Perhaps you’ve heard: Mercedes-Benz has this new SUV called the GLK, and it’s not just the Sex and the City audience that’s being targeted. The compact ute’s getting-to-know-you tour will make a stop at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, where four concept versions will be on display. We already told you about RENNtech’s hybrid Rally Racer show truck, and now we have some info on the other three versions that’ll join it in Vegas.

Naturally, BRABUS will represent, skinning the GLK300 Bluetec in Widestar duds, new wheels, and the de rigeur custom interior. No power upgrade yet, it seems, but knowing BRABUS, they’ll have a version putting out approximately a trillion horsepower by the time the GLK is in customers’ hands.

Boulevard Customs is prepping the GLK “Urban Whip”, a garish creation sporting 26″ wheels and a front end that likely depleted the world’s supply of mesh grillework. Lord knows what all the other SEMA builders are gonna do now that they’re faced with this crisis.

Finally, Legendary Motor Cars will show the Four Corners Rock Crawler, which rolls on big knobby rubber, has an integrated grille guard, and sports a set of roof lights. But all that’s dress-up, because off-roading’s not the angle. This GLK has some winch rig that lets it pull skaters into position to then grind on the truck’s integrated side rails. (G-Wagen ambulance chase vehicle not included.)

Hey, no one ever said SEMA’s about being particularly normal. We’ll have plenty more live shots from the show in November. See photos after the jump Continued

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The limited edition Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster 722 S made its first public appearance at the Paris Motor Show during the first week of October but Mercedes-Benz just decided that it’s time to release a new gallery of real-life images that you can check out after the jump. The special edition model is powered by an enhanced version of the standard car’s 5.5-liter supercharged V8 that puts out 650HP while it also features suspension and aerodynamic upgrades. Production of the 722 S Roadster will be limited to 150 units. Continued

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The new Carlsson CK63 S is yet another proposal for those who look at Merc’s AMG models and see nothing more than underpowered four-door saloons. Taking the C63 AMG as a base, Carlsson’s engineers developed a performance kit that boosts the serial output of the 6.3-litre V8 from 457HP to 565HP while the torque significantly increases from 600 to 685 Nm. The German tuner claims that the CK63 S needs a mere 3.8 sec to accelerate from 0-100 km/h (62mph) instead of the serial 4.5 sec. The sport sedan’s top speed is electronically limited to 300 km/h or 187mph. Continued

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Mercedes-Benz took the easy route when it comes to making its current CLC, using the previous C-Class coupe as a starting point instead of engineering a new entry-level model from the latest C-Class platform. That may be about to change, as CAR is reporting that MB will introduce a proper C-Class coupe to replace the CLC. The new model will ditch the cut-off hind-end of the current car, which isn’t quite as pretty as its competition from Audi and BMW. A soft-top convertible is expected to follow a few months after the new 2010 C-Class coupe is introduced.

Moving up the Mercedes line, a new E-Class coupe is also in the works to offer a direct competitor to the Audi A5. We wonder if a “shooting brake” style hatchback could be offered as well. In any case, the two-door will lose its CLK nomenclature in favor of being known simply as a coupe. Also dead is the CL moniker, which will be replaced with an S-Class coupe. In addition to the expected gasoline and diesel-powered models, hybrids are expected to be offered across the entire Mercedes-Benz range in an effort to lower fuel consumption and carbon emissions. 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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Who needs a complicated and apparently expensive, hybrid drivetrain when you can achieve an average fuel consumption of 7.6 lt/100 km (31 mpg US) in a fully equipped large saloon like the S-Class simply by using a diesel engine and a few supplementary measures? Even Merc’s own S400 Hybrid isn’t that good sipping an average of 7.9 liters of petrol for every 100 km (29.8 mpg US). And even if the S320 CDi is a tad slower than the S400 Hybrid completing the 0 to 100 km/h (62mph) sprint in 7.8 sec instead of 7.2 sec (top speed for both models is 250 km/h), the difference is insignificant for your typical S-Class owner that that will most likely use the vehicle as a highway cruiser and not a highway racer

The latest variant of Merc’s luxury saloon, which is due to take over from the S 320 CDI from the end of this year, is equipped with the same V6 turbo diesel powerplant as before delivering an output of 235 HP and 540 Nm. But thanks to the BluEFFICIENCY package that includes on-demand power steering, a 7G-TRONIC seven-speed automatic transmission with standstill decoupling, as well as 17-inch light-alloy wheels shod with reduced rolling resistance tires, the German automaker has managed to reduce the standard S320 CDI’s average consumption by 0.2 lt /100 km.

Adding to its allure, pricing for the BlueEFFICIENCY S-Class model in Germany remains the same as the S320 CDI at €70,864.50 (incl. VAT) and at €78,718.50 for the long-wheelbase version. Continued

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Even though Mercedes-Benz’s partnership with McLaren is coming to an end, the German automaker is trying to make the best of it by releasing yet another limited edition version. The rag-top SLR McLaren Roadster 722 S which features an upgraded 5.5-liter V8 engine developing 650 HP as well as a more dynamic suspension tuning and improved aerodynamics will be produced in a limited number of 150 vehicles. At the heart of the new SLR McLaren Roadster 722 S is slightly tuned version of the supercharged 5.5-litre V8 engine that develops an output of 650 HP and 820 Nm (605-lbs/ft) of torque compared to the standard SLR McLaren Roadster’s 626 HP and 780 Nm respectively. Acceleration from standstill to 100 km/h (62 mph) comes in just 3.7 seconds, and 200 km/h (123 mph) is reached in 10.6 seconds while the maximum speed is 335 km/h or 208 mph.

In addition to increased power, the new SLR McLaren Roadster 722 S features a sportier suspension setup with stiffer spring and shock absorber configurations while the body has been lowered by 10mm at the front and rear. Furthermore, Merc’s engineers added a carbon fiber body kit to improve aerodynamics. The 722 S sits on a new set of lightweight 19-inch alloy wheels.

In the interior, the limited production Merc features new sports bucket seats upholstered in a combination of semi-aniline leather/Alcantara highlighted by contrasting red seams, embossed 722 S lettering on the head restraints and the likewise red seat belts. Moreover, the shift and parking brake levers are lined in suede leather while Mercedes-Benz also added plenty of carbon-fibre details.

The limited edition SLR McLaren Roadster 722 S will be available for order from January 1, 2009. Continued

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