The Mercedes GL-Class is getting ready to enter its second generation and the closer we get to the official launch date, the more camouflage is stripped away from the SUV’s body. These latest spy shots reveal a new front end with more angular headlights, a redesigned front bumper with larger air intakes, redesigned taillamps, and a new roof spoiler.
As for the engine line-up, the future GL-Class will get both a fuel-efficient 210 HP 3.0-liter turbo-diesel V6 engine and a 300 HP V6 for the European market, while the US will probably only get a V8 engine. The future GL550 will most likely use a twin-turbo 4.7-liter V8 engine that will deliver somewhere between 400 and 450 HP. It has also been rumored that Mercedes has plans for a hybrid version as well. An optional AMG package will further increase the SUV’s performance.
Expect the new model to be launched at a major show in 2012 with sales on the US market beginning in 2013.
The Mercedes GL-Class entered production in 2006 and is still in its first generation to this day. However, for 2012, Mercedes is preparing to launch a new generation of the SUV, with an improved exterior look and new, more fuel efficient engines. Expect the new model to be launched at a major show in 2012 with sales on the US market beginning in 2013.
This is the second time the car has been caught testing, but this time around, it has dropped some of its camouflage revealing the rear lights and LED-indicator on top of the head light. From the looks of it, our guess is that the rear bumper will share its shape with the Mercedes ML.
The engine line-up for the 2012 Mercedes GL-Class is still a mystery, but the company did confirm that the full line-up will be much more fuel efficient, with the possibility of adding a new V6 engine for the base version. A V8 engine will be still offered for the top version.
UPDATE 12/05/2011: As the new generation Mercedes GL gets closer to its official launch, the car has started to lose some of its camouflage! Check out the new spy shots!
A year after Mercedes introduced a ’Grand Edition’ model for the ML-Class SUV, the German automaker is welcoming their second SUV that has been given the same ’Grand Edition’ badge.
This, of course, is the new Mercedes-Benz GL-Class Grand Edition, an intimidating special edition SUV that has been given plenty of new exterior and interior features that emphatically promotes its exclusivity or, in Merc parlance, it’s "Grand Edition-ness".
Similar to the ML-Class Grand Edition, the GL-Class version packs plenty of wonderful new features on both its exterior and interior. All these additions should make up for the fact that despite its designation, the German automaker still opted to keep the powertrains untouched.
That’s a bit of a bummer, if you ask us. But if you’re prepared to let that slide, then all the aesthetic improvements given to the SUV should prove to be enough for this particular special edition GL-Class to warrant some serious attention.
Details after the jump
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Mercedes GL-Class is a car that looks amazing in its standard version, but with a few modifications it just became incredible. The work has been made by the German tuner Kicherer who called their package GL 42 Sport Black. The package is based on the GL 420 CDI model and includes a significant power increase, but also impressive exterior and interior package.
The 4,2 liter V8 engine has been tuned to deliver an impressive 380 HP (up from 306 HP) and 663 NM of torque. In order to obtain this power increase the tuner is offering a special PowerConverter that sharpens the electronic gas pedal characteristic curve, causing the heavy vehicle to react even more spontaneously to acceleration commands and enabling powerful acceleration from the very bottom. The two end pipes of the two-pipe sports exhaust system give off a deeply evil roar.
The car is completely covered in matte black exclusive foil, and it sits on a new set of 22" wheels.
We haven’t heard from Piecha Design in quite awhile - 2009 to be exact - since they made over the Mercedes SLK, but it seems they have moved on to the bigger side of Mercedes with a new tuning package for the Mercedes M-Class and GL-Class. Their package is called the Evorian RS and includes impressive exterior and interior updates.
The exterior package of the Evorian RS is defined by impressive LED day headlights integrated into the front spoiler corners, LEDs embedded in the side sills (4 per side), high-gloss chrome aerowings, and a Quadro-4-tube exhaust conversion that includes two chrome-plated double-tube end pieces. The package is finished by 22" dp1-CC Silver light metal wheel rims in three-part style with their high-gloss polished stainless steel bases.
The tuner is also offering a lowering module produced by the H&R undercarriage specialists for vehicles with coil springs to lower the Mercedes Benz brothers by 35 mm at the front and by as much as 50 mm at the rear. This addition adds a little more aggression and sporty appeal to a set of already powerful vehicles.
