OFFICIAL: Mercedes GLK SUV

WOW!

These pics, those posted with this thread, not those in the link are the Best Yet!

Much Better Than Any I've Seen Before...

huh?...what thread
the ones on motor authority aren't as good as what...

anyway, I wish that the GLK, like the R, was sent back to the drawing board for a complete redesign on the exterior. It's just abominable for MB to do this. I love all other MBs, but they really should've made something as beautiful as the ML or GL

I'm digging the interior, which is the nicest part about this car, but wish it would look less morose with the plastic on the top...constrasting black/white looks great, but it's probly only for the concept.

I can't believe that no one 'Gets It'...

ROFLMAO!

Yes these are good pics especially when you blow them up to the large size. Mercedes has done a smart thing by providing wide plastic cladding just above the rocker panel. This will prevent many door dings and chips from flying stones. My only complaint about the plastic cladding is that it does not continue to arch around the front wheel well. Why do you only do a job half way Mercedes?
Too bad Mercedes fell into the BMW X3 trap of having a rocker panel protective covering that sticks out about 4 inches from the body looking like a running board. My wife will not have me buy it because she will get her pants dirty getting in an out of the vehicle as her leg hits that protruding part when it is covered with winter mud and salt. How come Mercedes does not think of those little details when designing a new vehicle?

My first reaction was "Holly cow what an ugly lady!" but the more I look at it, the more and more I appreciate it. I actually am beginning to fall for it a bit. Inside and out, this thing screams W124!!! I dont understand the BMW interior comparisons but perhaps that's because every detail reminds me of my 500E first, then other cars second. From the square vents and upright dash to the shape of the door latches/handles. Even modern Zebrano wood! The white on gray plastic exterior, while not my favorite color is a classic W124/W201. Sharp angles but modern lines. I'm really digging it. What's more I LOVE the fact it will come with a diesel from the get go. Give me a GLK 320 CDI any day over its competitors.

MB seems to be hit and miss lately, in terms of styling. Not diggin' this boxy idea. Looks like an overstyled Subaru Forester.

agreed...I've loved MBs since I was little, but the R's and GLK's exteriors could have been vastly improved

Agree re style. The X3 and Tiguan both look better. However, beauty is only skin deep and I expect better performance from Mercedes especially when the diesel versions arrive.

Don't like it... Looks very boxy and the interior looks kinda like a volvo from the 80s. MB should go back to the drawing boards.

Interior is definitely copped from the 1984 'Volvo 240 Turbo'.
The exterior styling is a strange cross between a Hummer and and a Hyundai SantaFe.

IMO, this whole package is pretty bad.

INSTANT HIT!!!!!!!!!

Way to go MB.

Thank goodness it doesn't look like a chickmobile.

I TOLD YOU ALL... ITS A GREAT CAR. LOVE THE INTERIOR.

Best candidate yet for my next car after the CLK :)

CORRECTION TO ARTICLE: 305 HP 3.5 Liter V6 Engine (same as the one on the refreshed SLK)

The 268HP 3.5 Mentioned is already obsolete

LOL, Id like to know why my FACTS get deboosted. Its not my opinion or thought its a fact that if it does come with the 3.5 it will be the one with 305HP only found now on the refreshed SLK.

If you dont like it sorry haters.

That is the ugliest car I have ever seen.

Its boxy, ugly, and even Ssangyong or those Smart and BMW X5 rip offs could even make a better car than this. I am really dissapointed in what Mercedes is thinking is a nice design. I would never even sit in that car, let alone drive it and admire it.

the dash looks like something out the 80's hopefully this is the only car in the lineup to recieve a dash that looks like that, it just looks so dated, like the g class. the rest of the car isnt that bad. they seem to have taken a different idea on this class suv with the boxy look instead of the raised wagon styling of its competitors

Another BMW-derived Mercedes interior, only this time, retro BMW circa 1985.

Mr. Mercedes employee erichheimmer,


""If you don't like the GLK, and know nothing about design, then don't comment. It's that simple.""

What is there to know about design? Design is visual. If you don't like it, it's ugly if you like it's beautiful or somewhere in between. Just because the GLK looks like a Benz when you take the badges and stars off means NOTHING. It's not like Mercedes hasn't designed ugly cars or shall we say less than appealing cars visually in the past. But this is simply the ugliest they have done so far!! I mean it's FUGLY.

Note To The Above... ^^^^^^^^^^^

Don't type, "As a long employee of the marque", (which leaves you anything but objective) and then try to 'direct' others as to what their OPINIONS Should Be On This Aesthetic Abomination Your Company Calls the Mercedes GLK.

Sound Fair?

Yes... This Means YOU - ErichHartmann

I, personally, never told you to, "Shut Up", and it was indeed YOU who 'instructed' those who don't share your views with your,

"If you don't like the GLK, and know nothing about design, then don't comment" ... RANT.

As for your request for a 'well-thought out' assessment of why the GLK fails aesthetically...

"Apparently someone at Mercedes instructed the GLK design team that the use of French curves was strictly prohibited when penning this... thing!

This may well be the single least graceful automotive design of the 21st century - one straight line after another, all running in different (unrelated) directions.

It better drive great, because it sure is hideous!

Note: Yes, I know that modern vehicle design is done primarily on computers, but you get my point."

DaHarder- 1/2/2008 12:21:39 PM

Thanks for the feedback, Erich. You are right about it looking like a Mercedes.

Now as longtime employee of the marque - is there any inside information you can share? Like, when is the S420 CDI 4-Matic coming to the US?

Mr. Erich Hartmann,

Ignore the people who are bashing the car and don't back up their opinions. This is Autolies! A site full of haters and fanboys. ;)

I think the GLK looks sharp. I definitely like what I see and I cannot wait until I come across one in real life. Perhaps it is time to replace the Infiniti FX35 my wife drives. What do you think?

EricHartman

I support you and respect your opinion for you long time involvement with the brand. I am in my 20s and have already owned 5 different Mercedes Models, I currently have a w114 StrichAcht 280 Sedan (prior to US facelift in showroom condition) and a W209 CLK350 which is a great all around car. Ive had 2 w123s, 240D and 300CD Turbo in the past a W202 280 and a W203 C230K. All of these cars have proved reliable, excellent in handling and ride(except the 240D of course, lol)and also sturdy (the W203 was rear ended by a Honda Accord which was completely damaged up front while my car sustained nothing but scuffing from the other paint and 2 small pen tip sized indents in the rear bumper.

I too can attest to the quality and value that brand stands for and delivers throught the years. Car Companies (im talking about those that have been around more than 50 years) from Rolls to Jaguar to Cadillac to Ford have had their drastic ups and downs and suffered from unprofitable sales and reduced brand image while Mercedes has not. I know people still respect the brand and uphold it far above most. Quick recent example, I had a Lady in a Lexus tell me 2 days ago the CLK was the Mercedes-Benz she always wanted. I thanked her for the compliment as I always do.

So you see, Many of the readers here have no knowledge of the brand or have ever owned a Mercedes at all (unfortunate but not everyone in the world can be so lucky) Their biased opinions do nothing more than illustrate that. Next to the Catholic Cross, the Mercedes Benz Star is one of the most recognized symbols in the world, no surprise after being in existence for over 100 years.

Thank you for your feedback. I could care less what anyone else has to say about the brand. People will always have different tastes and there will never be any one car, or anything at all that will appeal to everyone on this planet. Call it ugly or whatever you want, the GLK will be the most overengineeered, tough, beautiful, and capable SUV (I repeat, SUV) in the segment.

Good day to all

PS DaHarder, your nobody to talk here about ugly design. And if you are, lets start will your Jaguar, not Mercedes Benz.

Looks like Merc has already realized we hate the pop up Nav screen on the new C-class, because there are lots of similiarities otherwise on that interior.

Amen to that! I love the new C's interior, with the exception of the Pop-Up Nav of course. This is definitely an improvement.

Because the Landcruiser is as big as a school bus.

The new GLK is a cool SUV and it's what women want.

Missing: CLS gene pool.

"This may well be the single least graceful automotive design of the 21st century - one straight line after another, all running in different (unrelated) directions." <---well said.


sheepdog

Love this car, go Benz.

At lest is better looking than the X3.

not worth the MB badge. That thing is an insult. Looks too ordinary and a work/design of any new company ABC.
and interior is yuck. i thought MB can't make more worse interior than C Class but they did. Overall 1/5 in design inside out. Even the dated and ugly X3 looks more intresting compare to this sheep.

JUGNU

Have you seen the interior of the GLK in real life?

No.

So shut up unless you've seen the real thing. The comments in this thread are just plain stupid. Everyone is hating on a car that they've not even seen in real life.

I used to think the Mercedes CLS and current W221 S-Class were ugly - now I drive the latter. Pictures can only show you so much, seeing it in real life, upclose and literally personal is the best way to judge a car: any car.

From the pictures, I can see that the interior is definitely of a high standard. But I will have to wait until I see the real thing before passing my final judgement on the car.

Yes it is not as beautiful as Tiguan is , but is much prettier than the UGLY BMW X3 ..

I didn't like the rims ..

As always, so many stupid comments mixed in with a few interesting and insightful ones.

First, these are opinions...everyone's entitled to one. Second, it's the nature of car enthusiasts to opine about new models as soon as we see the first picture, so to expect people to wait until they see it in real life is ridiculous. Of course some cars look better (or worse) and of course some cars grow on you after some time, but that's for later....let everyone comment now in peace.

Let me just say I am a big fan of '80s Benzes, and I have always liked the boxy G Class look. I have no problem with the interior, other than the terrible looking seats, but the exterior...holy shit. Maybe every detail isn't terrible, but this is a mess. It's so overstyled, just to stand out from the crowd. There's zero subtlety. The random and arbitrary lines going every which way are a disaster. It seriously looks like a Malaysian car from the '90s, like a Ssangyong (sp?) but worse. I thought the X3 was bad, but this is the new champ.

As for Erich Hartmann, it's hard for me to believe that you've worked for the company for decades and think that this car favorably compares to many of the best Mercedes. IMO, until say, the mid-90s, Mercedes were all well-designed and often beautiful cars. Since then, something bad has happened, and it's the odd Mercedes that can be described this way. We need Sacco back.

Very nice and much nicer than the GL and ML, but it definitely does have Asian elements in it.

More pictures were just posted.

I cant really say its ugly like the LC, but it certainly isnt atractive at all. I find it very boring! It actually reminds me of the fiat panda everytime I see that front. The rear looks incomplete, but the interior looks okay.

Mercedes could have done a much better job on this one.

As somebody else said further up in this conversation, if you ripped of the Mercedes-Benz badge I would never had guessed that this was a Mercedes. I hope it really sinks lower than the BMW X3 has, because Mercedes should not have been that stupid to actually not give it a nice curved look so it doesn't look like some Toyota LandCruiser - but even now, the LandCruisers even look better than this.

I'd prefer to ride a bicycle.

another victory for benz... ANOTHER SEGMENT CREATED... everybody will follow

"ANOTHER SEGMENT CREATED"

c36amg- what segment are you referring to? The X3, LR2, even that terrible Lincoln crossover were all here before the GLK.

The only customers for the GLK are the wealthy people who would normally buy X3s for their sons and daughters. This car is uglier inside and out in comparison to the X3 and, knowing Mercedes, it will be more money.

and don't forget the acura RDX!

The idea that both Mercedes-Benz and BMW have created exceptionally ugly small crossovers with tepid performance is beyond my comprehension. I guess it's up to Audi and Porsche to save the day for the German camp.

That Infiniti EX is looking pretty damn good right about now...