Mercedes GLK350 Hybrid Pikes Peak Rally Car by RENNtech [video]

Eco-extereme

RENNtech has unveiled the new GLK350 Hybrid Pikes Peak Rally Car, which is an updated version of their winning concept from the Mercedes-Benz tuner challenge at the 2008 SEMA Motor Show.

Like the original, the crossover features an aerodynamic body kit, a custom KW coil-over suspension, a high-performance braking system, and 20-inch alloy wheels with Nitto tires. The only real change is a new a 3M 1080 Scotchprint vinyl wrap in brushed steel and black carbon fiber.

Under the hood, power is provided by a 3.5-liter V6 petrol engine which has been outfitted with a new intake manifold, upgraded camshafts, revised cylinder heads, a composite air intake and a RENNtech ECU. Thanks to these modifications, output climbs from 268 hp (200 kW / 272 PS) to approximately 350 hp (261 kW / 355 PS). Furthermore, there's an electric motor that helps to contribute an additional 54 Nm (40 lb-ft) of torque.

The one-off rally car will tour a number of auto shows in the United States, before being retired to the Mercedes-Benz Classic Vehicle Museum in Irvine, California.

Source: RENNtech

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RENNtech GLK350 Hybrid Pikes Peak Rally Car


In 2008, RENNtech unveiled the GLK350 Hybrid Pikes Peak Rally Car, a concept vehicle which won the 2008 SEMA Show Mercedes-Benz tuner build off competition. This vehicle was designed not only to turn heads as a show car, but to serve as a proof-of-concept and testament to our dedication to our core concept; performance without compromise. Fast forward nearly 3 years, countless automotive trade shows, numerous track events and extensive real world miles; the GLK Pikes Peak project has been completely revamped and restyled for a final tour in 2011 with Mercedes-Benz USA. Upon completion of the US tour schedule, the GLK will retire to a place of honor in the MercedesBenz Classic Vehicle Museum located in Irvine, CA as part of their permanent collection. This will be the second vehicle prepared by RENNtech that has found its way into the hallowed halls of the Mercedes-Benz Museum Collection, the first of which was the E60 RS project car built for comedian Jerry Seinfeld.

When approached with the opportunity, RENNtech completely revamped the vehicles exterior and collaborated once again with 3M Commercial Graphics Division to complement the GLK's aggressive exterior styling. This original body kit was entirely designed and engineered by RENNtech in-house, using the latest in Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software and rapid prototype capabilities. The concept behind the restyling was to not only completely change the vehicles appearance, but utilize vinyl materials in finishes rarely seen in the automotive world. 3M chose the RENNtech GLK as the showpiece to revel their latest product line of 1080 Scotchprint ® textured automotive vinyl wrap. This preprinted, 3.5 mil dual cast film was applied to nearly every exterior surface of the vehicle in a stunning combination of brushed steel (1080-BR201) and black carbon fiber (1080 CF-12) with subtle red pin stripping to further accent the vehicles bold lines.

The GLK350 Pikes Peak Project will be unveiled to the public during Mercedes-Benz first leg of their tour schedule at the Pittsburgh International Automotive Show February 10-13th, 2011. Additional stops on the tour schedule include Milwaukee, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Kansas City, Minneapolis and Denver. After
its time on the road, the vehicle can be seen at the Mercedes-Benz Classic Vehicle Museum in Irvine, California.


RENNtech would like to thank the unwavering support of the following companies, with whom realizing both phases of such a large project would not have been possible.
? Mercedes-Benz
? 3M
? KW Suspensions
? Geoff's Curtain Walls
? Nitto Tires
? Optima Batteries
? JRD
? Schroth Racing
? Technicar
? Seibon

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 cronan cronan
Why make a rally car out of a SUV??? Doesn?t make sense. Btw, looks horrible.
February 25, 2011 3:07 pm
 ente ente
Because MB wants to sell a bit more GLK in the USA.
February 25, 2011 3:12 pm
 bucky bucky
it makes a lot of sense. its made for the pikes peak mountain. remember the suzuki escudo ? thats an Suv also and it was like the best at doing its job http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VafUiWtjH-Q
February 25, 2011 3:39 pm
 joshg_5 joshg_5
It's insulting to compare the Escudo to this! haha If this were really for Pikes Peak, they could/should have used a 4-matic C-class.
February 25, 2011 5:22 pm
 cronan cronan
Sense in like high centre of gravity, aerodynamics like a goverment building and to much weight. The suzuki escudo was lowered many times over, had 1000bhp and weight less than this abomination.
February 26, 2011 12:32 am
 bucky bucky
ohh im not comparing it to the escudo, trust me. im just saying that an suv is not a weird choice to start from.
February 27, 2011 8:05 pm
 norther norther
retired in the mb classic auto museum? pfaaah haha. the ugly ducklin
February 25, 2011 3:17 pm
 DeleteThisAccount DeleteThisAccount
Are you sure this isn't the next generation Dyson vacuum?
February 25, 2011 3:32 pm
 skyline-SL skyline-SL
I do like the roll cage and the rear seats But I would much rather drive his bad boy on the Pikes Peak Hill Climb http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2y3OFf0ArU
February 25, 2011 4:14 pm
 TheAlchemist TheAlchemist
seems like a lot of money dumped into something that was not quite built for what it was built for?!
February 25, 2011 8:11 pm
 dmanero dmanero
omg I'm going to barf, how is that aerodynamic
February 25, 2011 8:24 pm
 Douglas6250 Douglas6250
er... only 350hp for all those faff on the bodykit and the Pikes Peak name ?? I bet a local garage could do that...
February 26, 2011 3:57 am
 s2k_turbo s2k_turbo
OMG! Is this a new bat-mobile? I put this to worst tuning award. Why the hell they did that for ?
February 26, 2011 11:07 am
 SZQ SZQ
how embarrassing for MB Germany...only the US MB division can do something so fucked up.
February 27, 2011 12:43 am
 khlbt khlbt
Absolutely butt ugly...
February 27, 2011 8:30 pm
 vincent813 vincent813
The worst car I ever seen before so far.... looks like a pile of shit put on some nice rims
February 28, 2011 12:42 am