Glk Will Come To The Uk

[hawk20]

According to Autocar April 23rd, they had conversations with MB at the Beijing Motor Show, where the GLK was officially launched, and were told that MB has found a solution to the problems of fitting RHD to the GLK. Sadly the mods necessary will cost £40 million and take time but the GLK will be coming to the UK in right hand drive form.

Date of arrival has not been set but it could be timed to coincide with the first facelift in 2011. So says Autocar.

 

[grober]

2wd or 4wd

This is good news if its true. :bannana: I do have a small niggling voice at the back of my mind reminding me that certain models of the GLK will be available in 2WD. Lets hope that's not what they meant. There's nothing more lacking in "street cred "than a 2WD pretending to be a 4x4.

 

[shadowninja]

Well, I hope I don't have the displeasure of being stuck behind one in traffic!!

 

[timskemp]

MB has found a solution to the problems of fitting RHD to the GLK.

Let's hope its a better solution than the one they used for the W168 A class. That steering column is a nightmare.

 

[hawk20]

Well, I hope I don't have the displeasure of being stuck behind one in traffic!!

I like it. Looks rugged and just what a 4x4 should be IMO. Very like a smaller GL to my eye and I guess that is what it was meant to be. All in the eye of the beholder I guess.

 

[glojo]

If they have solved this issue then WHY have they waited so long. This bulge has been an issue for a decade and has been the subject of much debate. Seeing will be believing.

Regards
John

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Maybe the solution is the bulge!!

The solution could also be engineering the 2WD version?

 

[hawk20]

Its partly economics and partly technical, isn't it? Maybe someone has come up with a clever way oof solving it. Maybe they are planning to redesign the 4matic system and bring out a new version by 2011. Or maybe they have worked out that UK sales might be just enough to make expensive mods worthwhile.

One thing that has changed is the new VED bands in the UK and the £25 per day congestion charge in London. These may well have hit sales of MLs and GLs and made the case for the GLK in the UK even stronger.

Sooner or later we shall have to plan to become LHD. It is just a nightmare for manufacturers.

 

[wallingd]

Am unaware of the bulge issue on the 168. Any pics?

 

[glojo]

Am unaware of the bulge issue on the 168. Any pics?

The 'bulge' only applies to the modern saloon models and I have posted pictures..... 'Somewhere'

John

 

[timskemp]

Sooner or later we shall have to plan to become LHD. It is just a nightmare for manufacturers.

164 countries are LHD, 75 are RHD (according to wikipedia). HK, Japan, Australia, UK, India, Ireland, NZ, South Africa, Thailand, Zimbabwe included. That's a lot of cars.

Bear in mind how much of the US production is domestic only and doesn't make it to LHD or RHD europe I'd gues the spread of LHD/RHD for most manufacturers who market a model worldwide is nearer 50/50 than you'd expect.

 

[Dragon]

I thought it arrived in UK. Correct me if I am wrong, I remember seeing James May on Top Gear behind the wheel racing to the city airport with the hamster on a bike, Jeremy on a power boat and Stig using the underground.

 

[grober]

MB has found a solution to the problems of fitting RHD to the GLK. Sadly the mods necessary will cost £40 million and take time but the GLK will be coming to the UK in right hand drive form.
Date of arrival has not been set but it could be timed to coincide with the first facelift in 2011. So says Autocar.

In these days of cars designed by CAD just how difficult is it to "engineer" what is essentially a "mirror image" of a few selected mechanical assemblies.

 

[wallingd]

I thought it arrived in UK. Correct me if I am wrong, I remember seeing James May on Top Gear behind the wheel racing to the city airport with the hamster on a bike, Jeremy on a power boat and Stig using the underground.

That's the GL. We're talking about the GLK.

 

[recycled]

This is good news if its true. :bannana: I do have a small niggling voice at the back of my mind reminding me that certain models of the GLK will be available in 2WD. Lets hope that's not what they meant. There's nothing more lacking in "street cred "than a 2WD pretending to be a 4x4.

you mean like the quashauntum or the petrol captiva

 

[big x]

164 countries are LHD, 75 are RHD (according to wikipedia). HK, Japan, Australia, UK, India, Ireland, NZ, South Africa, Thailand, Zimbabwe included. That's a lot of cars.

Bear in mind how much of the US production is domestic only and doesn't make it to LHD or RHD europe I'd gues the spread of LHD/RHD for most manufacturers who market a model worldwide is nearer 50/50 than you'd expect.

An interesting article

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_hand_drive

I didn't realize the Nazi's made several countries they invaded switch to LHD.

adam

 

[A210AMG]

I like it,

GLK320cdi would be nice although I guess its price will be close to an ML when a few ticks of the option box?

 

[hawk20]

I like it,

GLK320cdi would be nice although I guess its price will be close to an ML when a few ticks of the option box?

That wouldn't make sense. Spec for spec it should be several thousands less than the ML or no point. My guess it will be priced like the X3.

And it should be smaller and lighter than an ML and so be fine with a smaller engine and thus give better fuel economy, and fit a lower tax band, which is essential in the smaller SUV market IMO.

 

[hawk20]

Lots of interesting information and photos on: -
http://benzinsider.com plus a promo video.

 

[hawk20]

The GLK-Class will make its U.S. dealer showroom debut in January 2009 as a 2010 model.

The GLK-Class will be produced exclusively at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Bremen, Germany.