Mercedes GLK Production Version Spied On the Road

Mercedes' GLK Freeside and Townside concepts left little to the imagination when it came to the lines of the upcoming GLK compact SUV, and these images of pre-production models handily confirm this assumption.  Set to go on sale later this year, the GLK, caught here during winter testing, clearly keeps the boxy, junior-GL look of the concepts.

The differences are in the details.  The tester displays a less ornate grille and foglight setup, and the roof rack is also less complex. It's hard to tell with the camouflage, but some of the character lines may have been smoothed out.  At the rear, the dual exhaust exits below the fascia instead of coming through it.  The GLK's side steps look sturdier as well; this production version looks a bit more rugged and utilitarian than the urban-pretty show vehicles.