Mercedes makes it official: Upcoming compact SUV to be called GLK

Mercedes officially confirmed yesterday that its upcoming compact SUV will be named the GLK class. Mercedes showed a prototype of the GLK yesterday to the press. Mercedes said that the GLK is a smaller version of the GL-Class SUV, with a relatively squared-off exterior.

At the press event Mercedes showed the interior of the GLK which had white leather seats with black piping, black wood trim, the Mercedes COMAND-Plus single-knob controller and in-dash navigation system.

Production of the Mercedes-Benz GLK will take place at the company”s Bremen, Germany plant with an estimated output of 80,000 units annually.

The Mercedes-GLK is based on the platform of the 2008 C-Class (much like the X3 is based on the 3-Series) and is expected to be powered by a 2.0 liter base model and will eventually have a 2.2-liter turbodiesel that produces 204 horsepower the following year.

While Mercedes did not pricing, Automotive News estimates it being below $40,000 in order to compete head-to-head with the BMW X3, which starts at $38,775. The GLK will make its debut at the Frankfurt Auto Show this September.

 

Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required)