Mercedes is continuing to diversify its product line, with three new SUV introductions in the past year. Among the new models is the 2007 GL-Class, which is the largest SUV in the Mercedes lineup. The strategy, according to Forbes is not high volume. Rather, Mercedes hopes to add to its overall sales with an array of niche vehicles. While the Mercedes CLS-Class had a phenomenal start last year, its American sales declined by 39 percent in February 2006, compared with February 2005. But that’s not a problem, according to Mercedes. The CLS is just a pricer E-Class, and it adds to the bottom line, the company says. Likewise, the GL doesn’t need to sell as well as the Cadillac Escalade to be a success. Rather, Mercedes simply hopes it will add to overall SUV sales. Unfortunately for AMG fans, there are no plans for an AMG Mercedes GL, according to Forbes. The GL is simply too large to make a performance model, according to the report. (Cadillac, by the same token, is not planning a hot-rod Escalade-V).
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03/20, 12:43 PM
posted by:
Scott
If they can make a G-class AMG, I’m pretty sure they could do a GL; plus since when does MB care how big the cars/SUV’s are before shoehorning huge motors into their cars? I think high oil/gas prices might play a factor here, But I expect to see AMG GL’s down the road, regardless of what they are claiming at this point. Case in point, the R63 AMG is technically longer than the GL, so I don’t think there is any logic here. That said, if you want to go fast, don’t buy an SUV!!!
03/20, 1:31 PM
posted by:
rwcmick
Everything I’ve read points towards a GL63. For example this autoweek article: http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060306/FREE/60303004/1009 that says “What next? Mercedes sources say a performance GL63 AMG model with the new 6.3-liter, 510-hp V8 is not far.”
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03/20, 11:17 PM
posted by:
Heydn
With all due respect to the GL designers, the car is very plain and generic. Maybe that goes along with Mercedes’ more conservative designs of the past.
And what was the deal with everyone thinking that the GL prototypes were the next generation G-class?
03/21, 5:27 AM
posted by:
DaveO
That was the original plan. For the GL to replace the G but they changed it.
And they are dopes if they don’t build an AMG version. The top end always sells. I think it might just be a ploy to sell the GL now as some people might be waiting for an AMG version.
03/21, 7:56 PM
posted by:
Heydn
Thanks for the explanation. I can’t recall ever seeing that. I knew that Mercedes was going to make a smaller and a bigger version of the M to compete with the X3 and “X7,” respectively, so when I saw the GL, I automatically assumed that it would be their larger SUV.