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(EMAILWIRE.COM, February 07, 2012 ) Hartford, CT -- Mercedes-Benz already offers more diesel options than its German competitors, but the luxury brand is still pushing to bring additional fuel-efficient engines to U.S. Mercedes-Benz dealers. To that end, the Stuttgart, Germany-based automaker will add a diesel model to the 2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK crossover lineup. Due to reach showrooms this fall, the diesel GLK will give fans of the brand six clean-diesel options to choose from.
The latest diesel model comes as part of a mid-cycle refresh for the Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class. The crossover is expected to also get a redesigned fascia and an interior upgrade similar to what the automaker gave the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class last year. The result will be a more upscale product that Mercedes-Benz hopes will lure more buyers to the brand. As is, the GLK has performed admirably as a gateway vehicle, with up to 65 percent of buyers being first-time Mercedes-Benz owners.
“The GLK crossover has been designed as an entrance point for people looking to experience the luxury of Mercedes-Benz ownership at a lower price, and the new upgrades will make it much harder to tell the GLK apart from its more-expensive siblings,” said M. Todd Pancavage, general manager of New Country Motor Cars, a Hartford, Connecticut Mercedes-Benz dealership. “Meanwhile, a new fuel-efficient diesel option will offer buyers continued value without sacrificing that signature Mercedes-Benz performance.”
According to Car and Driver magazine, the smaller GLK crossover will likely get a suitably sized diesel engine displacing 2.1 liters through four cylinders. The powerplant is expected to produce 204 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque, and Car and Driver claims that the automaker is shooting for a fuel economy in the high 30-mpg range.
Diesel models currently represent a sizeable portion of sales of the Mercedes-Benz GL and ML luxury utility vehicles, contributing up to 30 percent of GL sales and up to 20 percent of ML sales. Both vehicles make use of a 3.0-liter turbocharged diesel V6 that produces 455 pound-feet of torque, while the engine returns 27 mpg on the highway in the ML350 BlueTEC.
The GLK sold 24,310 units in 2011, and Mercedes-Benz hopes the new diesel option will help increase U.S. sales of its smallest utility vehicle to the high 30,000s. The new model is part of a larger effort by the automaker to increase U.S. sales more than 20 percent in the next few years, a goal that should be aided by the release of four new compact cars starting next year.
“Mercedes-Benz has been on the move recently, creating new, innovative vehicles that break new ground in fuel efficiency, luxury and technology,” Pancavage noted. “We expect to see big things in the next year, especially the diesel GLK, which should help create many more Connecticut Mercedes-Benz enthusiasts.”
About New Country Motor Cars:
New Country Motor Cars is a premier Connecticut Mercedes-Benz dealership, and theyÂ’ve proven their excellence by receiving the prestigious Mercedes-Benz Best of the Best award for 2010. They have an impressive selection of new and used Mercedes-Benz models to choose from, and their skilled service technicians ensure Mercedes-Benz owners get the most out of their vehicles. Part of the New Country Motor Car Group, New Country Motor Cars is located at One Weston Street in Hartford, Connecticut. They can be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NewCountryMercedesBenz or reached by phone at 888-267-2959, and their extensive Mercedes-Benz inventory can be viewed at www.newcountrymercedes.com.
Press Release Courtesy of Online PR Media: http://bit.ly/zMRhto
Cambridge PR Group
Michael Wong
617-500-2302
mwongPR@yahoo.com 
Source: EmailWire.com
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