Just days ago BMW had the premium crossover class all to itself but within days Audi unveiled its new Q5 and now Mercedes-Benz enters the fray with its new GLK-Class. Mercedes chose the Auto China fair in Beijing to launch the GLK crossover SUV and the bad news is it's just as boxy and as the "Freeside" concept car Mercedes unveiled at Detroit eariler this year. It's meant to ape the look of the legendary G-Wagen but we're not so sure a 30-year old box is a good source of inspiration. At least the GLK should be good to drive. It's loosely based on the Mercedes C-Class 4Matic estate and comes with "Agility Control" active suspension and computer-controlled "4Matic" four-wheel drive system, which is slightly rear biased (45:55) like Audi's latest quattro transmission. However, because of the asymmetric mechanical layout of the C-Class 4Matic it will take two years and another €50 million to built a right-hand drive version, and Mercedes hasn't decided if that's economically feasible yet.The GLK 220 CDI is likely to be the big seller, with its new, 170hp, 2.1-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine. Other engines will be plucked from the C-Class 4Matic range, including the 231hp, 3.0-litre petrol V6 (GLK 280 4Matic); the 224hp, 3.0-litre turbo diesel V6 (GLK 320 CDI 4Matic); the 272hp, 3.5-litre V6 petrol and probably even the 457hp, 6.3-litre V8 from AMG (GLK 63 AMG).Standard safety equipment includes "PRE SAFE" and ESP, while adaptive Xenon lights and adaptive cruise will be offered. Just don't expect to see the GLK on Irish road any time before 2010, if at all!
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