Car and Driver Preview/ 2 Versions
 

March Issue:

Some interesting tidbits, wouldn't call them facts just yet as the GLK isn't in production, but the car mags are usually right about 90% of the time when the car is already in test mule form.

There will be two different versions of the GLK, one an off road version and the other a strictly on road lowered version.

There will be no diesel in the U.S. at the start of production. Instead it will use the same engines as the C class for which its based off of. A 3.0 228hp V6 and the 3.5 268 hp V6.

It will use the same frame as the current (w204) C class including the same suspension just beefed up on the off road version.

All versions will be 4matic and 7 speed automatic equipped.

Estimated prices start at $35k for the base model and top off at $50k for a fully loaded GLK350.

Nothing really new here other than the two different versions being offered and maybe the lack of the diesel, although I didn't really expect that to come to the states.

FWIW, the C300 is called C280 in all markets except the USA and the engine everywhere is 2.8 l.

Oh crap, my wife will be disappointed that she won't be able to take it off roading :)

Can I read that to mean that GLK is also going to be unibody?

Oh, yes. No body-on-frame SUVs from any reputable manuafacturers any more.

Lol yeah, I'm old school and still refer to the word frame..but its a generic term anymore.

Three words Land Rover Defender, you don't get more reputable than those guys.

Land Rovers are great on the trail..that is if you can get it away from the mechanics long enough to get it on a trail. :naughty:

I used to sell Land Rovers they are not the maintenance pigs people tend to think they are, BMW sorted that out, plus the Defender is almost as unbreakable as a Toyota Hilux, another big plus the things are built to be repaired in the field by a squaddie with limited tools and generally bugger all ability.

Not to try and get into a shouting match, but my AAA magazine had Land Rover and Range Rover listed as number one and number three in service visits of new cars. A Porsche was second...and really of no surprize the E class was number five.

An onroad and offroad version? Sounds like VW Tiguan strategy to me. I still prefer the MLK concept.

Wrong on both parts. Canadian market calls them C300's, and the engine of the C300/C280's are actually 3.0L. (2,996 cc)

Link to Australia specs:

http://www2.mercedes-benz.com.au/con...an08%20RRP.pdf

Land Rover
 

"Throwing bricks at a dead cow."

LR is as reliable as Lucas Electric and Ford Motor.('get a bicycle or stay home!)

Off Road= (with the certainty of driving yourself home in the same vehicle you
left in; with out being flatbedded in between for a two week stop
at the Garage)
Man, Unimog, Glendewagen, Toyota[Diesel landcruiser,Diesel 4 runner
,Diesel RAV 4,Diesel HiLux]