Mercedes GLK Diesel to Be Available Soon

For those interested in a Mercedes GLK Diesel version, your wait may soon be
over. Reports are that Mercedes-Benz will be offering a 2.1 liter turbo-diesel
four-cylinder engine in a GLK four-door wagon and will carry the GLK250 BlueTec
moniker. If our GLK250 is anything like the European GLK250 then the engine
will generate 204 horses and 369 lb-ft of torque. There are reports that the
car will have fuel efficiency in the high 30 range and will sprint from 0 to 60
in around 7 seconds.

It is expected that the powertrain will include a 7-speed automatic transmission and the car will include such safety features as ABS brakes, traction control, antiskid system, front-side and curtain side air bags. A navigation system with a hard drive for storing digital music files will provide the infotainment. Other features include bi-xenon headlamps and a panoramic sunroof. Options will include specific exterior trim and 20-inch wheels. 

Such a car has long been rumored. As early as November 17, 2010, WardsAuto.com reported that Mercedes had planned a GLK diesel. The site confirmed that Mercedes-Benz USA president Ernst Lieb said that the diesel version of the GLK would be available in 2012. Wards had questioned Lieb at the Los Angeles Auto Show. In that talk Lieb confirmed that the Mercedes Bluetec engine would be used and would also appear in the next generation C Class sedan. Diesels have not been all that popular in the U.S. However Lieb had said that he believed more and more U.S. customers of Mercedes will be buying diesel powered vehicles. He said that the company had the goal of selling diesel engine vehicles to 15 percent to 20 percent of its U.S. customers. 

MSRP for the GLK is set at between $35,500 and $37,500.