EMC - New Mercedes-Benz GL goes on sale in Abu Dhabi

The premium off-roader offers excellent handling both on and off-road and pampers occupants with its extremely spacious accommodation and the comfort of a luxury saloon.

"With its poised, assured presence, the GL-Class leaves one in no doubt about its aspirations to conquer this market segment" said Monzer Al Rifai, General Manager, EMC.

The welcoming light and airy interior with its top-quality materials, double sunroof and CD changer, provides passengers with that feel-good atmosphere as only Mercedes-Benz knows how, with more than ample space for up to seven people.

The GL-Class offers superb comfort on board - whether you're just going to the nearest shopping mall with the family, cruising hundreds of kilometres to your holiday destination or negotiating rough terrain.

Occupants still enjoy good freedom of movement even on the two full-sized individual seats in the third row of seats.

The distance to the middle row of seats is 815 mm, with 979 mm headroom for passengers. If fewer seats are required, the rear individual seats can be stowed electrically at the push of a button, either individually or in tandem to provide a completely flat load surface.

In line with the wide range of applications handled by the versatile all-rounder, the frnt and rear THERMATIC automatic climate control system provides consistent temperature for all seven seats on those sweltering summer days.

The GL-Class makes full use of the advantages of its unitised body, combining optimum strength with intelligent lightweight steel design. The result is excellent passive safety. Combined with the front and rear deformation zones, the high-strength occupant cell forms an efficient base for the occupant protection systems that include:
• Adaptive, two-stage airbags for the driver and front passenger
• Sidebags in the front, and in the middle row of seats as an option
• Windowbags across all three rows of seats from the A to the D-pillar
• NECK-PRO crash-responsive head restraints for the driver and front passenger as an option
• 3-point seat belts on all seven seats
• Seat-belt tensioners and adaptive belt-force limiters for the driver and front passenger, seat-belt tensioners and belt-force limiters on the outer seats in the middle row
With the optionally available PRE-SAFE® preventive occupant protection system, a world first in this market segment, Mercedes-Benz has raised safety to an even higher level. The system's most striking feature, passive and active safety systems are networked with each other. PRE-SAFE® utilises the sensors in the dynamic handling control systems such as ABS, BAS (Brake Assist) and ESP® and optimises the protective function of the passive safety components in potential accident situations.

The GL-Class also takes the issue of pedestrian protection to a new level. The front section includes precisely defined ample crumple space between the body and the major assemblies underneath. In conjunction with impact zones that are designed to yield, this design provides a high degree of protection both for pedestrians and cyclists.

The GL-Class meets all the requirements of a state-of-the-art, luxury SUV and even redefines them on a higher level. Yet the hallmark Mercedes off-roader genes such as superlative robustness, ruggedness and long-term durability have not been compromised.

It is not without reason that the model designation echoes the legendary precursor of all Mercedes-Benz off-road vehicles - the G-Class. The evergreen off-roader is now in its 27th year of production and will continue to be marketed alongside the new GL-Class.

4MATIC - the permanent four-wheel drive from Mercedes-Benz - provides the GL-Class with superior handling whatever the conditions. Together with the standard-fit AIRMATIC air suspension, the precise speed-sensitive power steering and the ADS Adaptive Damper System also fitted as standard, the imposing GL-Class handles impressively.

Special off-road features such as Downhill Speed Regulation (DSR), hill-start as-sist and off-road ABS assist the GL-Class driver off road. The standard Off-Road Pro engineering package means the GL-Class can also handle the most extreme off-road terrain. This includes a two-speed transfer case with a low range ratio and 100 percent differential locks for the transfer case and the rear axle. The modified AIRMATIC air suspension, designed specifically for the more demanding conditions, increases the ground clearance to a maximum of 307 millimetres where required, and raises the fording depth to 600 millimetres.

The ultra-modern engine line-up in GL-Class models provides superlative drive comfort and compelling performance coupled with superior fuel consumption figures compared with other vehicles in the class. The newly developed 5.5-litre, 388-hp engine in the GL 500, launched earlier in the new S-Class, celebrates its world premiere in the GL-Class. In the GL 450 the 4.6-litre engine develops an impressive 340 hp.

All GL-Class engine variants come with the 7G-TRONIC seven-speed automatic transmission with DIRECT SELECT as standard. Excellent performance and low fuel consumption result from the perfect combination of ultra-modern engines with 7G-TRONIC and the friction-optimised powertrain.

"Superlative drive comfort and space for the whole family, compelling performance both on and off-road coupled with superior fuel economy, will make the new GL-Class a segment leader," said Monzer Al Rifai.