PKW9000000122 204 series GLK, 2012 - 2015

204 series GLK, 2012 - 2015

In spring 2012, Mercedes-Benz gave the GLK compact SUV, which had been successfully established on the market for almost four years, a thorough facelift. In addition to subtle touch-ups to the exterior appearance, the main focus of the revision was on an upgraded, partially redesigned interior as well as technical enhancements in the areas of powertrain, active and passive safety as well as assistance systems. In addition, the range of optional extras was updated and further refined.

Newly designed main headlamps, a radiator grille with two louvres that was more in line with the design of the current Mercedes-Benz passenger car range, roof rails with a modified appearance that were significantly lighter in weight, as well as a rear section with new light units, modified simulated underguard and exhaust system tailpipe trim elements integrated into the rear apron all pointed to the redesign of the GLK models on the body side. In addition, new light-alloy wheels in 17-, 19- and 20-inch sizes were fitted as standard and became available as optional extras, and were available in various paint finishes as well as with a high-sheen finish. As before, the AMG Exterior Sports Package was available as an option, and now also included AMG LED daytime running lights in addition to newly designed 19-inch AMG light-alloy wheels in a 5-spoke design.

The modifications to the interior of the compact SUV were more extensive. The most eye-catching feature was the completely redesigned instrument panel, which featured a large decorative element in aluminium or, optionally, in wood. Modified air vents and new smaller trim elements also freshened up the look of the interior. Optional extras now included a colour display housed in the instrument cluster and indirect ambient lighting. In a sense, the relocation of the DIRECT SELECT selector lever of the 7G-TRONIC automatic transmission to the steering wheel's column tube was a return to Mercedes-Benz traditions. By comparison, the control element was positioned more conveniently, while it also released additional space on the centre console for a storage compartment that could be locked with a retractable cover.

The optional Interior Sports Package now included black sports seats upholstered in the materials ARTICO/DINAMICA with contrasting colour topstitching. It also included, among other things, a 3-spoke multifunction steering wheel covered in nappa leather, as was the gear lever, and brushed stainless steel sports pedals.

The range of infotainment systems was also updated. New features included the optional COMAND Online multimedia system with hard-disc navigation, internet connectivity, the LINGUATRONIC voice control system, various interfaces for external devices and the Mercedes-Benz eCall emergency call system, which automatically notified emergency services in the event of a serious accident and transmitted information such as the exact location of the accident or the vehicle model involved. COMAND Online could also be optionally equipped with a TV tuner for DVB-T reception. A 12-speaker HARMAN KARDON® Logic 7® surround sound system, also available as an option, provided particularly high-quality acoustics.

The revised GLK models naturally also benefited from the latest Mercedes-Benz developments in the field of safety and assistance systems. The range of features - which could be ordered individually or combined into equipment packages - included, for example, ATTENTION ASSIST drowsiness detection, the PRE-SAFE® anticipatory occupant protection system, active Lane Keeping Assist and Blind Spot Assist or DISTRONIC PLUS proximity control including BAS PLUS Brake Assist. The new electromechanically assisted Direct-Steer system used in the GLK was equipped with the innovative STEER CONTROL steering assistance system as standard. In addition to the ADAPTIVE BRAKE®, ESP® or 4ETS dynamic handling systems, this system used perceptible impulses in the steering wheel rim to provide information on precisely dosed counter-steering measures as soon as the vehicle sensors registered slightly unstable driving conditions that could be counteracted by simple steering corrections.

Equally innovative was a piece of equipment that provided a significantly improved overview when driving off paved roads at night: in conjunction with the optional Off-Road Engineering package and the Intelligent Light System ILS, special off-road lights, available as an option, provided particularly broad and bright illumination of the immediate area in front of the vehicle. This involved the bi-xenon headlamp modules swivelling outwards by 6 degrees, with a simultaneous increase in light output. As soon as the driver switched on the driving lights in the Off-Road drive program, the off-road lights were automatically activated.

The range of engines available for the updated GLK was even more efficient and environmentally friendly. The range of diesel engines was extended by two newly configured versions of the 2.2-litre four-cylinder unit from the OM 651 series. The GLK 220 BlueTEC 4MATIC and the GLK 250 BlueTEC 4MATIC featured the particularly effective BlueTEC exhaust aftertreatment technology with SCR catalytic converter and AdBlue® injection developed by Mercedes-Benz. Both engines, the performance data of which were identical to those of the previous BlueEFFICIENCY models, thus already complied with the Euro 6 emissions standard that was not due to come into force until 2015.

As before, the 3.0-litre V6 in the GLK 350 CDI 4MATIC topped the list of diesel engines. Not only had it undergone a power upgrade to 195 kW/265 hp - 25 kW/34 hp more than the previous model - but it now boasted peak torque of 620 Nm, guaranteeing powerful pull across the entire rev range. With support from the new 7G-TRONIC PLUS automatic transmission, the Mercedes-Benz developers also succeeded in reducing the fuel consumption of the V6 engine by 17%. According to the NEDC standard, this now averaged 6.9 to 7.1 litres per 100 kilometres, with a corresponding reduction in CO₂ emissions.

The GLK 350 4MATIC BlueEFFICIENCY remained in the range as the only petrol-engined model for the time being. Its engine had already benefited from the BlueDIRECT technology package a year earlier and was equipped with third-generation direct petrol injection with spray-guided combustion and piezo injectors as well as multi-spark ignition. The 225 kW/306 hp six-cylinder engine delivered sports car-like performance with average standard consumption figures of well under 9 litres of premium petrol per 100 kilometres.

In addition to the two BlueTEC models with their special exhaust gas aftertreatment technology, all engine versions available for the GLK now featured the BlueEFFICIENCY efficiency-enhancing package of measures. This included, among other things, an ECO start/stop function, friction-reduced axle drives, the electromechanically assisted Direct-Steer system, tyres with particularly low rolling resistance and the 7G-TRONIC PLUS 7-speed automatic transmission with optimised efficiency. In addition, an ECO indicator in the instrument cluster supported the driver in making their driving style as energy-efficient as possible.

The range of optional extras available for the GLK was also expanded as part of the facelift. With the help of individual options and equipment packages, each vehicle could be customised according to the customer's wishes. For example, in addition to the familiar exterior and interior packages and the Off-Road Engineering package, an Exterior Chrome Package and a Parking Package were available, which included a 360° camera and Active Parking Assist with automatic parking space entry and exit function as well as PARKTRONIC. Individual options included front seat climate control including heated seats, seat ventilation and perforated leather upholstery, or also wood trim in high-gloss black ash wood or high-gloss brown burr walnut wood to enhance the interior. The range of available paint colours was also revised. A total of 12 solid and metallic colours could now be specified, including two special paint finishes: diamond white metallic BRIGHT and luzonite grey. In line with this, seven single-tone and three two-tone interiors were available.

The first updated GLK rolled off the production line at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Bremen at the beginning of June 2012. Gross list prices started at €36,235.50 for the rear-wheel-drive GLK 200 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY and ended at €50,099 for the top-of-the-range GLK 350 4MATIC BlueEFFICIENCY. Just below the €50,000 threshold was the diesel-powered GLK 350 CDI 4MATIC BlueEFFICIENCY, which came in at a price of €49,742.

In the summer of the following year, the range of petrol-engined GLK models was expanded and at the same time the BlueEFFICIENCY suffix was dropped across the board from the model designation. The GLK 250 4MATIC was the first four-cylinder petrol engine to join the six-cylinder version that until then had been the only one available. The newly developed, particularly lightweight power unit of the M 274 engine series was equipped with exhaust gas turbochargers and direct petrol injection. This resulted in both a high power output and a rich torque curve with linear power delivery. The 2.0-litre unit produced 155 kW/211 hp at 5500 rpm and maximum torque of 350 Nm, which was available between 1200 and 4000 rpm. The superior performance - the top speed was 215 km/h, the acceleration time from 0 to 100 km/h was 7.9 seconds - was accompanied by average consumption figures in the range of 8 litres per 100 kilometres.

At the time of its market launch, the GLK 250 4MATIC was available for a gross list price of €44,149.

The new four-cylinder petrol engine was not left as the only alternative to the six-cylinder petrol engine. In the summer of 2014, just under a year before this model series came to an end, Mercedes-Benz once again expanded the range of petrol models with the rear-wheel-drive GLK 250 and the GLK 200, which rounded off the range at the bottom. While the GLK 250 was powered by the same engine that was also used in the 4MATIC model, the 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder in the GLK 200 was adjusted to 135 kW/184 hp and a maximum torque of 300 Nm. Even with this, it was still possible to realise impressive driving performance: the top speed was 210 km/h and the acceleration sprint to 100 km/h took 8.8 seconds. However, no further fuel savings could be achieved with the power-reduced engine - the average values were roughly on a par with those of the GLK 250. With a gross list price of €37,128, the lowest-priced petrol-engined GLK was offered at exactly €59.50 more than the corresponding diesel model GLK 200 CDI.

The six-cylinder petrol-engined GLK 300 4MATIC and GLK 350, which also benefited from the model upgrades, continued to be produced exclusively for foreign markets. The former had been dropped from the domestic portfolio in 2010, while the particularly powerful rear-wheel-drive model never went on sale in Germany. Both models continued their careers with great success until the end of production of the GLK series, which took place gradually from around mid-2015 until the end of the year.

At that time, the range of gross list prices extended from €37,425.50 for the GLK 200 CDI to €52,360 reported for the GLK 350 4MATIC.

The unit sales statistics for the GLK models impressively reflect the proverbial SUV boom that had set in over the entire production period. In total, around 725,000 units left the Bremen production facilities between 2008 and 2015, including well over 400,000 vehicles after the facelift alone. This gain in substance was due neither to the expansion of the model range nor to the production period: the second cycle was even slightly shorter than the first one, which lasted until 2012. In addition, there were some changes in the ranking of the most sought-after models. First place was now taken by the export model, the GLK 300 4MATIC, by a wide margin, of which just over 100,000 units were built after the facelift. This was followed by the petrol-engined GLK 250 4MATIC, which was only added to the range in 2013 and achieved a production figure of almost 70,000 vehicles in just two years on the market. The most popular diesel-engined model, the GLK 220 CDI 4MATIC BlueEFFICIENCY, or from spring 2013 the GLK 220 CDI 4MATIC, followed with just under 65,000 units, along with the top-of-the-range GLK 350 4MATIC with around 60,000 vehicles.

As before, the three rear-wheel-drive petrol and diesel versions did not play a prominent role in the statistics. While production figures for the GLK 200 CDI and the GLK 200 as a whole settled in the low five-figure range, the GLK 250, launched in 2014, actually went largely unnoticed: by the end, sales of this particular model had not even reached 300 units.

Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class, model year 2012, technology, Assistance- and Safety systems
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