Sales Release Of The Mercedes-Benz GL Class

Posted by www.eMercedesBenz.com. on February 24, 2006 at 9:50 AM CST

To all my European readers that have been longing for a slice of the  
American mega-SUV pie, your wait is finally over.

Sales of the all-new Mercedes GL Class are officially kicking off  
today, so head down to your local Mercedes sales and service outlets  
and jump on the bandwagon that's taken middle-class American families  
by storm.

I'm not going to go into the specifics of the different GL models,  
due to the fact we've already published several stories relating to  
that very topic (which you can find here, here, here, and here), but  
I have added the starting prices of all the GL models, which you can  
find directly below.

And now, without further ado:


1) GL 320 CDI   -   €63,684*

*not specified as to whether or not price includes VAT


2) GL 420 CDI   -   €79,460*

*incl. VAT at 16%; net price is €68,500


3) GL 450   -   €77,604*

*incl. VAT at 16%; net price is €66,900


4) GL 500   -   €85,898*

*incl. VAT at 16%; net price is €74,050 net


And there you have it.  For more info on the sales of the release of  
the new Mercedes GL-Class, check out the full press release below or  
visit www.eMercedesBenz.com.


OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE


Sales release of the Mercedes-Benz GL-Class: First class on and off- 
road from €63,684

Stuttgart, Feb 24, 2006

Mercedes-Benz is entering the market for luxury sports utility  
vehicles with the GL-Class. Prices for this premium off-roader with  
the comfort of a deluxe saloon car start at €63,684 for the GL 320 CDI.

Customers wishing to buy the multi-talented GL, which can optionally  
seat up to seven people, are now able to place their orders at the  
company's sales and service outlets. The tried-and-trusted V6 diesel  
in the GL 320 CDI delivers 165 kW/224 hp, while its ample 510 Newton  
metres of torque are on tap across a wide range of engine speeds.  
Despite all this power, the engine only burns 9.8 litres of diesel  
per 100 kilometres. In the GL 420 CDI, available from €79,460 (incl.  
VAT at 16%; net price is €68,500), the re-engineered V8 diesel boasts  
four valves per cylinder and twin turbochargers with variable nozzle  
turbines and provides highly spirited performance. Its torque peaks  
at an imposing 700 Newton metres and it generates an output of 225 kW/ 
306 hp. Both diesel units come with a zero-maintenance particulate  
filter as standard and comply with the stringent EU4 emissions  
limits. The GL 500 features a newly developed 5.5-litre V8 petrol  
engine with a rated output of no less than 285 kW/388 hp and costs  
€85,898 (€74,050 net). In the GL 450 (costing €77,604, net price  
€66,900) the V8 powerplant from the same engine family has a  
displacement of 4.6 litres and generates 250 kW/340 hp. All the  
engines available for the GL-Class are teamed up with the 7G-TRONIC  
seven-speed automatic transmission with DIRECT SELECT as standard.

4MATIC – the permanent all-wheel-drive system from Mercedes-Benz –  
helps to give the GL-Class superior handling dynamics under any  
conditions. In con-junction with AIRMATIC, the standard-fit air  
suspension system, plus the precise speed-sensitive steering and ADS,  
the Adaptive Damping System which also comes as standard, the  
generously sized GL (wheelbase 3075 mm) is surprisingly agile. The GL  
not only cuts a good figure on the road, it also shines as a genuine  
off-roader. The standard-specification Off-Road Pro engineering  
package, including reduction gearing, manually engageable rear and  
inter-axle differential locks and extended height adjustment  
functionality for AIRMATIC, considerably enhances the car's off-road  
capabilities. All the features designed to improve grip are further  
supported by 4ETS, the electronic traction system for all-wheel drive.

For more Mercedes-Benz news and information, visit  
www.eMercedesBenz.com.