The new Mercedes-Benz GLK has been available for sale in Europe for some time now but in the U.S., the compact SUV will be arriving at the firm’s dealerships in January 2009. Available exclusively with Merc’s 268-HP 3.0-liter V6 engine, the five-passenger GLK350, with standard 4MATIC all-wheel-drive, will be priced at $35, 900, plus an $875 destination fee. Comparatively, the BMW X3 xDrive30i with its 260-HP 3.0-liter inline 6-cylinder engine starts at $39,400 MSRP. For those that do not need an all-wheel-drive set up, Merc will also offer an entry-level GLK350 with rear-wheel-drive from April, 2009, priced at $33,900 with an additional $875 delivery fee.

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Heading the line-up is the unfortunately named Urban Whip (above), the handy work of Florida-based Boulevard Customs, who removed the roof, fitted a custom wide-body kit, 26-inch wheels and wrapped up the package with a redesigned interior and booming sound system. We’re impressed with the execution, but the proportions are far from becoming.

Just as odd, if slightly less ridiculous, is the Four Corners Rock Crawler created by Legendary Motor Cars. The GLK gets a handful of off-road upgrades to make treks to the beach a breeze, but the party-piece is a winch that can bring skateboarders up to speed, allowing them to grind down the integrated side rails. Continued

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 BRABUS, the German tuner for anything that comes out of the Daimler factory has presented an extensive customization program for the newly launched in the European continent, 2009 Mercedes Benz GLK The program for Merc’s new compact SUV is pretty thorough including performance tuning for all engine variants - gasoline and diesel, a full bodykit, new alloy wheels with matching suspension solutions, and heaps of interior options. Continued

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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

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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.

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.

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Chinese carmakers are planning to launch dozens of new models and concepts at next week’s Beijing Motor Show but in and amongst all the fanfare there will be a number of major international debuts as well. Two of the biggest reveals at the upcoming show will be the production Mercedes-Benz GLK and the all-new Audi Q5.

China has quickly become a key growth market for a number of international carmakers, many which see it as an opportunity to pick up lost sales from more established markets like Japan, the U.S. and Europe where sales are on the decline.

Audi, for example, saw its sales in China rise 24.8% in just one year and to mark its success it will use the country’s premier auto event to showcase its new Q5 SUV, reports Automotive News. Audi’s parent company VW will also debut two models based on the Mark IV Golf exclusively for the Chinese market.

Mercedes, too, hopes to build its presence in China and is therefore revealing the final production version of the GLK at next week’s Beijing Show.

Other foreign carmakers with a strong presence in China are GM and Ford. GM will showcase its Buick Invicta luxury concept, while Ford will launch China’s version of the new Fiesta hatch.

Then there are all the Chinese carmakers with new developments planned for the Beijing event. Chery Auto will unveil its new diesel range including the QQ6 small car, A5 and Eastar sedans and a new Eastar crossover.

Great Wall Motor will show an all-electric concept called the Gwperi EV and a concept hybrid version of its Hover SUV. It will also display a new small car lineup including the Gwfeelfine, Florid and Coolbear models.

Finally, Guangzhou Automobile Industry Group will launch its own brand with the unveiling of a convertible concept.

(source: Motorauthority)

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