SPY PHOTOS: More Mercedes GLK

New pictures have emerged of the 2009 Mercedes GLK, the company's compact SUV, soon-to-be peer of the BMW X3 and Audi's coming Q5. At first sight the test car looks like a disguised GL, but in reality this prototype is considerably smaller than Mercedes' full-size sport-ute. Translated, the name GLK means basically "short version of GL" as K is a diminutive of the German "kurz," meaning short.

The GLK is using technical components from the yet-to-come all-new Mercedes C-class, which is set to debut in March 2007, and it will keep very close in design to the recently launched GL-Class. The GLK may debut as a 2009 model at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2007, while Geneva 2008 remains a possibility.

Power is expected to come from a 3.5-liter V6 with Mercedes 4Matic all-wheel-drive standard. All versions are expected to have the 7G-Tronic TouchShift automatic transmission. Later on there could be a V8-powered GLK 63 AMG version. While the U.S. is slowly moving away from big SUVs, Mercedes is losing market share to small SUVs like the BMW X3. With this new GLK it is hoping to get back on top again.
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S4cabriofoxone - 12/1/2006 7:57:53 PM

-1 Boost

I wouldn't be surprised if the GLK came out next year, and before the Q5. We've only seen Q5 MULES- as in, A4 Avant bodies with the Q5's chasis under them. This is actually a full GLK body with minimal disguise.

All in all, I'm not impressed. Mercedes is spreading its SUV resources too thin, and cheaping out on design differentiation. Don't be like Lexus and make your SUVs look so different as to look like they're from different brands, but at least don't give them all the exact same front end.

With the new RDX, the Q5, next X3 (which BMW will have to come out with sooner, because of all this unexpected competition), rumored Infiniti and Lexus models, a new Volvo soft-roader and even some competition from Volkswagen, the new GLK doesn't look special enough to be considered anything other than an "also-ran".

MercBasher - 12/1/2006 9:26:36 PM

-4 Boost

This vehicle is a great idea for Europe, I'm not sure its such a good idea for the US. Any Mercedes dealers have views about the cheapening of the Mercedes brand?

delan - 12/1/2006 10:19:58 PM

-2 Boost

First thought..Subaru Forester!

EL34 - 12/2/2006 2:24:05 AM

+3 Boost

The one photo without the camo is for sure a photoshop to the max and I see a BMW line in there.

Hmmm.

Bill - 12/2/2006 9:37:27 AM

+1 Boost

Goldsmith, shut it please.

MBKing - 12/2/2006 1:09:12 PM

+3 Boost

yeah, Goldsmith what are you talking about? Rookie

egog - 12/2/2006 6:29:55 PM

+1 Boost

You have are an asshole with no life to be able to actually say that go fuck yourself like you usually do at night and leave comments about cars to real people unlike yourself

EL34 - 12/2/2006 10:22:21 AM

+4 Boost

Whenever a car company decides to build a car they put a lot of thought into it before going forth and spending the money on tooling, especially Mercedes-Benz.

Rupert - 12/2/2006 5:50:30 PM

+4 Boost

look how steep that windscreen is! it's going back to the days of proper upright SUVs.

lexusis350 - 12/2/2006 8:45:54 PM

0 Boost

That looks like a Subaru Forester. It honestly does, I'm not even trying to be rude.

Rupert - 12/3/2006 6:39:34 PM

+1 Boost

it really does....hopefully merc will realise that.

MB_Lux_cars - 12/10/2006 5:15:13 AM

+1 Boost

lexusis350!
are you crazy??????
there no any like between mercedes GLK (pretty) and Subaro Forster (ugly design)
are you very shooooot??????
I'm sorry for you and other jap.fan owners.