GLK targets softroader surge

Forget the frippery of a Sex in the City celluloid appearance and actress Kim Cattrall's cameo at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), Mercedes-Benz's new GLK is all about business. Serious business!

Targeting the burgeoning compact SUV marketplace, when it goes on sale in the USA this time next year, the luxury softroader will be the new entry-level offer of the German marque's largest export market. Indeed, with the global love affair with SUVs continuing, all around the world the vehicle is expected to become one of the company's top sellers.

Not in Australia, however. Though senior Mercedes-Benz executives are cautiously suggesting that right-hand drive versions of the GLK could arrive (eventually!), they have confirmed such a change would require massive re-engineering of the vehicle, and its donor C-Class 4MATIC platform.

"Right-hand drive markets are important [to Mercedes] -- rather with growing importance than declining," Daimler corporation head Dr Dieter Zetsche told the Carsales Network at Detroit.

"[But] Once in a while you make compromises. Compromises are never good but you have to make decisions and in this case the additional effort to create right-hand drive was pretty big in relation to the volume opportunity we were seeing.

Zetsche described right hand drive markets' sales estimates as "timid" but offered some hope.

"I would not exclude that once the GLK is in the market, and I expect very successful, our right hand drive markets organisation might come back with different [projected sales] numbers," Zetsche opined.

Adding: "It's not about the internal struggles or politics, it's about the customer and we want customers in the UK, Australia and the like to be able to buy the full [Mercedes] range. I hope we might get there with the GLK still."

The three-pointed star's answer to the BMW X3 and upcoming models from Audi and Volvo, GLK will initially be offered in petrol variants in the USA, with 50-state BLUETEC diesel to follow. European markets are expected to favour the diesel models.

All but production cars, the GLK's unveiled at Detroit by Ms Cattrall and Zetsche were officially concepts and therefore wore the 'Vision' label.

Named the Vision GLK Freeside and the Vision GLK Townside, the two concepts indicate buyers of the production car may be able to choose from street and offroad biased versions. Volkswagen adopted a similar strategy with its 2007-released upscale softroader, the Tiguan (more here).

In the case of the Detroit Benzes, the Freeside gets more aggressive offroad style body add-ons and more ground clearance. While both versions rode on 20-inch wheels, the street-focussed Townside wears street rubber and boasts sports suspension and sedan-like ride height.

The Vision GLKs are powered by Mercedes' latest oiler -- a new twin sequential turbo-equipped 2.2-litre four which Benz claims combines sub-7.0L/100km fuel consumption (6.7 in GLK) with massive torque -- 500Nm at just 1600rpm.

Aussies may not see the GLK in a hurry, however, we will get to sample the engine when it is transplanted into C-Class -- perhaps as early as later this year. The common-rail direct-injection engine features the latest piezo injectors and ultra high fuel injection pressures.

The GLK Visions also feature Benz's 7G-Tronic automatic transmission and, of course, the 4Matic all-wheel drive system.  This represents the first time the 7G has been teamed with a four-cylinder engine -- diesel or petrol.

Two-row, five-seaters only, the Visions also pioneer Pre-Safe in the compact softroader category. Production cars will get the full complement of the very latest Benz safety features, the company says.

White leather and black and white woodgrain trim (we kid you not!) were the key features of the Freeside's interior, while the Townside wore a much less confronting light aquamarine leather with brushed aluminium dash and cabin highlights.

The existence of two distinct variants on the same platform is proof positive that Benz is serious about casting the GLK's net wide. Though it is possible Benz will build a two-wheel drive version of the GLK -- and potentially address the engineering challenges of right-hand drive via the strategy -- Benz boss Zetsche says the company is reluctant to do so. Indeed, the Mercedes chief was at pains to point out the vehicle will deliver true offroad ability.

"We want to make clear that this is a very capable offroader. At this point in time there is no plan [to build a rear-drive version], but I would not exclude that -- look at the southern US states for instance, there would be growing demand," said Zetsche.

Not for Oz, however: "I don't know we're smart to go for Australia or the UK exclusively with 4x2... The positioning [of the vehicle] would be very questionable," Zetsche said.

Though keen auto ad watchers will link Cattrall with Nissan's ineffective launch campaign of the Tiida small car, they can rest easy there will be no such ad campaign in the USA (or other markets) for the GLK, Mercedes insiders say.

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