LJTC55

Any word if we will see the 420 CDI in the US?

GL Fahrer

Yes. The word is: "No".

Trodas

Is this a confirmed no or is that speculation???

LJTC55

The quotation marks around the word no make it so official. I will have to settle with the 550.

Germancar1

I'd say that yes a GL420 Bluetec will arrive here sometime after the 09' GL320 Bluetec. They wouldn't have shown the concept in Detroit if they didn't have the U.S. market in mind.

M

gordongl450

We've been through this discussion before.

Do a forum search for all posts by GL Fahrer and find the ones where he talks about a 420 CDI NOT coming to the USA. I think you'll then be convinced that the 420 will not come here.

Germancar1

Yeah the GL420 CDI won't, but Mercedes doesn't usually show concepts at Detroit for nothing. They showed a GL420 Bluetech, that I bet will come here.

M

lkchris

In Europe, diesel is taxed much less than gasoline and is consequently significantly less expensive.

As you're aware, this price difference doesn't exist in USA.

There's no advantage to the GL420CDI for the USA market.

scottybdiving

I can think of a few reasons;

0-60 7.2 sec
290 HP / 515 lb-ft
24 mpg
GL 550 upgrade styling.
Close to GL 550 performance with 30 - 40% better economy.

StevethePilot

Very true. And as supreme unleaded is also more expensive than regular unleaded, there's no advantage to a larger V8 either, so the 550 won't come to the US either.

Or, that could be weak logic. You do the math.

Nevada Jack

They showed a GL420 Bluetec but it came here with a 5.5 liter gas engine and a designation of GL550.

lkchris

Oh, get over it.

There's no such thing as a regular gas Mercedes.

https://www.mbwholesaleparts.com/Sta...June06Star.pdf

"Come to US?"

GLs are built in Alabama and all the GL420CDIs are built there, too. They just don't go to MBUSA, which thinks diesels are for economy freaks. No Off Road Pro package for USA GLs, either

nantucketsleigh

MB works in mysterious ways in the U.S market, often defying history or logic.

CommanderCody

Indeed. Just like the active-ventilated seats option: Available in Europe but not in the US? Nuts...

GL Fahrer

The GL420 Bluetec was shown as a "Vison" car by DCAG. Detroit is exclusively a German-run show, whereas New York is "mostly" a U.S.-run show...no GL420 in New York.

The 420 B.T. will not come to the U.S. because there is no demand for an $80K base Diesel which will cost ~$100/fill-up. When you are driving a GL550, what are you truly missing, that the GL420 gives you (at an extra $15K transaction price)? Get a G55 AMG if you have THAT kind of money and want more power than you will ever need.

BTW: you certainly CAN get the "Enhanced Off-Road Package" on the MY'08 GL450.

Germancar1

Come on Jack the GL550 and GL420 Vision have nothing to do with each other. All they did was preview the styling for the 550. They aren't going to show a diesel and then stick a gas engine it, otherwise what would be the point.

This about Detroit being a German run show and New York isn't is hilarious. Its Mercedes-Benz, Germany is running the show no matter where it is.

Fact is Mercedes doesn't show "Vision" cars without some production intent. What you guys wanna bet a GL420 Blutec shows up here sometime in 2009?

M

Stumblefoot

I don't know Germancar1. That opposing bet looks awfully enticing.

GLFahrer has never lead us astray before, so I think I'll put my money on him at this point.

Nevada Jack

You miss my point. I just agree with GLFahrer that we will not see a GL420 and as close as anyone is going to get for the Vision body style is the GL550. If you want the Vision, you had better buy the GL550 before the prices go up next year.

I am with Stumblefoot on any bets dealing with the GL420 coming to the USA.

GL Fahrer

Stumblefoot...Nevada Jack....take the bet.

N.J. You're absolutely right. The reaction to the styling of the Vision car was so unexpected, that portions GL550 were changed to the exterior styling of the 420 entirely.

Germancar1

Wow you guys just don't get Mercedes' concept naming conventions. More often then not "Vision" cars come to market. The GL550 had absolutely nothing to do with the GL420 Vision Bluetec concept. The GL550 got the big grille etc. to set it apart from the GL450 and supossedly because customers wanted a different look for the top of the line GL and at best, they previewed the look on the GL420 Bluetec. Now why bother with promoting a diesel engine and make all the hoopla about diesels (I was there) if you're only previewing a new look? Doesn't make sense to show a diesel to preview a look for a gasoline model and call it "Vision". Otherwise they would have called it the GL550 Vision or something else. The point of the GL420 Bluetec was to promote diesel, not the look. That was the point.

M

GL Fahrer

Yeah, you're right. No one here get's it. So, when is the GL420 BlueTec coming to the U.S.? 2009? Details please. Price, Volume?

So far you've said that "Germany runs the show no matter where it is", "you can't get the off-road package on any GL", the "GL420 BlueTec is arriving in the U.S.", and that "they don't show a concept in Detroit without the U.S. market in mind"...

You're batting .000 'Sport'.

Jlight

For what its worth on this topic...

I would buy a fully loaded GL 420 in a split second. As the US consumer becomes exposed to the values of diesel vehicles, I think more and more consumers will start looking at deisel vehicles as the "premium" model over the gas option. Again my .02!!

Nevada Jack

I would be interested also but maybe having a V8 diesel that can outrun a lot of other vehicles is not the best way to convince the public that the diesel can offer great mileage without polluting the air. Bluetec intro of the V6 on all the SUV's and R as well as the C and E will create awareness and maybe even some "hoopla." The V8 420 may get here someday but I think that is pretty far down the road right now.

Germancar1

Uh...actually you're confused, pal. I have never said anything about an off-road package on a GL so you couldn't be more wrong there. Wasn't me. Couldn't care less about that. Common sense says that they wouldn't show a concept here without at the least wanting to gauge the interest here. Uh..yeah I would think Mercedes-Benz a German company has the final say so in what they show here. This about Detroit being a German show and the New York being a U.S. one is just plain nonsense IMO. At the very least, both offices would collaborate on what they're going to show here. Why show something here that they don't plan on selling here or vice versa? I didn't say that I knew for sure that the GL420 Bluetec is arriving here only that usually that when Mercedes shows a "Vision" concept it winds up in production. The "Vision GST" became the R-Class, among others. Thats all I'm saying here. So keep all the questions about price and volume, no one said they knew anything like this.

M

oknish

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