Mercedes has announced another new vehicle for the Geneva auto show. Since they're too cool for the word "concept," it's called the "Vision GLK BLUETEC HYBRID." In caps lock. So remember it. It's a diesel electric hybrid, pairing Benz's well-reviewed 2.2-liter straight four oil burner with an electric motor. The numbers we care about: 224, 400, 40 and 7.3. That's horses, ft.-lbs. of torque, miles per gallon and 0 – 60. All in all, them's some impressive stats– especially when you consider that this is a big, heavy, boxy SUV (it's also noxiously fugly). The powertrain might yield truly earth shattering data in the C-Class sedan, but hey, this hybrid SUV doubles the mileage of the equivalent gas-fed V6, without any impact on performance. Diesel electric is also a nice idea because it minimizes particulate emissions when you start the car and while driving at slow speeds around town. The GLK goes on sale here in 2008. As for the powertrain, Benz specifically mentions that it meets America's "stringent" BIN5 standard. But not, perhaps, our aesthetic sensibilities…
[View the GLK BLUETEC HYBRID Pixamo Gallery here.]
Good lord what is it with all these ugly vehicles these days?
That thing is a train wreck – you can’t stop staring at it.
Looks like a Forester having a really bad grill day.
There has to be an explanation for why all the cars have the front ends modified with an ugly stick before leaving the studio.
Aerodynamics? Not likely.
Cooling? They aren’t all too big, just ugly.
I don’t know that much about how these things are made. Maybe that’s it? Is there some production or supply reason for the grills o death?
I’m waiting for the current design fad of big clown wheels, big honk’n grill, big honk’n headlights and boxy styling to go the way of running boards.
I’m not a fan of hybrids but an oil burner makes sense. I suppose with creative tuning you could use relatively small diesels or perhaps even gas turbines in cars that real people can drive.
Landcrusher :
February 29th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
There has to be an explanation for why all the cars have the front ends modified with an ugly stick before leaving the studio.
Aerodynamics? Not likely.
Cooling? They aren’t all too big, just ugly.
I don’t know that much about how these things are made. Maybe that’s it? Is there some production or supply reason for the grills o death?
I can’t speak to the ugly part, but cars do have to meet pedestrian safety standards in Europe. Still, it seems they could’ve drawn at least a single attractive line somewhere on the GLK. As it sits, I can’t believe anyone would buy it for anything other than its Mercedes badge.
montgomery burns :
February 29th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
I’m waiting for the current design fad of big clown wheels, big honk’n grill, big honk’n headlights and boxy styling to go the way of running boards.
I’m not a fan of hybrids but an oil burner makes sense. I suppose with creative tuning you could use relatively small diesels or perhaps even gas turbines in cars that real people can drive.
The first thought I had was, “Why such ginormous wheels?” I know diesels have high torque numbers, but it looks like it’d take a PowerStroke to turn one of those monsters.
I had been under the impression that the diesel-electric combination was not viable, because of extremely high cost of this powertrain combo.
From what I understood, a diesel engine is already noteably more expensive to produce, and of course a whole electric propulsion subsystem is quite expensive as well, making the theoretically appealing diesel-electric combination impractical in real-world terms.
Any insight on
1. the accuracy of my above assumptions
(and if true)
2. How / what Mercedes-Benz did to make this vehicle commercially viable?
Like BMW, Mercedes design has gone down the drain and they still sell because of the “logo” on them. A pile of “doo” with a Mercedes or BMW logo would probably sell.
Looks like a Dodge Nitro but only uglier (I never thought I could say that).
The family DNA pops up in unexpected places.
But the powertrain is impressive.
Looks like the Sebring designers got the assignment on this vehicle also.
MPGs are quite impressive for an SUV, even a small one. What’s with the L-O-N-G hood, though?
Seriously horrible styling. Its a Forrester with an ungainly mismatched Merc grill.
If those stats are accurate that MB will get prettier over time. A good comparison would be a very plain woman with 20 mil in her checking account.
A good comparison would be a very plain woman with 20 mil in her checking account.
hmm, more like an ugly woman who will let you use her 50% off gas discount. Not really worth it.
But there may be hope in her fit younger sister, who may be getting said discount.
seoultrain:
That’s priceless. A+.
It’s like M.C. Escher designed an automobile. You know the front grille can’t possibly be taller than the entire height of the car, but somehow it *is*. Freaky.