Mercedes-Benz today officially announced the all-new GL-Class — a seven-seat luxury sport-utility vehicle that will be produced in the company’s Alabama plant along with the M-Class and R-Class. The new GL-Class will make its world premiere at the upcoming North American International Auto Show in Detroit, open to the public January 14 – 22, 2006. The new GL-Class will debut in the U.S. market with a 4.6-liter four-valve-per-cylinder V8 engine producing 335-horsepower, a seven-speed automatic transmission and 4MATIC full-time four-wheel drive. The GL will come with four-wheel independent suspension, speed-sensitive power steering and 18-inch 265 / 60 all-season tires. The vehicle has a 7,500- pound Class V towing capacity and is available with optional height-adjustable Airmatic springing with ADS adaptive damping.


The body of the new GL-Class will be 200 inches in length, 75.6 inches wide and 72.4 inches tall, boasting an aerodynamic drag coefficient of 0.37.

The GL will come with two-stage front air bags for the driver and front passenger, side air bags in the front and 2nd-row seats, and curtain air bags that span all three rows of seats.



Inside, the GL will be fitted with real burl walnut wood trim, power front seats and a glass sunroof with a fixed glass panel over the third-row seats. The two third-row seats can be stowed electrically at the push of a button, either separately or together, to provide a totally flat cargo floor. As a five-seater, the GL can carry 43.8 cubic feet of cargo, and with the second row seats stowed as well, there’s more than 83 cubic feet of cargo room.

In addition to the widely acclaimed Mercedes-Benz 4MATIC system, standard features such as DSR downhill speed regulation, hill-start assist, and a special off-road ABS algorithm will help drivers during off-road excursions. An optional Off-Road Pro package will include a two-speed transfer case and locks for the center and rear differentials. The package also includes modified air suspension that can increase ground clearance to 12 inches, which also raises its low-speed fording depth to more than 23 inches.




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