MBRedux

New interior, similar to the 2012 C-Class Sedan plus a facelift... hard to see in these pix! What do you think?












CARSCOOP Dec. 2011
Approximately three years have passed since Mercedes-Benz launched the GLK crossover onto the market (and let's not forget, after making its chic promotional premiere at the "Sex and the City" movie…), so it's time for a customary mid-life facelift, which should arrive in showrooms next year.
Our spies snapped the freshened-up 2013 GLK with minimal camouflage during some cold weather testing in Northern Sweden.

On the outside, Mercedes-Benz's entry to the junior executive SUV sector with which it competes against the BMW X3 and Audi Q5, keeps its boxy looks adding new headlamps and tail light designs along with reshaped bumpers to the mix.

We also get our first glimpse at the interior that features a restyled center console, which adopts Merc's new round air outlets and possibly, different controls for the audio and air-conditioning systems.

It is believed that the 2013 GLK will benefit from some tweaks under the hood and the chassis to further improve the crossover model's fuel efficiency and lower CO2 emissions.





This ^ is the new 2012 C-Class Sedan Interior. Notice the overall layout is the same, the steering wheel is almost the same but the center vents are round in the GLK... Nice!

venchka

We weren't waiting. You won't see those wheels as standard on this side of pond. My guess is that the Marketing Focus Group is under 30. I am annoyed that we didn't get the new 350 engine like the cars. Unless they have teething problems.
Glad to be enjoying ours now.

Wayne

HDRyder9

I'm willing to bet those round vents are just stuck on to fool the spy photographers.

venchka

Maybe not. Round vents seem to be in vogue. After about a 30 or 40 year absence. I gotta, "Why?" Considering some real benefits they could be considering.

Wayne

MBRedux

Those are real, and the next trend in MB interior design. Almost all the upper end cars for 2012 have them... Here is the completely new 2012 SLK interior... Notice the round vents!



By the way, test mules are almost never equipped with production wheels.

MKenM

It's very possible, the shifter is missing as we suspected but IMO I'm glad I have my body style and interior.

venchka

Same here! You can bet that the round vents are cost driven. I never liked the few that I have been around. I find the double vane style provides more control and finer adjustment. They also provide a more continuous surface across the dash and hide the duct work. IMO.

Wayne

MBRedux

I'm in full agreement here. Notice that the outside is void of any jewelry, no chrome, no roof racks, no rails, nothing! This test vehicle is a plain-jane. Also the tails now appear to go into the rear hatch some... however, I wish I had that new style steering wheel... I may try and get our GLK retrofitted if we keep it... But where is the shifter?????

venchka

Shifter found! Look at the last picture of the GLK interior. See the new stalk on the steering column? On the driver's right side? Shifter! Yuck.

EDIT: Also. Notice the ice accumulation behind each wheel? Mud flaps would stop that.

Wayne

MBRedux

Oh man... I hope you're wrong....

venchka

Either that is the shifter-sort of a paddle shifter wannabe...
Or they seperated the wiper stalk from light stalk and moved it to the opposite side where you can see it.
My money is on shifter. Shift by wire. Ala early 1960s Chrysler pushbutton on the dash shifting.

Wayne
Liking his 2012 with the ancient motor more and more in East Texas.

jonnyrt

Agreed, Yuk!

Jonathan
****Still waiting for his 2012 GLK...dear Santa, I have been nice this year, please-oh-please bring it before Christmas!

venchka

Jonathan,

Do you know where your GLK is?

Wayne

shotgun_banjo

Santa is riding it from Germany to his chimney.

jonnyrt

Dealer phoned today, the GLK has arrived in Calgary, AB! Need a couple of days to prep (3M install etc), just in time for Christmas! Apparently there were delays in the rail shipping cross country this time of year....

Let the sleepless nights begin!

venchka

Awesome! Put a big red bow on it and blast through the snow!
Enjoy!

Wayne

jonnyrt

Thanks Wayne, will take pictures and post shortly......no snow....+6 deg C, perfect weather to pick up a new vehicle....sadly snow tires will be the first thing on once it hits my garage

MBRedux

rmfnla

I remember reading that this was coming.

It is supposed to free up space on the console, a huge step in the wrong direction, if you ask me.

Metaxa

not a fan of the round vents. Reminds me of my Dad's '75 Cutlass interior!

venchka

By '78 the Cutlass had rectangular vents. Shapes come. Shapes go.

Wayne

gsrjc

are you sure those rims aren't just being used because of the snow there?

venchka

Those would be proper, versatile, multi-function, go anywhere, anytime, rain, snow, off road, bad road wheels and tires. The type of wheel and tire that should be standard equipment on the GLK. Any other combination should be optional. Instead of the reverse. I think we have the Marketing Focus Groups to thank. Design by commitee is not always a good thing.

Wayne

shotgun_banjo

If you will think of the people who buys a benz 90% of them would not ever dream of using their ride for off-roading and us males (and some females alike) always like the "bigger the better and flashy looking things"...well most I think. So I think they did the right thing in making the big wheels as standard. Just imagine this....how much will you spend in getting the OEM 20" wheels and tires afterwards? Imagine if the GLK has 17" standard and you see the AMG wheels or sport wheels afterwards....I bet you will be saliva drooling and thinking "I want those but heck i have to sell one of my kidney first"....It will still be cheaper to have the 20s and get a smaller tire setup for winter or off-road and save the life of the 20s tires and rims in the end of the day.

Just my 2 cents.

MBNA109

MB Head of Engineering has stated on video that he likes MB with big wheels (in a interview re: the GLK no less)