Lorinser Preparing Tuning Kit for New Mercedes-Benz GLK

We’re not sure what Lorinser is trying to tell us with the color of choice for the GLK teaser sketches, but fact is the German firm will be one of the first tuners to get their hands on Mercedes-Benz’ all-new compact SUV that’s set to arrive in European dealerships this October with the U.S following in early 2009. Other than the teaser sketches, there’s no official information on what Lorinser is preparing for the GLK but we gather that apart from the full bodykit and new alloy wheels, the tuning firm will also present a sport suspension set-up along with a series of upgrades for the SUV’s engine line-up. -One more image after the jump

Via: Tuningkultur

Mercedes Receives 10,000 Orders for New GLK in Western Europe

Mercedes-Benz’ new compact SUV seem to have hit the spot in Europe as the German luxury carmaker has announced that it has received a total of 10,000 orders in Western Europe just one month after the GLK was released for sale. Deliveries of the GLK-Class are scheduled to commence in Western Europe in October, with market launch in the U.S. set to follow at the beginning of 2009.

From the 10,000 orders, Mercedes-Benz has received 1,000 orders for the GLK “Edition 1” variant (pictured above) which will only be available for the launch of the GLK-Class. Among other things, the special edition GLK model will feature a specially designed exterior and interior with a sports package as well as an AMG multifunction leather steering wheel.

iPhone Leather Pouch for the Mercedes-Benz GLK

After seeing –figuratively speaking- the Mercedes-Benz GLK appear alongside Kim Cattrell, alias Just Do it Samantha, in the chick flick “Sex and the City”, it doesn’t surprise us at all that the German carmaker decided to launch an iPhone cradle femininely trimmed with crystallised Swarovski Elements. The iPhone pouch, which was introduced at the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in Berlin (July 17 to 20), will be available in white nappa or plain black leather. -Continued

However all you Miami Vice fans better hold their horses; production of the white nappa leather iPhone cradle is strictly limited of units, all of which will be raffled for invited guests of the Mercedes-Benz Fashion show.

Mercedes-Benz Shares Thoughts and Pictures on the “Sex and the City” Movie

The only time we happily watched anything in concern of “Sex and the City” without some nagging gal twisting our arm was when a paparazzi video featuring a scene with the then, unrevealed Mercedes-Benz GLK was leaked into the net last December.

Now Mercedes-Benz has released a set of images shot during the filming of the “Mature women do it everyway and with everyone in the city” along with a short interview with Kim Cattrall –aka Samantha “Just do it” Jones, and a behind the scenes story on the GLK’s promotional appearance in the movie. -Continued

Excerpt from Kim Cattrall interview at the Laureus World Sports Award 2008 (St. Petersburg, February 17th, 2008)

Interview transcripted from original TV recording, incomprehensible interview questions and passages were cut

I = Interviewer
C = Kim Cattrall

I: Kim, I heard that in the new 'Sex and the City' movie there's gonna be a Mercedes involved which nobody saw yet.

C: Yes, when we were filming with my co-star - it was the GLK Mercedes SUV - there were so many photographers in Beverly Hills and there have been very many photographers in New York. When we were filming.I thought, there's all these photographers, I felt so proud and happy, but they weren't interested in me, they were interested in the new Mercedes GLK. They were all trying to photograph the dashboard, which was completely new, so they would have the first photograph - so I was upstaged by the Mercedes car (laughing).

I: By the car! (laughs)

C: Exactly, a newer model, I guess (laughing).

I: Do you drive a Mercedes in your private life?

C: I just ordered an SL. I've had a romantic love affair with a Mercedes for a very long time, especially when I was a struggling actress - but now I am so happy that I am successful enough to own one myself.

I: And why is it the Mercedes - that you like so much, is it because of the style, or is it the technical details?

C: You know, I think that the Mercedes is made by very, very smart, passionate people. I've been playing this very passionate character for a very long time - I think it goes very well hand in hand, with me as a person and with me as an actor. I also very much like something that has that steel around me, I feel very, very safe in it and I live in New York where we have a lot of weather conditions. It's not like sunny California. So it put a lot of demands on the car that you drive, I feel very happy and safe.

…

(end of interview excerpt)

Mercedes-Benz Thoughts on Sex and the City

Transportation of vehicle from Stuttgart factory to Rodeo Drive

Although the all new GLK small SUV isn’t scheduled to hit dealers until October 2008 (January 2009 for the U.S.), the opportunity for a vehicle to be showcased in a scene of the summer’s hottest film, Sex and the City, was too good to pass up. It was however, quite challenging to secure an early release from the prototype vault at the Stuttgart factory.

Having not made its debut prior to the shoot on Rodeo Drive, the vehicle had to travel to the US in a cloak of secrecy. Accompanied by a designated Mercedes-Benz representative from Germany, there were many steps taken to protect the visual identity of the beautiful prototype from the outside world. Even the key which opened a tamper-proof container holding the car was locked away in a safe place and only accessible by one security personnel!

The GLK arrived in Long Beach California just days before shooting and was transported to Beverly Hills and kept secret until the cast and crew were ready for the scene. Given that the car had to sit on a public street, security had their hands full keeping the car under wraps until the scene was ready.

Finally, when the shoot was over, the same security personnel responsible for handling the container upon its arrival, was the only person who could lock it back up on its return trip to Germany.

Prepping the vehicle for the scene on Rodeo Drive

Nothing in Hollywood is left to chance, and every aspect of filmmaking is perfectly prepared, reviewed, and double checked to ensure that the scenes are absolutely perfect. For the Rodeo Drive shoot the set design and inclusion of the GLK were no exception. In the short weeks leading up to the scheduled shoot, costume designer Patricia Field recommended the color of the car match the rest of the set design. Since the car was originally black, the paint shop at the factory had to work their own magic in order to repaint the entire vehicle, as most of the car parts on prototypes are unique, handmade and not available in large quantities the way they are on traditional assembly line vehicles.

As it was, the car arrived in the US without its side mirrors, and had to have them attached at the Mercedes-Benz Long Beach Tech Center the night before the shoot. While this doesn’t sound complicated, side mirrors on prototypes cannot just be screwed into the doors, but instead need to be adjusted in a very meticulous process.

Security for the GLK

Because the design and entire shape of the vehicle had never been exposed to the public before, and was scheduled for its first public debut at the NAIAS Detroit Motor Show 3 weeks later, the vehicle require high security at all times. Therefore, there was a team of 12 security guards whose job it was to prevent photos from being taken by bystanders and the press. Camouflage was placed over the dash to prevent images of the interior from being taken.

To visually protect the car as much as possible, the shoot was scheduled for 6 am on a Sunday morning on Rodeo Drive. Despite their best efforts, all bets were off once the paparazzi arrived. At one point, in the middle of the shoot, one of the security guards and three deputy sheriffs had to grab the cover of the vehicle and jump into the middle of the scene in order to shield it from paparazzi cameras.

Additionally, a photographer was spotted lying on the roof of a hotel across the street with a telephoto lens focusing in on the scene. Even though a photo was leaked to the internet just a few hours later, it was an incredible effort by the security team to protect the privacy of the car. Keeping a high profile car secret when it is exposed to the pubic for the first time is hard enough. Add that to an association with a high profile film shoot, and sneak peaks are bound to get out.

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week

When watching the film, it may seem that the scene featuring Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week actually happened during the event itself, but it wasn’t that easy. With the permission of M-B and IMG, Production was given the original Sept., 2007 Fashion Week tent, sets, props, graphics, etc. so they could re-create the event for this scene of the film. This was as challenging for the film production team as getting the GLK prototype out of the factory was for Mercedes-Benz: Its hard to imagine how many things need to be orchestrated and how many people need to be involved to recreate such an event in New York for a movie scene.

It took approximately 36 hours and plenty of explanation to the many New Yorkers who were surprised to see the tent being constructed in November (Fashion Week season is normally in September and February). The Mercedes-Benz SLR Roadster display alone took 12 hours to rebuild. It was amazing to watch a film set with more than 200 people, each with their own assignment, get the scene shot - from the caterer serving a hungry crew, to the director watching every single detail in order to have the perfect sequence locked in. Mercedes-Benz was even given 7 “extra” spots and engaged their employees in a small contest to win one of these 7 walk-on spots. While the lucky winners were on set for 14 hours on the day of their shoot, they were treated like true VIP’s, had their hair and makeup done, and were made to feel like real movie stars.

Mercedes-Benz Manhattan dealership

In another scene, the outside of the Manhattan Mercedes-Benz dealership was used for filming. The dealership allowed the production crew to disguise the outside of the dealership to look like a night club by covering their side windows in a red film. When you see the movie you won’t be able to tell that this is usually a Mercedes-Benz car dealership.

Additional Thoughts

The filming of the GLK scene on Rodeo Dr. took approximately 7 hours to shoot. The 7 hours of work will eventually become only 2 minutes of time in the final cut of the film. It is easy to understand how a 2-hour movie can take over 100 days to shoot.

New Generation Compact SUVs: Who's the Fairest of Them All?

In less than two months time, the premium compact SUV segment welcomed no less than three new memebers: the Volvo XC60 that premiered in Geneva and the Audi Q5 and Mercedes-Benz GLK, both of whom made their world debut at this week’s 2008 Beijing Auto Show.

Since design is a major plus in this segment, what we want ask you is if, and which of the three compact SUVs impressed you the most in terms of styling. You can see pictures of the Volvo XC60 here, of the Audi Q5 here and of the Mercedes Benz GLK here. Leave your thoughts in the comment section below.

New Mercedes-Benz GLK Unofficially Revealed

The first images and details of the production Mercedes-Benz GLK were leaked into the internet this morning, prior to the compact SUV’s scheduled debut at this week’s Beijing Auto Show (20 – 28 April). Based on a modified version of C-Class platform the GLK will compete with the BMW X3, Land Rover Freelander, Infiniti EX, Volvo XC60 and the forthcoming Audi Q5 in the premium compact SUV segment.

The GLK’s “edgy” appearance that’s inspired from the larger GL holds no surprises as we already got a taste of it through the pre-production version at the Detroit and Geneva Motor Show earlier this year. The “edgy” styling theme is also continued in the premium SUV’s cabin, which to be honest, isn’t exactly what we'd call awe inspiring...

The 4.528 mm / 178.2 in. long GLK will be initially offered with the choice of four engine options: the gasoline-powered GLK 280 (231Hp 3.0-liter V6) and GLK 350 (272Hp 3.5-liter V6) and the diesel-powered GLK 220 CDI (170Hp 2.1-liter 4cylinder) and GLK 320 CDI (224Hp 3.0-liter V6). All versions will come with Mercedes-Benz’ 4Matic all-wheel-drive system and 7G-Tronic seven-speed automatic transmission as standard. -26 Images after the jump

Geneva Preview: Mercedes GLK Vision Hybrid BLUETEC

In a week’s time, we’re going to get a second taste of Mercedes-Benz’ VISION GLK Concept that first premiered at the Detroit Show in January. The Geneva Show concept features a hybrid powertrain that combines a 2.2-liter, 4-cylinder turbo diesel engine with an electric motor generating a total output of 224 Hp and 560 Nm or 413 lb/ft of maximum torque.

In terms of performance, the VISION GLK BLUETEC HYBRID accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 7.3 sec and achieves a top of 215 km/h or 134 mph. Despite these performance figures, diesel-hybrid consumes an average of only 5.9 lt of fuel per 100 km or 40 MPG. Moreover, according to Mercedes-Benz, the VISION GLK BLUETEC HYBRID achieves the world’s lowest CO2 emissions in the SUV segment, with 157 grams per km. –More details and pics after the jump

Press Release:

The grand rehearsal at the beginning of this year already made heads turn, when the striking Vision GLK entered the SUV stage and was celebrated as a compact character actor marking a new design approach in this vehicle class. At the 2008 Geneva Motor Show, Mercedes-Benz is going a step further and adding the Vision GLK BLUETEC HYBRID to the line-up. This study illustrates the possibilities of the "TrueBlueSolutions" strategy in the compact SUV segment, true to the guiding Mercedes-Benz theme of producing the world’s most efficient and clean drive systems. The Vision GLK BLUETEC HYBRID achieved this goal by combining the new BLUETEC four-cylinder diesel engine generation with a hybrid module. This combination generates an overall output of 165 kW/224 hp, and a torque of 560 Nm. Superior performance can be taken as read in view of these figures. And yet the Vision GLK BLUETEC HYBRID returns a fuel consumption of only 5.9 l per 100 km.

With its TrueBlueSolutions strategy, Mercedes-Benz is preparing the way for the introduction of the world’s most economical and clean vehicles. As in the case of the VISION GLK BLUETEC HYBRID, ultra-modern and efficient diesel engines with innovative BLUETEC emissions control, hybrid modules and intelligent energy management are among the centrepieces of this trailblazing generation of drive systems. The study for this compact characterful SUV has a combined output of 165 kW/224 hp and generates a combined torque of 560 newton metres, the world’s highest in this class. This enables the VISION GLK BLUETEC HYBRID to accelerate from zero to 100 km/h in 7.3 seconds; its maximum speed is 215 km/h. Despite these performance figures, this multi-talented newcomer consumes an average of only 5.9 litres of diesel per 100 kilometres, and achieves the world’s lowest CO2 emissions in the SUV segment, with 157 grams per kilometre.

In conjunction with highly efficient BLUETEC emissions control and AdBlue injection, the GLK BLUETEC HYBRID meets the world’s most stringent exhaust emission limits, such as the American BIN5 and the European EU6 standards.

"With the refinement, driving pleasure, outstanding economy and effective environmental friendliness that is typical of our brand, the VISION GLK BLUETEC HYBRID ideally represents our ideas on future model generations in the world of SUVs", says Dr Thomas Weber, Member of the Board of Management responsible for Corporate Research and Mercedes-Benz Cars Development.

Mixed double: state-of-the-art BLUETEC engine and hybrid module

In the hybrid drivetrain, a completely new four-cylinder CDI diesel unit with a displacement of 2.2 litres acts as the internal combustion engine. In terms of exhaust emissions technology, thanks to the latest BLUETEC technology with AdBlue injection, this diesel engine is already among the world’s very cleanest power units. The technical highlights of this extremely compact and refined CDI unit with a geared camshaft drive mounted on the flywheel side include fourth-generation common-rail direct injection with an injection pressure of 2000 bar, innovative piezoelectric injectors and a two-stage turbocharger system. The compact hybrid module - a disc-shaped electric motor between the CDI engine and the automatic transmission - improves both the environmental compatibility and the effectiveness of the drive system. The electric motor acts as both a generator and starter, and performs convincingly in two important respects: firstly it contributes decisively to fuel economy, and secondly it significantly enhances driving pleasure by virtue of the so-called boost effect.

The electric motor backs up the internal combustion engine during the fuel-intensive acceleration phase by contributing its maximum torque of 160 newton metres. As a result the occupants experience an effortless rush of power right from the start. In addition the system features a comfortable start-stop function which switches the engine off in certain circumstances - for example when the car is stopped at traffic lights.

The driver only needs to operate the accelerator in order to set off again. As the engine starts within milliseconds, the VISION GLK moves off with no delay. This direct starting also helps to minimise emissions and fuel consumption.

When it comes to braking, the procedures are reversed: the electric motor acts as
a generator, feeding the electrical energy obtained by what is known as the "recuperation" process into an efficient yet compact lithium-ion battery. This energy can be retrieved when needed - for the next "boost" phase, for example. All these processes take place fully automatically, thanks to intelligent drive management.

Striking body design counters stylistic uniformity

With the VISION GLK BLUETEC HYBRID, a distinctive character is entering the SUV stage whose special appeal lies in a combination of the four-square original design of the legendary G-Class and the typical design features of today’s Mercedes-Benz passenger cars. Crisp lines and large taut body surfaces come together with the bodyshell characteristics of practical off-roaders, such as short overhangs, an upright front end, slim A-pillars, a steep windscreen and tight roof contours. For the first time, this body design enables typical off-roader advantages to be transferred to the more road-oriented, compact SUV class. An excellent view of the vehicle body and good all-round visibility go together with the raised seating position to enhance day-to-day suitability and ensure relaxed driving even in dense city traffic. The appealing design concept is reinforced by the special "alubeam blue" paint finish, whose incomparable depth further underlines the sporty aspects of the bodyshell design. Specially produced 20-inch light-alloy wheels and muscular wheel arches enhance the powerful aura of the Vision GLK BLUETEC HYBRID even further.

Interior: High-end atmosphere meets good ergonomics

The comfortable, high-quality interior of the Vision GLK BLUETEC HYBRID excels with a modern interpretation of surface styling, an impressive quality of materials and precise finishing. The dominant feature is the dashboard, which visually extends into the door panels, lending additional width to the generously dimensioned interior. An elegant, central section in brushed aluminium trim covers the entire width and divides the layout into three vertical levels. The upper section of the dashboard is lined in black leather, encompassing the instrument cluster and the fixed COMAND APS central display. The lower area of the interior and the seats accentuate the sporty nature of the study with leather upholstery and linings in a light shade of aquamarine, which echoes the colour effects of the "alubeam blue" exterior paintwork. Dark-blue piped seams provide a visually effective contrast. The driver’s armrest and the COMAND APS controller are located in ergonomically ideal positions.

The occupants are protected by a comprehensive safety concept based on an extremely rigid passenger cell and energy-absorbing deformation zones at the front and rear. In addition to airbags, sidebags and windowbags, the protective features include a driver kneebag and active head restraints.

VISION GLK appointments at the perceived level of the luxury class

This compact concept vehicle has technical features and appointments which are normally the preserve of higher vehicle classes. In addition to the anticipatory safety concept PRE-SAFE and the Intelligent Light System (ILS), these include the infotainment centre COMAND APS with HDD navigation, whose controls follow the tried-and-tested, intuitive operating logic familiar from the S-Class, as well as THERMOTRONIC 3-zone automatic climate control.

The extremely stable bodyshell raises the basic parameters by which comfort is defined to a level which is unprecedented in the compact SUV segment: Both handling stability and vibration/noise comfort are absolutely convincing in all conditions.

AGILITY CONTROL: Safety plus dynamic handling and comfort

The AGILITY CONTROL suspension of the on-road Vision GLK BLUETEC HYBRID substantially reconciles the conflicting aims of sporty and agile handling on the one hand and comfortable, smooth travel on the other. Thanks to "amplitude-dependent damping", the suspension delivers a soft response during normal travel on moderately contoured roads or unmetalled surfaces. Comfort is maintained even when driving more briskly or during avoiding manoeuvres, as the dampers work harder in this situation to ensure maximum handling stability. At the same time the driver of the Vision GLK BLUETEC HYBRID is assisted by a speed-sensitive steering system. Parking and low-speed manoeuvring are made much easier because full servo assistance is made available. At higher speeds this servo assistance is reduced in the interests of improved handling stability.

Latest addition to the premium SUV segment

Mercedes-Benz has occupied the leading position in the off-road sector since the introduction of the legendary G-Class in 1979. With the first-generation ML-Class, which was launched in 1997, Mercedes-Benz defined the Sports Utility Vehicle in its modern interpretation. Together with the current model, which celebrated its premiere in 2005, sales of this model series are rapidly approaching the one million mark, making it one of the world’s most successful premium SUVs. Since 2006 another SUV from Mercedes-Benz has occupied the pole position in the SUV world - the GL-Class, whose occupants enjoy first-class travel in all circumstances, whether on or off-road.

The Vision GLK BLUETEC HYBRID now demonstrates how outstanding performance could be paired with minimal fuel consumption in the future. What is more, this combination need not be confined to the new GLK-Class, which will enter the market in autumn 2008.