Mercedes GLK Tuner Vehicles Unveiled at SEMA

Legendary Motorcar Company: A Legendary GLK

Regardless of your sport - snowboarding, wakeboarding, skateboarding or any other extreme discipline, the Rock Crawler from Legendary Motorcar Company (LMC) is designed to be the ultimate companion for those seeking an adrenaline fix.
What started out as a go-anywhere brief focused on the off-road prowess of the Mercedes-Benz GLK, quickly turned into a do-anything reality when avid skateboarder Ryan Klutt, the 14 year-old son of LMC founder Peter Klutt first heard about the GLK tuner competition.

"I thought right away that it would be great to put a rail on top to turn it into an interactive snowboarding car, and it kind of went from there," he explains.

Legendary Motorcar, which is more typically associated with race car fabrication and classic car restoration scene than with custom-tuning of road cars, then set about creating a vehicle that can not only get extreme sports fans to remote locations, but can also play an active role in the sport itself.

Central to the work carried out on the GLK is the gasoline-powered tow winch built into the rear of the vehicle. The "Grinch Winch" is growing in popularity within the extreme sports community, able to tow boarders of any description at speeds of up to approx. 50 km/h. It can be transferred to either the front or the rear of the vehicle and has a hand throttle for tow speed adjustment.
But it's one thing to use a vehicle for towing a boarder, it's quite another to integrate the vehicle into the boarding experience. The Rock Crawler also features a detachable ramp system, side and roof-mounted grinding rails and a custom push bar.
Chief Engineer on the project is Ken Stewart, whose specialty is building race cars for Legendary. "We set out to make the Rock Crawler do something that vehicles were never intended to do," he explains. "And the GLK was perfectly suited to the task. It's not too large and has great interior space for mounting the kind of equipment we needed. It also has this young, active image and the grinding rails work really well with its aggressive styling."

Legendary used stainless steel bars to create the roof and swing-out side-mounted grinding rails. Using the winch and ramp combo to get airborne, boarders then "grind" or "jib" their boards along the length of the vehicle before reconnecting with the ground/snow/water at the other end.

A Perspex panel fitted to the roof of the Rock Crawler protects the GLK's panorama sliding roof from boarding debris or, indeed, mistimed boarders themselves. A folding roof-mounted light bar also enables the Rock Crawler to provide play area illumination for its sporting buddies.

To accentuate the visual impact of the Rock Crawler, Legendary worked with graphics specialist Ron Gibbs to create stunning imagery against the backdrop of the GLK's standard Arctic white paint finish. The detailing works together with the clean lines of the GLK's exterior design and adds emphasis to the Rock Crawler's extreme sporting credentials.

While the other specialists in the competition opted to lower the GLK's ride height and increase wheel size for visual or performance reasons, Legendary realised, in order to achieve the go-anywhere character of the Rock Crawler, ride height would have to be increased by 38mm and wheel size would have to go down.
The GLK comes as standard with 19 inch rims but, working with National Four Wheel Drive, Legendary selected 18 inch Jesse James Black-Widow rims for added all-terrain toughness and to incorporate the extra rubber on the Toyo Open Country AT mudder tires. Meanwhile, ride height was increased with custom-made spacers on the lower control arm at the rear and billet aluminium spacers at the front.

Inside, Legendary has left the standard interior. The GLK's base dimensions provide plenty of stowage area for all manner of sporting gear, including boards and bikes.

To meet the on and off-road performance requirements of the Rock Crawler, Legendary examined the drivetrain of the GLK 350 and decided to leave well alone. "The 3.5 litre V6 has plenty of pulling power and, with 4MATIC all-wheel drive, the standard GLK is perfectly able to get wherever the Rock Crawler needs to be," comments Ken Stewart. "And after all," he adds, "that's where the fun really starts."

RENNtech: The GLK Pikes Peak Rally Racer is king of the hill

Inspired by the winged, unlimited-class rally cars of the famed Pikes Peak Hill Climb, RENNtech set about creating a GLK that could master the pack and leave the rest chewing gravel. But, this wild GLK has a few surprises beneath its menacing exterior.
Hybrid powertrains are generally associated with fuel efficiency and lower emissions. However, RENNtech has taken one more benefit of the hybrid principle to turn the GLK into a formidable performer.

By combining an electric motor in parallel with the 3.5 litre V6 petrol engine, RENNtech has been able to capture the impressive torque that characterises electric motor drives, adding 54 Nm to enhance the GLK's performance off-the-line and out of corners. Using a hybrid drive in a hill climb setting has the added advantage of maintaining thrust at higher altitudes, when internal combustion engines - which depend on ambient air - start to wheeze.

The specialist Mercedes tuning company has also worked its magic on the base 3.5 litre V6 unit, using components from the latest Mercedes-Benz high-performance 3.5 litre V6 Sport engine. These include a special intake manifold, cams and cylinder heads, to which RENNtech has added its own long-tube headers, composite air intake and RENNtech ECU software. Engine output is up to approximately 350 hp, augmented further by the electric motor from the hybrid drive.

The additional 72 volt drive is run by 12 volt plug-in batteries. RENNtech is currently working on a nickel-hydride solution with regenerative charging for additional range.

"The GLK Rally Racer Hybrid is a fully-functioning test bed," explains Hartmut Feyhl, founder and President of RENNtech. "We will use this vehicle as a proof-of-concept, which we will develop and enhance throughout next year."

"With the Rally Racer, we have really increased the car's performance," continues Feyhl. "Together with the more aggressive, sporting look, we have created a powerful and exciting package."

It is also worth noting that, despite the performance enhancements, RENNtech has succeeded in improving the fuel economy of the Rally Racer compared with the original version, "proving that high performance and efficiency can coexist," adds Feyhl.

Bearing in mind that the Rally Racer is built for speed on tough terrain, RENNtech opted to forego creature comforts, cutting the weight of the standard GLK by removing most of the sound insulation and replacing the Mercedes-Benz seats with lightweight carbon-fibre buckets. Engineers also fitted a full roll cage and moved several components towards the rear of the vehicle to create an almost perfect 50:50 front/rear weight distribution for improved handling on tight, demanding rally stages.

Another significant handling modification comes from the custom coil-over suspension. Made to RENNtech specifications by suspension supplier KW, the package allows for adjustments in height, rake, damping rate, camber and toe-in.

Extra stopping power is provided for the Rally Racer courtesy of an in-house RENNtech brake combo featuring massive 412mm, 2-piece rotors with 8-piston callipers at the front, and 356mm discs grabbed by 4-pot callipers at the rear.

Lightweight 20 inch 3-piece, 5-spoke RENNtech wheels in a "Sniper Gray" anthracite finish, clad in NT05 275/40 20 Nitto rubber at the front and NT05 315/35 20 at the rear, fill the prominent wheel flares that underscore this GLK's performance potential.

Although extensive exterior revisions were made to accommodate the larger wheels and brakes and to widen the track, the focus of bodyshell modifications was enhanced aerodynamic efficiency. RENNtech used the latest in Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software to develop the package. The front splitter, rear diffuser and lower side skirts help direct airflow underneath the GLK Rally Racer to reduce drag and produce added downforce, while improving high speed stability at the rear. The rear wing elements also serve an important aerodynamic purpose and add emphasis to the aggressive edginess of the original GLK design. From a visual perspective, RENNtech engineers successfully melded their aerodynamic modifications with the flared wheel arches to create a powerful side line that highlights the dynamic thrust of the Rally Racer.

"The GLK was a great starting point for this project," says Hartmut Feyhl, "It has excellent underpinnings for performance tuning and I think the overall look really suits it."

"The GLK gave us a great deal of scope for bringing together form and function. For the RENNtech GLK, performance may have been the primary goal, but it also looks the part," he adds.

BRABUS: Widestar almost ready for production

There was absolutely no doubt in the mind of Professor Bodo Buschmann, President of Mercedes customization specialist BRABUS, "Even in the face of the extreme rework that characterizes the vehicles at SEMA, we were going to stick firmly to our principles and go for a more practicable solution. Our GLKWidestar grabs attention with its stunning appearance, while at the same time, offering a high degree of everyday usability in all conditions." And thus, it is fair to say that, among the four tuning competitors, the GLKWidestar represents the "European" solution. The SUV was conceived by development engineers on the basis of automotive pragmatism that stands by classic Mercedes-Benz characteristics. The Widestar is an interpretation of the GLKas an on-road machine with corner-hugging agility that also pays tribute to the high levels of refinement associated with Mercedes vehicles.

That doesn't mean that the BRABUS GLK is merely a "good boy" among the SEMA stars. Far from it - one look is all it takes to capture the muscular stance of the Widestar bodyshell, which has been broadened by 50mm, incorporating beautifully integrated flared wheel arches that carry through to the front of the vehicle with distinctive air intake fins. Customised front and rear bumpers, LED daytime running lights, side skirts, a roof spoiler with LED lights (position lights) and all-new LED lighting units above the front windshield complete the reworked bodyshell. A custom paint process adds an unparalleled depth of lustre to the black paint finish. "It was an interesting challenge," comments Ulrich Gauffrés, Head of Research and Development at BRABUS, "to bring even more fascination to the already distinctive GLK. Our Widestar underscores the characteristic edge of the original GLK-Class design."

The flared wheel arches are home to 21 inch wheels clad in 295/30 ZR 21 rubber. Together with the BRABUS chassis kit that lowers ride height by 30 mm, and a high-performance brake system, the Widestar demonstrates the true on-road potential of the GLK-Class. The necessary propulsion is provided courtesy of a reworked V6 diesel engine based on the 320 BlueTEC unit with ground-breaking AdBlue technology from other models currently available in the USA. Thanks to the ECOPowerXtra tuning kit, the Widestar engine generates 190 kW/258 hp and delivers 610 Nm of torque. All of this comes together to provide outstanding performance figures. The dash from 0-100 km/h is over in 6.9 seconds and the Widestar powers on to reach a top speed of 240 km/h. Despite the increase in performance, the Widestar remains well within the most stringent emissions standards set in Europe (EU5) and the U.S.(BIN 5 / ULEV). At an average of 8.4 litres per 100 km (NEDC), fuel consumption is also extremely modest*.
*preliminary values

The completely reworked interior of the BRABUS GLK Widestar celebrates the very highest levels of automotive interior design. Artisans at the BRABUS workshop have clad the cabin with a total of 50 square metres of soft, semi-aniline leather. The luxurious all-leather trim also includes diagonal stitching on the seating, door panels and the entire vehicle floor - all in cognac. To avoid glare in the windshield and side windows, the upper surfaces of the dashboard and door panels are finished in black leather. The alcantara upholstery of the roof lining is also finished in black, with piano black wood trim, a sports steering wheel and aluminium sports pedals completing the overall impact of the interior. Should rear seat passengers require additional entertainment, the multimedia system mounted in the front seat backs provides relief with a DVD player and 7-inch monitors.

Interior, bodyshell and technology come together in the BRABUS GLKWidestar to create a refined overall image that is as impressive on the show stand in Las Vegasas it is in everyday operation. Bodo Buschmann is certain of this, "Our BRABUS GLKWidestar may be a show car created specifically for SEMAin Las Vegas, but our technical solution meets legislative requirements in both Europeand the U.S.With sufficient interest from the public, the Widestar can become a reality."

Boulevard Customs: The GLK Urban Whip set heads turning

When the word went out that Mercedes was running a tuner competition centred on the new GLK luxury SUV, Boulevard identified immediately with the brief for the Urban Whip and lost no time in getting to work.

"I've been a Mercedes fan since childhood," says Boulevard President Chris Bradley, "and when I reviewed the design brief for the Urban Whip I said to myself, ‘we can do this better than anyone'".

While it may be one of the smaller competitors in the field, Boulevard is big on ideas. Taking its inspiration from a number of Mercedes models, the company set about creating a visual interpretation of the GLK that would put it at the very top of the food chain in the urban jungle.

The most striking feature of the Urban Whip is what is doesn't have - a roof. Although the original brief required the design to retain the structural integrity of the GLK, the aggressive look of the custom-made wide-body kit - which was developed in cooperation with RoBrady Design - made the roadster temptation difficult to resist. Boulevard submitted renderings of its roadster ideas to Mercedes-BenzUSAand approval was received in double quick time.

Working with NBS Performance, Boulevard removed the roof, shorted the windshield and added the necessary structural bracing to create a roadster with cosmetic modifications to the door tops and pillars. "It was the finishing touch to the whole design," comments Bradley. "The Urban Whip has that extra wow factor to make it a true head-turner." With the focus on city life, the design of the wide-body kit is sleek and futuristic.

Boulevard worked with Superior Auto Body on integrating bumpers, side skirts and fender flares to create a factory finish, while the factory grille was opened up wide and finished off with chrome mesh and accents hand-crafted by the artisans at STRUT.
The front headlamps retain their factory look, with the standard bulbs replaced by custom LED units for added performance, while smoked treatment brings distinctive style to the rear light cluster.

The overall ride height has been lowered by 64mm using a one-off set of custom lowering springs. And, when it comes to wheels and tyres, Boulevard is in no doubt that, for urban cruising, there is no substitute for chrome - and that size matters. The Urban Whip is fixed firmly to the asphalt with colossal 26" Asanti AF 150 chrome wheels with custom black accents and wrapped in 295/25 ZR26 Pirelli Scorpion rubber for a perfect ride. The stopping power is provided courtesy of a massive front and rear Brembo performance brake kit, featuring 381mm 2?piece floating rotors and 8-pot callipers on the front and 344mm 2-piece floating rotors with 4-piston callipers on the rear.

With flagship Mercedes performance models providing the inspiration for the interior, Boulevard worked alongside Mark Kraus and John Lancaster to create a look that is highly individual, yet still distinctly Mercedes. Using a striking black and white colour theme, the design integrates both diamond-stitched and perforated leathers for a distinctive, upscale look and feel. Piano black wood grain trim works together with a custom steering wheel and shift knob to create a cockpit that is as stylish as it is outspoken, while rear passengers are cosseted in twin hand-crafted bucket seats.

No seriously urban cruiser can be complete without a seriously urban stereo. And the absence of a roof will help the GLK Urban Whip share its sound with the rest of the world. Beneath the speedster cover lurks a mighty piece of kit from JL Audio. The custom stereo system pumps out over 5,700 Watts of ear-popping power in a visually stunning installation. Eight HD amps power the ZR component speakers and subwoofers, including six new JL Audio 13TW5 flat subwoofers, two of which are displayed in the rear of the Urban Whip in a custom-made clear acrylic tube that adds emphasis to their compact dimensions and slim profile.

"The GLK was the perfect candidate for the Urban Whip idea," concludes Bradley. "It has this incredibly powerful persona and shoulders broad enough to carry this kind of work. Working with it brought out the best in all of us."