Mercedes-Benz Holds World Debut of New GL

Global Debut of Bold Seven-Seat Sport Utility at Detroit Show

DETROIT, Jan. 8 -- The new Mercedes-Benz GL-Class is making its global debut at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, open to the public January 14 - 22, 2006. The highly successful auto company is poised to enter yet another market with the all-new GL-Class, a seven-seat luxury sport-utility that will be produced in the company's Alabama plant along with the M-Class and R-Class. Already offering the broadest and most diverse product portfolio in the automotive industry, Mercedes-Benz is launching its first large sport-utility vehicle.

Mercedes-Benz Safety in a Premium SUV

The graceful body of the new GL-Class provides outstanding passive safety with a steel unit body that incorporates a high-strength occupant cell protected by front and rear crumple zones featuring new provisions to help reduce potential injuries to pedestrians and cyclists. The GL comes with two-stage front air bags for the driver and front passenger, side air bags in the front and 2nd-row seats, and curtain air bags that span all three rows of seats.

The new GL-Class arrives in the U.S. market with a 4.6-liter, four-valve-per-cylinder V8 engine producing 335-horsepower, a seven-speed automatic transmission and 4MATIC full-time four-wheel drive.

The GL comes with four-wheel independent suspension, speed-sensitive power steering and 18-inch 265 / 60 all-season tires. The vehicle has a 7,500-pound Class V towing capacity and is available with optional height-adjustable Airmatic springing with ADS adaptive damping.

Inside, the GL is fitted with real burl walnut wood trim and power front seats as well as two third-row seats that can be stowed electrically at the push of a button, either separately or together, to provide a totally flat cargo floor.

In addition to the widely acclaimed Mercedes-Benz 4MATIC system, standard features such as DSR downhill speed regulation, hill-start assist, and a special off-road ABS algorithm can help drivers during off-road excursions. An optional Off-Road Pro package includes a two-speed transfer case and locks for the center and rear differentials as well as modified air suspension that can increase ground clearance to 12 inches, which also raises its low-speed fording depth to more than 23 inches.

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 2005, MBUSA achieved an all-time sales record of 224,421 new vehicles, setting the highest sales volume ever in its history and achieving 12 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/.