Mercedes-Benz Provides First Look at the All-New GL-Class

World Premiere of Seven-Seat Premium SUV Planned for Detroit Auto Show

MONTVALE, N.J., Dec. 9 -- Mercedes-Benz is poised to enter yet another market with the all-new GL-Class, a seven-seat luxury sport-utility vehicle that will be produced in the company's Alabama plant along with the M-Class and R-Class. Already offering the broadest product portfolio in the automotive industry, Mercedes-Benz is launching its first large sport-utility. The new GL-Class will make its world premiere at the upcoming North American International Auto Show in Detroit, open to the public January 14 - 22, 2006.

The new GL450 will debut in the U.S. market with a 335-horsepower 4.6-liter V8 engine, a seven-speed automatic transmission and 4MATIC full-time four-wheel drive. The GL will come with four-wheel independent suspension, and optional Airmatic suspension with ADS adaptive damping and adjustable ride height.

Standard features such as DSR downhill speed regulation, hill-start assist, and a special off-road ABS algorithm also help the driver during off-road excursions. An optional Off-Road Pro package includes a two-speed transfer case and locks for the center and rear differentials. The package also includes modified air suspension that can increase ground clearance to 12 inches, which also raises its low-speed fording depth to more than 23 inches.

Mercedes-Benz Safety in a Premium SUV

The graceful body of the new GL-Class will feature steel unit-body construction that provides outstanding passive safety. A high-strength occupant cell is protected by front and rear crumple zones that include new provisions to help reduce pedestrian and cyclist injuries. The GL will come with two-stage front air bags for the driver and front passenger, side air bags in front and 2nd-row seats, and curtain air bags that span all three rows of seats.

The two seats in the third row can be stowed electrically at the push of a button, either separately or together, to provide a totally flat cargo floor. The GL-Class is designed to accommodate up to seven passengers. As a five-seater, the GL can carry 43.8 cubic feet of cargo, and with the second row seats stowed as well, there's more than 80 cubic feet of cargo room.

The Mercedes-Benz Alabama Plant

The Mercedes-Benz plant in Tuscaloosa, Alabama began production in 1997 with the first-generation M-Class, and about $600 million has been invested since 2001 to expand the facility. At its completion in May 2005, the plant's annual production capacity stands at 160,000 vehicles, with a total investment of around $1 billion. Joining the M-Class and R-Class, the GL-Class is the third model line to be built in Tuscaloosa.

About Mercedes-Benz USA

Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA), headquartered in Montvale, New Jersey, is responsible for the sales, marketing and service of all Mercedes-Benz and Maybach products in the United States. In 2004, MBUSA achieved an all-time sales record of 221,610 new vehicles, setting the highest sales volume ever in its history and achieving 11 consecutive years of sales growth. More information on MBUSA and its products can be found on the Internet at http://www.mbusa.com/ and http://www.maybachusa.com/.