2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class

According to Philipp Schiemer, Mercedes-Benz’s vice-president for project management, the company is aiming to sell 8 diesel models in the United States by 2014. Currently, Mercedes-Benz sells diesel variants of the E-Class, M-Class, GL-Class and the R-Class. The Mercedes-Benz S350 BlueTec, which debuted at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show, will arrive in showrooms later this fall.

CARandDRIVER reports that Mercedes-Benz is also looking to start selling a diesel version of the GLK, which will most likely wear the GLK250 BlueTec badge. Power is expected to come from a 2.1L 4-cylinder turbo making 204-hp and 369 lb-ft of torque.

Also in the works is a diesel variant of the new 2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class, gasoline versions of which will hit U.S. dealers in September. Don’t expect the C-Class diesel to arrive anytime soon since Mercedes-Benz is still trying to keep up with the strong worldwide demand for the car in markets where the diesel C-Class is an absolute must for sales. Either way, we believe the C-Class diesel will be a viable competitor for the BMW 335d when it arrives.

2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class:

- By: Omar Rana

Source: CARandDRIVER

Prior to the 2008 SEMA Auto Show, Mercedes-Benz launched the “Tuner Challenger” a competition for tuning firms to show their skills with the Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class compact SUV.

Four interpretations are being shown including the RENNtech GLK Pikes Peak Rally Racer, BRABUS Widestar, Boulevard Customs’ GLK Urban Whip and Legendary Motorcar Company’s GLK Rock Crawler. The base vehicle for Boulevard Customs, Legendary Motorcar and RENNtech is the GLK350 with a 272 3.5L V6 engine that we’ll see in the U.S. BRABUS took a different route focusing on the diesel GLK 320 CDI 4MATIC. A diesel version of the GLK for the U.S. is currently under consideration.

Mercedes-Benz has put together a voting program for the show goers at SEMA and will also show the concepts at the 2008 LA Auto Show where visitors will be able to vote again. If you can’t make it out to either show Mercedes-Benz is also running a poll at www.mbusa.com. The winner of the “Tuner Challenge” will be announced on Dec. 2nd.

Follow the jump for the high-res image gallery.

2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK Interpretations at SEMA 2008:

While it may not be as exciting as the first Nissan GT-R being delivered to a customer, Mercedes-Benz handed over its first unit of the new GLK compact SUV to 29-year old Magdalena Dietz. Dietz, an entrepreneur and PR consultant, received the keys to her new Mercedes-Benz GLK from Bremen plant manager Peter Schabert.

Dietz got herself a GLK 320 CDI 4MATIC in metallic tenorite gray with a number of optional features.

“As the first GLK customer following the market launch, I am very pleased to get our GLK handed over personally in its birthplace by the plant manager himself – and now, after weeks of anticipation, I can”t wait to take the vehicle out for a spin for the first time.”

The 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK will be available to order in the U.S. in January 2009.

Click through for the high-res image gallery.

2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK :

Press Release:

First Mercedes-Benz GLK Handed Over to Customer

    – The first Mercedes-Benz GLK after the market launch is handed over by plant manager Peter Schabert in the Bremen Customer Center.
    – Peter Schabert: “The GLK is our most important new model this year, so I am particularly delighted to personally hand over the first GLK to its owner.”

Bremen ““ Magdalena Dietz, 29, entrepreneur and PR consultant, today received the key to her new Mercedes-Benz GLK from Bremen plant manager Peter Schabert. Ms. Dietz is the first customer to take delivery of a vehicle of the entirely new GLK-Class following its market launch. The handover – of a GLK 320 CDI 4MATIC in metallic tenorite gray with numerous optional equipment features – took place in the Customer Center of the Bremen plant.

“The GLK is our most important new model this year,” said plant manager Peter Schabert. “It is the first compact sport utility vehicle (SUV) from Mercedes-Benz and the first Mercedes-Benz SUV “˜Made in Bremen”, so I am particularly delighted to personally hand over the first GLK to its owner. I am sure she will be impressed by its unmistakable look, outstanding performance – on and off the road – and its safety and comfort.”

Ms. Dietz and her husband Christian live in the city of Düren near Aachen and are the owners of the public relations agency “wortsuchttext.” “The GLK is simply a perfect match for our agency: it has a modern character and stands out clearly from its competitors,” said Ms. Dietz. “As the first GLK customer following the market launch, I am very pleased to get our GLK handed over personally in its birthplace by the plant manager himself – and now, after weeks of anticipation, I can”t wait to take the vehicle out for a spin for the first time.”

Ms. Dietz” family also have been loyal Mercedes-Benz customers for many years: family members have been E-Class and C-Class drivers in the past and currently drive an M-Class. “Combining a visit to the Customer Center with a tour of the adjacent Mercedes-Benz plant is certainly the most enjoyable way to accept delivery of a new Mercedes-Benz. In the past we have picked up our vehicles at the Sindelfingen and Bremen plants,” said Ms. Dietz.

The new GLK-Class

The GLK is the fifth production series of the successful Mercedes-Benz family of SUVs, which also includes the G-Class, GL-Class, M-Class, and R-Class. With the addition of the GLK, the premium segment”s most diverse line-up of SUVs is now enhanced by a compact vehicle.
Even before its official market launch the GLK-Class had generated a lot of interest among customers: worldwide, 25,000 orders were placed for the GLK between its official release for sale on June 30th and the end of September.

Mercedes-Benz offers four-cylinder and six-cylinder engines for the GLK that are powerful as well as economical. The brand will also begin offering a BlueEFFICIENCY model in the spring of 2009 – the GLK 220 CDI featuring a new four-cylinder diesel engine. The GLK-Class features pioneering passive safety systems, excellent interior comfort and a low noise level, and excellent value retention. For the first time in this market segment, Mercedes-Benz is also making available state-of-the-art systems such as the PRE-SAFE® safety package and the ILS intelligent light system.

The 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK will take over the 2008 SEMA Auto Show with four customized GLKs by leading tuning firms including RENNTech, BRABUS, The Urban Whip and Four Corners Rock Crawler.

Showgoers will have the chance to vote for their favorite design online at www.mbusa.com or through their cell phone. Can’t make it out Las Vegas for the SEMA show on Nov. 4 (not to mention it’s only open to the press and traders)? Mercedes-Benz will also bring the four customized GLK concepts to the LA Auto Show on Nov. 21st to give attendees another chance to cast their vote. A winner will be announced on Dec 2, 2008.

The real 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK will hit U.S. roads in January 2009 with a 3.5 liter V6 making 268-hp.

Click through for more images and the press release.

2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK 2008 SEMA Showcars:

Press Release:

Mercedes-Benz will emphasize its “star power” at the 2008 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show with four 2010GLK-Class showcars customized by leading aftermarket tuning firms. The four Mercedes-Benz GLK SEMA concepts showcase the bold, expressive nature of the GLK luxury SUV prior to its official showroom debut in January 2009.

Design Concepts Include:

    – RENNTech Rally Racer ““ Inspired by the unlimited-class rally cars at the storied Pikes Peak Hillclimb, the GLK concept represents the Mercedes-Benz performance specialist’s first hybrid powertrain to enhance acceleration off the line and out of the corners.
    – BRABUS Widestar ““ Developed by Mercedes-Benz tuning experts Brabus of Bottrop, Germany, this striking wide-track “designer suit” for the GLK300 BLUETEC includes flowing front and rear wheel arch flares and redesigned front and rear bumpers complemented with exclusive BRABUS wheels and an interior to match.
    – The Urban Whip ““ Florida-based Boulevard Customs is sure to turn heads with a wide body styling kit, massive 26-inch wheels and tires, redesigned interior and ground-pounding stereo system.
    – The Four Corners Rock Crawler ““ Exotic and muscle car restoration specialist Legendary Motor Cars design includes an innovative winching system to propel skate and wakeboarders up to speed and actually “grind” down the vehicle’s specially integrated side rails.

The new 2010 GLK350 combines bold, aggressive design with versatile SUV capability engineered in a slightly smaller package. Powered by a 3.5-liter 268-horsepower V6 and featuring standard 4MATIC all-wheel drive, the GLK350 will make its showroom debut in January 2009.

The four GLK-Class vehicles will be displayed at this year’s SEMA show, taking place November 4-7 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. During the exhibition, attendees will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite design via online and mobile voting. Following the SEMA show, the four vehicles will be displayed at the Los Angeles Auto Show (November 21-30) providing showgoers with another opportunity to cast their vote. Beginning in early October, all four vehicles will be featured in videos on Mercedes-Benz USA website, www.mbusa.com. The votes from the show attendees and www.mbusa.com will be tallied and the winner will be announced on December 2, 2008.

The 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class will hit U.S. shores by early 2009. Initially, only the GLK 350 will be available in the U.S. The GLK 350 is powered by a 3.5 liter V6 engine producing 268 horsepower.

This week the German luxury automaker held a press launch for the upcoming compact SUV and showed some pre-production units of the GLK 4Matic powered by an all-new turbocharged 2.2 liter CDI 4-cylinder engine. Why?

According to a spokesman that spoke with InsideLine, both the C-Class and the GLK-Class will be eventually be sold with the 2.2 liter diesel in the U.S. The engine produces 167 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. Fuel-economy is estimated at 34mpg for the GLK.

The spokesman said both models will arrive in 2010.

2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK :

Source: InsideLine