Late Spring debut for offroad GL

The biggest Benz arrives Down under this November. That's the timing for the arrival of Mercedes first full-size SUV, the GL.

Built in the USA in the same Tuscaloosa (Alabama) plant as the runaway-success ML-Class, the GL was launched to international press in Iceland (yep, you read it right!) last week. The five/seven-seater will debut in Australia in GL 500 285kW V8 petrol and 165kW/510Nm GL 320 CDI V6 turbodiesel versions.

Pricing for the V8 has been set at $146,900, with the diesel kicking off from $103,900. A smaller capacity V8 petrol version, the GL 450, will follow in the first quarter of 2007. Pricing for that variant will be announced closer to its release.

Mercedes claims combined fuel consumption of less than 10lt/100km for the diesel V6. Though a turbodiesel V8 is offered in some markets, Mercedes Australia sources have said the big-bore CDI won't be making it Down Under at this stage.

Originally earmarked as a successor to the iconic G-Class offroader (which continues ain production after 27 years!), the GL is offroad capable and comes standard Down Under with Mercedes' Off-road Pro Engineering package which combines underbody protection and adjustable air suspension with a dual-range transfer case and rear and centre diff locks.

As well as the traditional shed-load of Mercedes safety aids, the GL also features ESP Trailer Stabilisation. The new feature "defuses critical driving situations involving a trailer before they become dangerous by precisely applying the brakes."

While there is an undeniable offroad and heavy-duty towing emphasis to the GL, Mercedes is at pains to point out it  delivers "excellent handling both on and off-road and pampers occupants with its extremely spacious accommodation and the comfort of a luxury saloon."

Seating layouts include the option of individual second-row seats a la the recently released R-Class.

Mercedes-Benz's spokesperson Amelia Doolan told CarPoint the company expects to sell around 400 GL-Class per year describing the big offroader as a "niche vehicle." Though initial deliveries are expected to favour the V8 petrol, ongoing around half the GLs find homes Down Under will be turbodiesel powered.

The GL will have its local debut at the Australian International Motor Show at Sydney's Darling Harbour in October.