'Millennium GLK' Unveiled at SEMA: Vehicle to Traverse the World

4 November 1998
'Millennium GLK' Unveiled at SEMA: Vehicle to Traverse the World
    Prisma Design International Helps Investment Guru Jim Rogers Create a
                       Retractable Hardtop/Convertible

    LAS VEGAS, Nov. 4 -- The 1998 Specialty Equipment Market
Association (SEMA) Show, the world's largest gathering of automotive
aftermarket businesses, marks the international unveiling of the "Millennium
GLK," a project vehicle developed for Wall Street investment expert Jim
Rogers, who will embark on a three-year journey around the world on January 1,
1999.
    The distinctive, one-off "Ultra Sport Utility Vehicle" combines the
comfort and styling attributes of the Mercedes SLK 230 retractable
hardtop/convertible sports car with the rugged durability of the Mercedes
G-series wagon.  Considering that this mission will cover more than 100,000
miles, the "Millennium GLK" -- this unique combination of SLK and G-Wagon --
is destined to put this distinctive technology to the ultimate test.
    The Millennium GLK team chose to unveil the vehicle at the SEMA Show
"because of its international prominence as the preeminent event for the
$19 billion aftermarket industry," according to Steinle, former president of
the Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design of North America, who had left the company a
year earlier to establish Prisma Design International of Irvine, California.
"Given the amount of aftermarket parts and accessories equipping the
Millennium GLK, we felt that this would be the perfect opportunity to
introduce this vehicle to the aftermarket world, as well as partners such as
Alipne, Motorola and Bridgestone."
    To build the vehicle, Steinle selected Fountain Valley, California-based
Metalcrafters, which had garnered industry acclaim for developing numerous
concept cars and prototypes including the Mercedes AAV prototype and the
modified M-Class Mercedes used by Steven Spielberg in the film "The Lost World
-- Jurassic Park."
    Valued at approximately $500,000, the "Millennium GLK," was build by
Fountain Valley, California-based Metalcrafters, and is powered by the rugged
and reliable 3.0-liter G-series wagon Turbodiesel six-cylinder engine, which
yields 177 hp.  Outfitted to a five-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel
drive powertrain, the vehicle is well suited for off-road efforts.  Adorned in
Sunburst Yellow, the body rides a full foot higher than the stock SLK for road
clearance, and has been dressed with full fender flaring and a step-up rocker
system for ease of entry.
    "I chose the Mercedes-Benz because of its well-recognized dependability,
reliability, integrity, style and service," Rogers explained.  "I know it
would be able to make it around the world."