A Baby Benz SUV In The Works For 2011!

Mercedes-Benz is planning a new small soft-roader, provisionally called BLK, for launch in late 2011 as part of the new A and B-Class ranges.

The BLK will slot into the line-up below the bigger GLK and compete with the likes of the forthcoming BMW X1 and Land Rover LRX in a new market segment for small, premium SUVs.

The BLK will get four-wheel drive and there is also the possibility of a front-wheel-drive ‘eco’ version of the car. A range of four-cylinder direct-injection petrol and diesel engines are being lined up, sized between 1.6 litres and 2.2 litres.

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Peyton18 - 8/20/2008 4:25:40 PM

-2 Boost

hahahaha I love MB, they are relentless with making new models. I guess they figure if they keep doing this something is bound to work.

M35MT - 8/20/2008 4:25:57 PM

+1 Boost

Wow - looks 100 times better than the GLK. Nice and "full". Looks substantial and modern.

pchera01 - 8/20/2008 4:33:13 PM

+6 Boost

wow that looks much better than 2010 RX350

Agent63 - 8/20/2008 9:11:59 PM

-4 Boost

MT,

Not everyone has the same taste as yours so in that regard I hope he isn't kidding. For one this rendition of the SUV seems to be less feminine than your beloved RX350. I don't blame you for not liking the Merc as you have mentioned on a couple occasions your sexual preference.

Type707 - 8/20/2008 5:18:32 PM

0 Boost

Is it trying to compete with the Land Rover LR2 or BMW's X's?

dumpsty - 8/21/2008 12:16:50 PM

+1 Boost

If M-B does make this BLK...it'll compete with LR LRX, BMW X1, Audi Q3, Mini Clubman 4dr-SUV, etc.

Many didn't think M-B would actually make the GLK, but they did. So the small, luxury SUV category may end up being a good bet b/c the smaller vehicles can use the smaller engines with 5-6 speed transmissions for pretty descent fuel consumption. The US market still loves SUVs...they'll never go away b/c of the overall utility they provide (less necessarily for road-crawling, but urban-highway use).

EL34 - 8/20/2008 11:18:55 PM

-2 Boost

This mini-SUV will sell like German pancakes.

:-/

_43LE - 8/21/2008 11:57:16 AM

+1 Boost

Yes, the Food network had a special on TV on how German pancakes are the latest rage.

JUGNU - 8/21/2008 8:53:25 AM

+3 Boost

looks like the competitor of the Mini SUV. Silly.

JUGNU

dumpsty - 8/21/2008 12:27:51 PM

+1 Boost

I wouldn't call the Mini SUV or the BLK silly just yet. If these small SUVs can return descent fuel consumption numbers comparable to wagons & sedans, they'll be sales successes.

The Dodge Journey was deemed a sales failure a month after public release, and now I've seen articles confirming that sales have picked up quite a bit and it's on track to well this year.

I know many people don't like these smaller SUVs, but these auto corporation have to continue to develop products that continue their legacy and also sells.

AmazonPrinceIS350 - 8/21/2008 9:00:46 AM

+2 Boost

This is how Land Rover should make their next LR3 look instead of making it look like a Ford Escape.

NItePhire - 8/21/2008 12:26:14 PM

+1 Boost

They should just call it the BLT and get it over with.

bmwdrvr - 8/21/2008 12:33:33 PM

+2 Boost

i still dont get the logic behind luxury companies moving this far downmarket not to mention how small interior wise they will all be it makes one wonder why you would spend so much money on something so mall when the mainstream brands offer cars that are as large as GLK, X3 for probably less than these super small crossovers......it will put them right in the same ball park as the rav 4, equinox, crv, and others......I guess the fuel economy rules are starting to show....