Mercedes Reveals Second GLK TOWNSIDE Variant

Brian Potter / Mercedes Vision GLK Townside Concept

By Brian Potter
January 13, 2008 7:41 AM
Filed Under: Concept Car, Detroit Auto Show, German, Mercedes-Benz

Expectations of seeing the GLK Freeside Concept in the flesh at this special Mercedes press event were shattered with numerous surprises. On the eve of the North American International Auto Show here in Detroit, Mercedes had put together a warm up “big band” act which looked and sounded like they were plucked right out of the 1940's. However, they took everyone by surprise by ending with such pop songs as, Tom Jones' Sex Bomb and Britney's Oops, I Did it Again. It was quite funny and the crowd really enjoyed it.

Soon thereafter, Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Daimler AG, began his speech and presented surprise number two – the lovely Kim Cattrall. Just one month ago, legendary spy photographer, Brenda Priddy, caught the GLK undisguised during the filming of Sex and the City, the movie, showing co-start Kim Cattrall in and about the vehicle. So, it was a pleasant surprise to see her there.

Lastly, the GLK Freeside Concept was unveiled, but with a companion, the GLK Townside. Mercedes knows, like all car manufacturers, the vast majority of the buyers of compact SUV's will never take their vehicles off the asphalt and acknowledges it with the Townside. Billed for on-road agility, the Townside gets a lowered ride height of 30 millimeters. “The FREESIDE, on the other hand, has been optimised for off-road terrain with longer spring travel and a softer basic set-up.” Stylistically, the Townside represents a production ready version with less dramatic rocker panel moldings, no power bulges in the hood and no roof rack.

Comments

smokeonit1
January 13, 2008 9:50 AM
why didnt MB use that one in the new sex and the city???

the one we seen was a EU version, not gonna be sold in the US... why would they do that???

designerr
January 13, 2008 11:00 AM
hummmmmmmmmmmmm,,,nothing have to say,i think MB can design better than it.

sarlaack
January 13, 2008 2:27 PM
It looks veeery ugly

sarlaack
January 13, 2008 2:29 PM
I don't like it. Looks very ugly to me

autoque
January 13, 2008 3:42 PM
You made your point the first time. No need to repeat it.

Straiyan
January 13, 2008 8:21 PM
Well then let's see you design a car genius.

wills2007
January 13, 2008 3:35 PM
It looks like an old Toyota Highlander at the rear, in the saying that I still think I'll look at one.

ck314
January 13, 2008 6:01 PM
I hope that violinist hottie comes standard lol

ck314
January 13, 2008 6:06 PM
In any case this vehicle looks and (surely) drives nice, glad that MB did this instead of a hypothetical bland MLK. If you don't like it you must be into Tata designs.

SD-AMG
January 13, 2008 6:10 PM
I really like the GLK! It sure looks great! Especially in this version!

stillthewhizz
January 13, 2008 6:16 PM
Mercedes can do a lot better especially after the handsome new C-Class. I really don't like the current trend with squared-off wheelarches on 4x4's, they look awkward. I hoped nobody would have followed VW's Tiguan.

ck314
January 13, 2008 6:40 PM
An SUV is supposed to have a rougher look than a classic luxury sedan. If you don't understand this you'll keep judging every single car under one single context which is wrong. Look at the poor selling R-Class, all roundish and biotic, it's probably one of the ugliest MBs ever made.

dolcegabbana
January 13, 2008 6:52 PM
ok i honestly think that white colored concept looks stupid , the bluetec version wich the car is going to look like just diff. color looks much better , i'm sure it's going to be a head turner , because as you remmember c class was ugly in pictures as well as the cls but as soon as we seen those cars on the streets they were gorgeous i'm sure teh standart model will look awesome and fresh and i really like the boxy theme it's really something new i'm really glad it's not roundish im sure in person it'll look good

designerr
January 13, 2008 10:49 PM
ok,different peopele have different taste,but look at handsome new c-class...current ML,,,,new S-CLASS.is GLK do like the other member of MB family???

DavidShaked
January 14, 2008 7:15 AM
this is a very charming car. it doesn't carry the image of a cheap mb.

stillthewhizz
January 14, 2008 12:02 PM
ck314 - I know that but if other car makers can build good looking SUV's why can't Mercedes. I don't think the X5 or the Range Rover are particularly rough looking cars but they're both good looking in their ways.

ck314
January 14, 2008 4:08 PM
lol You must be kidding me d00d, have you ever seen an X5 or a Range Rover in real life?? X5's got an agressive, intimidating chiseled front end, and big wheel arches on steroids, fat wheels and so on, will you compare these design cues with those of a 525i?? Same applies to Range Rover with their vault truck facia and tall boxy designs, should it look like an XJ Jag?? And the GLK is damn sexy, you have not even seen the actual car on the streets so bashing it beforehand is simply stupid.

phobos
January 14, 2008 2:12 PM
It looks very nice... doesn't follow others with sedan and SUV design,some company did it too f***ing much

jrcsh6
January 14, 2008 9:58 PM
I'm supprised, I thought it was going to be worse looking. It's no CLS or C for that matter. But for what it is I think it's a nice little MB. It will work well for SUV people who just want height and a "big trunk" especially when the disel happens.

rapide66
January 16, 2008 2:30 AM
I don't like the piece of plastic on the front of the car

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