We’ve already shown you pictures of the new Mercedes GL, but now the car gets official as it goes on stage at the 2012 New York Auto Show. The large seven-seat SUV gets a fresh new look thanks to new head and taillights, revised bumpers, new side skirts and a more muscular body. As far as family buses go, this is one of the coolest, especially as it comes with 10-spoke 18-inch light-alloy wheels as standard.
The design is good, but it’s the bewildering array of standard and available features for this car that boggles the mind. In terms of safety for example, it comes with Crosswind Assist, the STEER CONTROL steering assistance system, the load recognition and the COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST (CPA), plus Active Lane Keeping Assist and Blind Spot Assist, together with a parking package incorporating an automatic function for entering and exiting parking spaces, plus a 360° camera. Do you really need all that stuff?
Engine-wise, the new GL comes with a diesel in the GL 350 BlueTEC 4MATIC and a petrol unit in the GL 500 4MATIC BlueEFFICIENCY. The diesel is for the economy-minded people with 38mpg average fuel consumption, while the V8 petrol is for the keen drivers, with a 5.9 second 0 to 60mph time.
Mercedes GL is a very perfect car. It can take care of all your needs, and then some. It’s not as good as a Range Rover off the road, but on it the 7-seater GL is in a class of its own.
Here’s a list of some of its equipments and features:
The extensive range of standard equipment and appointments has been considerably enhanced compared with that of the predecessor. Amongst the safety features it offers are ATTENTION ASSIST, the COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST warning system, Crosswind Assist and pedestrian protection with Active Bonnet. Comfort details such as the electrically operated EASY-PACK tailgate, an electric sliding/tilting roof, the ARTICO upholstery with perforated man-made leather and electrically adjustable front seats are also part of the standard specification. In addition the GL 500 4MATIC BlueEFFICIENCY model offers Active Parking Assist, Intelligent Light System (ILS), KEYLESS-GO access and drive authorisation system, 3-zone THERMOTRONIC automatic climate control, multicontour seats for the driver and passenger including a massage function and Memory package, plus leather appointments. Another impressive feature is the novel EASY-ENTRY system in the rear compartment of the GL-Class: at the touch of a button the seats in the centre row fold down and allow easy entry and exit. The standard-specification entertainment system in the GL-Class Audio 20 CD will delight drivers with a 14.7 cm (5.8-inch) colour display, MP3/WMA/AAC-capable CD drive, USB interface, AUX-IN connection, Bluetooth® interface and a telephone keypad. Thanks to the new COMAND Online multimedia system with its ultra-modern, silver-coloured 3D-look menu surface the GL-Class now has internet access for the first time. As an option COMAND Online can be combined with the harman/kardon sound system or with the Bang & Olufsen BeoSound AMG high-end surround sound system for the most discerning requirements, bringing with it stunning concert-hall acoustics.
