I think Motorweek TV will test the new GL this coming Monday June 5. Don't miss it.

http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/play/P...e=200606060200

 

Yes this began airing over the weekend. I believe it will rerun on SpeedChannel again this week.

Not a bad review and looked great in HD!

 

Just saw the review here on PBS 20 in Chicago. The GL looked great and performed really well. There might not be a reason for a GL550 afterall. Motorweek loved it as they do nearly everything they test.

M

 

And you hit the nail on the head. MotorWeek has as yet to publish a bad review. IMHO they are not truthful. Anybody can watch it and see that they are trying to hard to appease. I quit believing them when they went contra to established and well documented reports available to anyone.

 

motorweek and testdrive (the one hosted by tommy kendall).....love everything they test!!!! I remember watching the SRT special and hearing kendall comment positively on chrysler's upscale interior...... keep up the shiny plastic bits, no wonder american car's dont seem to upgrade their interiors.

 

Apart from the one review in the WSJ on the new S-Class, I haven't read or watched a negative review yet on the new R, S, or GL....

The only - and repeated - complaint is of the price.

I think the lack of negative reviews is because the cars are really that good, that well done.

Think for a minute about all of the other cars out there...the new MBZ's are leagues ahead of 90% of what's out there, and at least competitive with the other excellent 10% out there (which are in fact well done also).

 

MB's in the 90's were battered with bad reviews....the old ML (half way thru it's model run), SLK (R170) and current C class (especially the c-coupe) up till the engine upgrades were chewed up and spit out by reviewers.

MB came out swinging at the turn of the century.....and IMHO has totally eclipsed everything in their competing segments lately. Including shoving a naturally aspirated 6.2L V8 in the face of Audi and BMW V10's.......

 

Those engine updates, particularly the C350 and to a lesser degree the C280 have done wonders for the C-Class, makes you wonder why they didn't do it at the same time the interior/exterior changes were done for MY2005.

M

 

June 2006
2007 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
Big SUVs Are Still in Style

By John Davis
Host of MotorWeek

With retail gas prices edging higher by the day, it might seem like a bad time to be introducing a new full-size sport-utility vehicle. But, Mercedes-Benz believes that high gas prices are less of a concern for its luxury-oriented clientele, for whom finding ample interior room to roam is more of an issue. Indeed, the premium luxury SUV segment has been impacted less from unstable gas prices than lesser utilities, so the arrival of the 2007 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class at the start of the summer driving season still looks like good timing.

The 7-passenger GL-Class was designed specifically for an American market that continues to have a strong appetite for big luxury SUVs, such as the Cadillac Escalade and Lincoln Navigator. The GL-Class is even assembled at Mercedes' Alabama production facility. It shares a great deal of its structure and components with both the mid-size M-Class utility and sleeker R-Class Sports Tourer, both also made in Tuscaloosa.

The GL-Series is Mercedes' largest passenger vehicle, and naturally comes loaded with all of the features one would expect from the brand. This includes safety and security equipment, such as side-impact and curtain air bags, and stability control. Distronic radar cruise control, a system that helps keep a safe distance from a vehicle ahead, is an option.

The basic structure of the GL-Class is a stiff, unitized frame with four-wheel independent suspension. Its full-size 121.1 inch wheelbase represents almost a 7-inch stretch over the M-Class.

The initial GL 450 will be powered by a 4.6-liter 335-horsepower V8. While the 4.6 is a very efficient gasoline engine, Mercedes has already announced that an advanced GL 350 BLUETEC V6 diesel is in the wings.

The GL 450 is no street-only poser utility. It comes standard with an advanced four-wheel-drive system. Front, center, and rear differentials ensure non-binding turns in tight spaces. With electronically controlled torque distribution, the GL can keep going even if three wheels loose traction. Hill Start Control and Downhill Speed Regulation also help this big utility perform like a sure-footed mountain goat. The optional Off Road package adds a low range for severe terrain and weather conditions.

No matter what the conditions, however, occupants will ride in traditional Mercedes-Benz luxury surroundings. Interior highlights include rich wood trim, full-power accessories, heated front seats, Mercedes' COMAND control system, and a CD-changer stereo. Options are wide ranging, including navigation, rear-view camera, and power tailgate.

No luxury brand can match the prestige of the three-pointed star. Thus, it isn't difficult to predict success for the 2007 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class. It's a big SUV for big spenders, where there's no time like the present.

To learn more about this biggest Benz yet, be sure to catch our exclusive MotorWeek road test on episode #2539. It airs on PBS during the week beginning June 2 and on SPEED beginning June 8.

http://www.mpt.org/motorweek/carofthemonth.shtml

 

WSJ reviewed the GL and dinged it for poor fuel economy.

 

Which edition? Today?

 

The WSJ never ceases to amaze me at how stupid they are. Everyone knows a non-hybrid or diesel SUV is going to guzzle gas to some extent. What the hell did they expect? Stoopid. They need to leave the automotive stuff to the experts.

M

 

If gas mileage was your concern, you really would not be looking into this segment of cars!