Pumped-up Mercedes GLK prototype spied
Fri, 04 Oct 2013
Our spy shooters recently caught this early prototype of the next Mercedes-Benz GLK, and it appears that the boxy little crossover, well, isn't. The very familiar two-box, upright design of the current model (that we all rather like, by the way) looks to be going away in favor of something that's a bit more streamlined and fluid.
That's probably just as well, since the new GLK is expected to grow in size in order to better separate it from the recently unveiled GLA-Class. And with a more curvaceous body, the larger dimensions of the next GLK will likely be better masked.
The next GLK will share its platform with the 2015 Mercedes-Benz C-Class, and thus, powertrains will likely be shared between the two. That means gasoline, diesel, and possibly hybrid power will find its way to the GLK, a vehicle that is currently only available with a naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6 or a brand new 2.1-liter turbodiesel inline-four.
Mercedes will show the next C-Class at the 2014 Detroit Auto Show in January, with sales starting in August of next year. Look for the GLK to show its face sometime after that.
By Steven J. Ewing