full-size luxury SUV.

- http://www.motorauthority.com/blog/1047016_spy-shots-2012-mercedes-benz-gl-class

 

[bmer]

Now that's LARGE, like XXXXXL! Is it going to be a 9-seater?

 

[ree]

Maybe for the next generation or as special edition for the last series GL - but this definitely sounds like an AMG!

Mercedes GL63 AMG - video - Autojunk.nl (44024)

 

[Merc1]

Uh oh......a gl with the new amg turbo v8? They might do that.

M

 

[tennmb]

I do hope it is larger inside as the current GL has no more rear leg room than the ML. The GL suffers against the comp in this area. My initial impressions is that it may be slightly wider, and longer, although not by much.

Looks to be very attractive.

 

[SKY]

A GL63 AMG would be somehow the superSUV. Very american style. If there´s a word wich describes the GL is MASIVE. In fact, its main competitors are the big Cadillacs and GMCs of the US.

 

[tennmb]

Actually the GL is anything but massive. It is the dwarf of full-sized SUVs. Compare to an Escalade, Denali, Navigator, Sequoia, QX56. Significantly narrower, and shorter than these.
That was exactly my point. The GL is the smallest big SUV on the market.
Which is OK, you don't have to be bigger to be better. But, it is a fact that the GL has the exact same dimensions in the first two rows as the ML.

 

[ich]

There existed already an AMG-Version of the current GL. It was a prototype and i have posted pics of it some years ago.
I mean also, that it has the same license plate... I will search for the pics on my other Pc, tomorrow.
But definitely a nice piece, if it would become real

Found this on page 2, GL63 AMG

Whatever it is.. its HOT: