100 August 2012 BTM DAVID M. ROBERTSON Model Mercedes GLK 350 Model year 2012 Engine type 3.5-litre V6 engine Displacement 3,498 cc Horsepower 225 hp @ 6,500 rpm Torque 370 Nm @ 3,500 rpm Transmission 7-speed tronic plus gearbox Acceleration 0 to 100 km/h: 6.5 seconds Top speed 238 km/h The Mercedes-Benz GLK offers something different for those seeking a little extra from this German brand; appealing looks that camouflage engineering excellence. Surveying the sports utility vehicles (SUV) within the Al Haddad Motors showroom in Isa Town, it reminded me of the book Beauty and the Beast. The rugged looks of the Mercedes-Benz G Class indicate that this SUV will be at home off the road. Across the showroom floor stood the Mercedes GLK which I was to drive; very much the beauty and not out of place at all driving along an urban road. It’s also pretty nifty off the road as well, I might add. As you might expect from a German-engineered vehicle, the performance and the ride were extremely smooth; everything functioned as anticipated, and when the extra power was required it was delivered on demand. The philosophy of Mercedes is simple — to give our best for people who deserve the best. Expectation met is the conclusion one would reach having taken the GLK 350 around the island for a spin. Spacious on the interior with easily accessed controls on the centre console and the steering wheel, it is as the GLK design template describes — expressive lines and a contemporary approach to yield a distinctive character. The secret to good design is often to accomplish a look and feel that is deceptively simple, yet the soft touches and refinement are clearly visible. The concept behind the GLK was to infuse the ruggedness of an off-roader, through its engineering and performance, within the compact dimensions of a passenger car. To achieve this required an intelligent use of the interior space, and Mercedes have not disappointed in this regard. What drives the smooth ride is the agility control suspension and dampening system that automatically adjusts to match the road conditions. If that is not enough for you, you can always install the optional exterior sports package, which lowers the height of the SUV by around 20 mm. The impact of this is most obvious when cornering at speed. The idea of having seven gears might appear little more than a marketing exercise to improve the image of a vehicle; this number of gears, though, does serve a very specific purpose. It facilitates short intervals between gear shifts; when you press the accelerator, there is no perceptible interruption in performance. It’s always fun to test out this aspect of a vehicle, particularly with an SUV where the extra weight, compared to a sedan, offers a true indication of the underlying engineering. The GLK glided through this test as effortlessly as one would imagine by looking at the exterior design lines. As the old adage says, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. There’s no doubting both the aesthetic and the engineering beauty of the Mercedes GLK. E Call 17 785-454. motoringwheels Pleasing to the Eye
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