JimBarnhart

I'm heading to the auto show this weekend. I'll be in the market for a new vehicle soon, and am looking at several 2013 model year vehicles. It seems like 2013 GL is nonexistent in the market, where the 2013 Infiniti JX and the 2013 Lincoln MKT have a lot of information available.

I saw MB talked about the new A class in the Geneva auto show last week, but not a word about the 2013 GL. Siri on the GL might be nice too, but somehow I'm betting it's not coming.

Should I be reading something into the lack of 2013 GL information versus the competition with their new models or updated models? Maybe the 2013 isn't as new as we've been speculating and the 2014 model year is the real change?

YYZ-E55

2013 is the X166 launch, however, MB has several products launching for MY13 (New SL, GLK Facelift, New GL, New A/B Class) and in order to avoid mixed-messaging, they're staggering the flow of info.

You'll see more in the late spring for sure. X166 will be available for sale in the fall.

aeggroup

I just spoke with my dealer and he said new GL will be in their showroom on September 2012 as 2013 model. He saw the car already. It looks wider and lower, very dynamic. Inside it will be the same like new ML. He actually told me it will be on display at NY auto show. That will be easy to check out.

YYZ-E55

The interior is slightly upgraded from the ML, but the overall concept is the same (no different than the W vs X164 interiors).

JimBarnhart

Thanks everyone. We spent the day at the MSP auto show. We looked at the new Infiniti JX, the Lincoln MKT, Audi Q7, and every other SUV we could see. MB didn't have anything to say about the 2013 GL, other than they are giving great deals on 2012's to eliminate inventory.

I hope my dealer doesn't read this, but I have to say there is nothing else that interests me. We want a large SUV, with comfortable seating for adults in the 2nd row, and a fuel friendly option (diesel, hybrid, etc). It seems everyone (Infinity, Audi, Lincoln, etc) are doing the stadium seating and clamshell design that leave little headroom in the back. I think I'm destined for a 2013 GL Diesel.

Brocktoon

Jim, what did you think of the JX?

JimBarnhart

It was nice, but seemed to be trying to copy the Audi Q7. I didn't spend too much time with it once I realized it didn't have any physical space offerings better than the Audi Q7. I loved the Q7 TDI, I've test drove them before, but it's just too little headroom in the back of the cabin.

The big issue my family has is we're tall, around 6'. When we go places with 4 adults we need something the has good headroom in the 2nd row. Yhe Q7 and JX give us about 2 inches of headroom in the 2nd row. Put a hat on our my wife puts her hair up and it's on the ceiling. We also like to be able to put a couple dogs in the back (with the 3rd seat down). With the stadium seating and the clamshell shaped top, the trunk opening gets too small.

The other thing we're looking for is decent fuel economy. Obviously the diesels give me that. There are big bodied SUVs (QX, Expedition, etc) but none of them have fuel economy and frankly they seem to handle like trucks in disguise. I can just drive my Dodge Ram Diesel Megacab if I wanted a truck ride.

dbtk

Looks like the x166 will be at the NY Auto Show for sure. I got an email from MB inviting me to a special showing of the x166 at the NY Auto Show on April 5th.

JimBarnhart

Let me know what you find out. ;-)

aeggroup

I'm going to be there and will make pictures. Can't wait to see it.

IDriveAnM5

Hey guys,
I usually post over in the W221 New S-Class area (since, well, that's what I have). My wife is asking me to consider an SUV for when the lease is up on my 2010 S550. It seems, timing wise, I might slot right into the window for the new GL-Class release. There's just one problem:
Split 60/40 Second Row Seats.

The wife intends to take this vehicle on trips, which means with two kids (one forward facing in a car seat, the other a rear-facing newborn), it might be hard to get around inside the GL, at least in its current configuration. She says she needs the flexibility to feed the kids in both rows (second row and third row). I don't see how she could physically move between these two rows easily in a GL with all rows in use. So, unless they offer Second Row Captain's chairs, this might not be a viable option for me. I'll have to watch the 2013 launch closely, because I'd really like to try a GL 63 AMG. I think it would be great to distinguish the car as a mommy mobile/grocery getter. The GL 63 AMG will definitely have hair on its chest.

Thanks.

USCGTO

Waiting for the 2013 GL to show up and I might just trade in my 09 GL450 on that.