The new Mercedes-Benz GL-Class: Model programme and equipment* - Premium features

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The optional equipment, which can be selected together with different paint finishes and many interior design options offer a rich variety of possibilities. In short, every customer can customise the GL-Class to meet his or her own personal requirements and needs.

In addition to the standard single-tone paintwork in calcite white or black, the GL-Class may be ordered in the following optional metallic paint finishes: cavansite blue, iridium silver, obsidian black, pearl beige, citrine brown, cinnabar red and tenorite grey. The special diamond white metallic BRIGHT metallic paint finish is also a new addition to the wide range of available colours.

The interior of the GL-Class features perforated ARTICO man-made leather upholstery as standard, optionally available in alpaca grey, almond beige or black. ARTICO also covers the dashboard. Different leather appointments are also optionally available: single-tone leather upholstery in alpaca grey, almond beige or black as well as multi-coloured interiors in black/alpaca grey, black/almond beige and black/tobacco brown/marron. designo leather in exclusive marron, porcelain or black variants are of exceptionally high quality with intricate topstitching in a diamond-shaped pattern on the seats and door centre panels, leather covers on the dashboard and upper door panels, black DINAMICA roof lining, special floormats with leather edging and designo metal badges typical for this appointment level.

* All information is based on the international model programme; country-specific variations are possible.

A 12-button multifunction steering wheel is standard. The piano lacquered wood/leather steering wheel enhances the designo trim line package in combination with the designo black piano lacquered trim elements. The trim elements are also available in brown open-pore ash wood (GL 500 4MATIC BlueEFFICIENCY series) or brown high-gloss eucalyptus wood (GL 350 BlueTEC 4MATIC series), dark graphite poplar or burr walnut. Bright crystalline trim elements in aluminium provide an especially sporty feel.

Further highlights of the completely redesigned interior include the centre colour display in the instrument cluster with photo-realistic displays, 3-tone indirect ambient lighting or the optionally available climate controlled multicontour seats. The seat climate control system is much more effective thanks to the reversing seat cooling function within the first five minutes. The new electric EASY-ENTRY system in the rear compartment of the GL-Class is also impressive: at the press of a button - from both the centre and rear rows of seats - the centre seats on the driver's and front passenger sides fold, offering a comfortable entry and exit from the vehicle.

Concert hall acoustics and individualised climate comfort

The GL 350 BlueTEC 4MATIC offers as standard the dual-zone THERMATIC automatic climate control system, a combined activated charcoal filter to reduce dust and odours, a sunlight sensor, rear compartment air vents and a window demisting sensor. The standard 3-zone THERMOTRONIC automatic climate control system in the GL 500 4MATIC BlueEFFICIENCY provides superior, sophisticated control of the interior climate. The system includes temperature control for the driver, front passenger and rear passengers, residual heat mode, combined dust and activated charcoal filter, separate air distribution control for the driver/front passenger and rear compartment, individual FOCUS, MEDIUM and DIFFUSE air conditioning modes, an air quality and dew point sensor, a control unit in the rear compartment with temperature control, additional air vents on the B-pillars and a booster blower for rear-compartment ventilation.

The standard entertainment centre of the GL-Class is called Audio 20 CD and features a dual-tuner radio, a 14.7 cm (5.8") diagonal TFT display, mp3/wma/aac compatible CD drive, USB interface, including CD cover display, an AUX-IN jack (in the centre armrest), Bluetooth® interface with hands-free function, streaming audio for playback of music, and a telephone keypad. The Audio 20 CD is optionally available with a 6-disc CD changer, the "Logic7" surround sound system by the audio specialist harman/kardon, or you can add the Becker® MAP PILOT, which is a fully integrated navigation module with a 2D/3D map display for Europe. Updates of map data, function software and additional features can be made at home using a computer with Internet access, since the module can be removed.

For the first time, the GL-Class is ready for the internet thanks to the COMAND Online multimedia system. The system includes rapid hard disk navigation with a high resolution 17.8 cm colour display, topographical as well as 3D map display, three years of free navigation updates for map data, automatic tailback avoidance (TMC Pro), lane recommendation, route recording as well as departure from pre-defined routes, storage, import and display of personal points of interest on the map, option to use the integrated Mercedes-Benz Apps freely as well as to view internet pages, LINGUATRONIC voice control system, Bluetooth® interface with hands-free function and streaming audio for playback of music, telephone keypad, dual-tuner radio, CD/DVD drive, USB interface and AUX-IN jack in the centre armrest, slot for SDHC memory cards, 10 GB internal storage (Music Register) for compressed audio files (mp3, wma, aac), CD cover display, DVD audio/video and Picture Viewer. Other functions included are Speed Limit Assist and the Mercedes-Benz emergency call feature.

COMAND Online is optionally available with a 6-disc DVD changer. The audio experience in the GL-Class is particularly impressive with the optional Bang & Olufsen BeoSound AMG High-End Surround Sound System featuring an overall system output of 1,200 watts and 14 high-end loudspeakers. Passengers in the centre seats can enjoy the best entertainment using the rear seat entertainment system with two 20.3 cm displays behind the front head restraints, a DVD player, two sets of headphones and a remote control.

Attractive equipment and appointments packages available upon customer request

AMG Exterior Sports package:

- AMG bodystyling, front and rear apron in body colour

- AMG wing extensions

- Illuminated side running boards in aluminium finish with rubber studs

- AMG 53.3 cm (21-inch) 5-twin-spoke light alloy wheels with 295/40 R 21 tyres

- Sports brakes with perforated 48.3 cm (19-inch) brake discs

- Brake calliper covers with Mercedes-Benz lettering

- designo exclusive package

- Optionally available in marron, black or porcelain

- Seats, door centre panels, armrests in doors and on the centre console as well as hand rest in single-tone designo leather

- designo-specific topstitching in a diamond-shaped pattern

- Instrument panel and shoulderline trim in the doors in black designo leather (if trim is designo marron, the instrument panel is marron)

- Black DINAMICA roof lining

- designo floor mats with designo black leather edging and designo metal badges

- Anti-theft protection package including anti-theft alarm system with protection and interior monitoring system

- Driving assistance package Plus including DISTRONIC PLUS, PRE-SAFE® Brake, Brake Assist (BAS PLUS), automatic child seat recognition, Active Lane Keeping Assist and Active Blind Spot Assist

- Night View Assist Plus with automatic person recognition

- ON&OFFROAD package including drive program switch with six drive programs and animation on the COMAND display, manual mode for automatic transmission, 100% centre differential lock, front and rear axles with adapted 4ETS, off-road reduction ratio due to additional reduction gear (low range), underbody protection under engine, reinforced underfloor panelling, special off-road algorithms for ABS, ETS, ESP© and AIRMATIC ADS with three different increasing levels of air suspension, off-road lighting (if equipped with Intelligent Light System)

- Parking package with 360° camera including Active Parking Assist with PARKTRONIC

- Smoker package incl. ashtrays in place of front/rear stowage compartment and cigarette lighter in the front

- Mirror package including automatically dimming interior mirror and exterior mirror on driver's side as well as electrically folding exterior mirrors on left and right

- Lane Tracking package including Lane Keeping Assist and Blind Spot Assist

Winter package:

- auxiliary heating with remote control

- heated windscreen washer

- heated front seats

The best in information and entertainment: optional infotainment systems

In addition to systems described, such as COMAND Online, further features available include the following:

- Bang & Olufsen BeoSound AMG High-End Surround Sound System with an overall system output of 1,200 watts and 14 high-end loudspeakers, two "Acoustic Lens Technology" tweeters with LED lighting in the front mirror triangles, silver chrome aluminium loudspeaker covers on midrange/woofer speakers in the front doors as well as for the woofers B&O-specific True Image™ COMAND menu for individual sound tuning in the rear

- Digital radio (DAB) for the DAB, DMB and DAB+ standards

- Rear Seat Entertainment system including two 20.3 cm displays integrated in the front head restraints, DVD player, two sets of headphones and remote control

- Harman Kardon® Logic 7® surround sound system including 11-channel DSP amplifier with a total output of 830 watts in conjunction with 14 high-performance loudspeakers, Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS listening experience possible if used with COMAND Online

- Media Interface universal interface in the glove compartment forvarious mobile audio devices (e.g. iPod), including consumer cable set consisting of USB, iPod and AUX-IN cables

- TV tuner for analogue and digital reception (only in conjunction with COMAND)

Credits: Daimler AG

Copyright © 2012, mercedesgla. All rights reserved.

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The new Mercedes-Benz GL-Class: Development and production - Digital worlds in real vehicles

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With the new Mixed Reality development tool, which Mercedes-Benz fully implemented for the first time during the development of the new GL-Class vehicle, it was possible to link data from the "Digital Prototype" development program to real experimental vehicles directly for the first time. The advantage of this new method – also known by the generic term Augmented Reality – lies in the ability to speed up the entire development process significantly. However, Mercedes-Benz does not just use this accelerated process to shorten development times. The Mixed Reality engineers use it to conduct far more trials within the same time span, which significantly improves the quality of the overall development process.

Previously, digital and real processes ran consecutively: early studies were conducted during the initial development phase in the virtual environment. To ensure that these solutions could be put to the test in real-life situations, mock-ups and part builds, such as seating configurations for ergonomic studies or complete vehicle prototypes, were then produced. Engineers then made decisions either using computers in the virtual world or directly affecting the real builds. Mixed Reality linked these two worlds, the digital and the real, thus introducing completely new development perspectives. Modifications and new concepts from the virtual world can now be visualised, checked and assessed directly in the real-life environment.

Combining a virtual engine with a real vehicle

Mixed Reality first uses a camera to capture photos of a particular area of the prototype, such as the engine compartment. The precise spatial relationship between the real-life and digital world is established using tracking systems, which precisely determine the current position of the video camera in relation to the overall vehicle. These video images are then displayed on a monitor and a variety of different components are "installed" virtually. Typical examples of application include positioning new electrical components such as wiring harnesses or control units, optimised heat shields or hydraulic functional units such as the brake force booster with corresponding lines. However, it is also possible to conduct installation tests with new engine configurations. In this case, the engineers assess whether a modified engine will fit in the existing installation space or if it can be easily mounted during the production process. Special spatial analyses are used by developers to assess the accessibility of individual components within the engine compartment to ensure that installation and maintenance work can be easily carried out on the vehicle at a future date. The first validation of virtual models is taking place in the real world with the use of Mixed Reality. This process has meanwhile been firmly integrated into the Mercedes-Benz development program.

15 years of production in Tuscaloosa

With the start of production of the new GL-Class in the US automotive plant in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, an inspiring success story that began 15 years ago is being updated. Production in the plant started in 1997 following the ground-breaking ceremony in 1995. The site manufactured the Mercedes-Benz M-Class and later added the GL-Class and R-Class SUVs. In 2009 the plant employees had the opportunity to celebrate a very special anniversary: the one-millionth SUV, an ML 350 BlueTEC, left the production plant. In 2011 the plant produced more than 148,000 vehicles and employed approximately 2,800 people by year's end.

Starting in 2014, the next generation of the current C-Class for the North American market will also be produced at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Tuscaloosa, and in 2015 a fifth Mercedes-Benz model series will be added to the production portfolio.

Credits: Daimler AG

Copyright © 2012, mercedesgla. All rights reserved.

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The new Mercedes-Benz GL-Class: Drive and efficiency - More driving pleasure, lower consumption

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Both the GL 350 BlueTEC 4MATIC's BlueTEC diesel engine as well as the GL 500 4MATIC BlueEFFICIENCY's turbocharged BlueDIRECT V8 petrol engine offer exhilarating performance combine with high efficiency. On average, the new range's models consume 18 or, respectively, 20 percent less than their predecessors – while output has been substantially increased.

The GL 350 BlueTEC 4MATIC with SCR technology and AdBlue® injection today already meets the requirements of the emissions standard EU 6 planned for 2014. At a consumption of 7.4 - 8.0 l/100 km (NEDC combined), the diesel model consumes 20 percent less than its predecessor. CO2 emissions of 192 grammes per kilometre are the best value in this output segment. Despite the significantly reduced energy requirements, performance has been substantially increased. While the first-generation GL 350 BlueTEC's output was 155 kW (211 hp) and its maximum torque was 540 Newton metres, the new model now achieves 190 kW (258 hp) and 620 Newton metres. Together with the output, the capacity for acceleration and the top speed have of course also increased.

An overview of the key data:

*Preliminary data for international model range, country-specific deviations possible.

The GL 350 BlueTEC 4MATIC is among the cleanest diesel-powered SUVs in the world: BlueTEC is a technology developed by Mercedes-Benz that reduces diesel-vehicle emissions, particularly nitrogen oxides. The system injects AdBlue®, an aqueous urea solution, into the exhaust flow. This releases ammonia which then reduces up to eighty percent of the nitrogen oxides to harmless nitrogen and water in the downstream SCR catalytic converter (Selective Catalytic Reduction). The result: the model today already meets the emission values required by the EU 6 standard planned for 2014. The AdBlue® tank is located under the luggage-compartment floor to protect it in the event of a crash, has a capacity of 31.2 litres and is refilled at the regular 25,000-kilometre maintenance intervals. The filler aperture is located behind the fuel filler flap on the side of the vehicle, behind the fuel filler neck, and is easily recognisable by the bright blue cap. GL drivers can thus easily refill the tank themselves if they make intensive use of the GL's off-road capabilities and happen to find themselves beyond the frontiers of civilisation without access to a service station. AdBlue® is available in refill containers at every Mercedes-Benz dealership. The need for a refill is indicated in good time in the instrument cluster.

Superior thrust – the GL 500 4MATIC BlueEFFICIENCY

With NEDC consumption figures of 11.3 - 11.5 l/100 km, the GL 500 4MATIC BlueEFFICIENCY features the most economic V8 petrol engine in its class. The engine is a turbocharged 4.6-litre BlueDIRECT power unit with 320 kW (435 hp). The latest generation consumes an average eighteen percent less fuel and, thanks to EU 5-compliance, offers the best classification presently available.

The new V8 engine produces 320 kW (435 hp) from 15 percent less cubic capacity (4663 compared to 5461 cc), roughly 12 percent more power than its predecessor's 285 kW (388 hp). At the same time, torque has been increased from 530 to 700 newton metres – a 32-percent increase. As the high maximum torque is already available at only 1,800 revs, the new V8 produces superior power even at low engine speeds and provides a smoothness of performance that is exemplary even for an eight-cylinder engine. Mercedes-Benz's engineers achieved the higher output from the lower cubic capacity primarily by means of two exhaust-gas turbochargers – one each per cylinder bank.

The turbochargers are designed to provide high torque even at low engine speeds – compared to the predecessor's engine, they produce above 40 percent more at 2,000 rpm. Outstanding 700 newton metres are available in the range from 1,800 to 3,500 revs. The driver will thus notice no turbo lag, instead perceiving the new V8 as pleasant and powerful. The latest generation of engines also incorporates such innovations as the third-generation direct injection featuring guided-spray combustion and piezo-injectors as well as multi-spark ignition.

GL 63 AMG: efficiency and driving dynamics of the highest degree

With the shift to the new model range, the GL is for the first time available as an AMG variant. The high-performance SUV GL 63 AMG features an AMG 5.5-litre V8 Biturbo engine with 410 kW (557 hp) and a maximum torque of 760 newton metres, resulting in superior driving performance: the GL 63 AMG accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in 4.9 seconds; top speed is 250 km/h (electronically governed). NEDC consumption is 12.3 litres per 100 kilometres (288 g of CO2/km).

The AMG eight-cylinder designated M157 features an innovative high-tech package comprising guided-spray petrol direct injection, piezo injectors, biturbo charging, air/water charge air cooling, fully aluminium crankcase, four-valve technology with camshaft adjustment, generator management and ECO start/stop.

Overview of the key data:

Power is transmitted to the four permanently driven wheels by the AMG SPEEDSHIFT PLUS 7G-TRONIC. The seven-speed gearbox impresses with its high variability gained through the three driving programs and the automatic double-clutching function for downshifts. In "Controlled Efficiency" (C) mode, ECO start/stop is active and switches off the eight-cylinder engine whenever the vehicle comes to a standstill. "C" also incorporates a soft accelerator-pedal and gearbox characteristic with early shift points; in this mode, the vehicle generally pulls away in second gear. An "ECO" icon in the AMG instrument cluster tells the driver that ECO start/stop is active.

A further increase in efficiency is provided by the AMG SPEEDSHIFT PLUS 7G-TRONIC automatic gearbox featuring a fuel-economy torque converter with mass-damper pendulum, low-friction bearings and thermal management for the transmission fluid. Additional fuel-consumption reductions are achieved by low-friction axle drives, the electromechanical AMG speed-sensitive sports steering, the optimised belt drive and the adaptive management of all auxiliary units and pumps.

For the 4MATIC permanent four-wheel drive, Mercedes-AMG employs an autonomous transfer case: it distributes drive power between the front and rear axle at a ratio of 40: 60 to achieve a high degree of driving dynamics. And there's more: the AMG RIDE CONTROL sports suspension with AIRMATIC package, comprising air suspension, special spring struts, automatic ride height adjustment and the Adaptive Damper System (ADS), is combined with ACTIVE CURVE SYSTEM anti-roll stabilisation.

Reduced energy requirements thanks to BlueEFFICIENCY

Besides the state-of-the-art engine technology, fuel economy is further aided by a comprehensive package of BlueEFFICIENCY measures. These include, in addition to the standard ECO start/stop, the new 7G‑TRONIC PLUS seven-speed automatic gearbox. Further fuel-consumption reductions are achieved by the low-friction axle drives, electric steering and low-rolling resistance tyres.

The redesigned 7G-TRONIC PLUS comes as standard for the models GL 350 BlueTEC 4MATIC and GL 500 4MATIC BlueEFFICIENCY and is characterised by integrating ECO start/stop, by its reduced torque converter clutch slip and its optimised efficiency. The most important details include the new torsion damper that now attenuates rotational imbalances and vibration in the gearbox even more effectively. Such vibration becomes potentially greater the lower the engine speed and the lower the number of cylinders. This results in a conflict of interests between comfort and economic operation. The conflict is resolved by employing a so-called twin-turbine damper which, in the diesel models, additionally features a mass-damper pendulum. The damper shifts the centre of gravity in accordance with the engine speed and facilitates comfortable vehicle operation even in the economic operating range. Additionally, the optimised damping also allows for a substantial reduction in torque converter clutch slip even at low loads, again contributing to better fuel economy. The optimised attenuation of imbalances and vibration in the gearbox also ensures a faster response to accelerator pedal actuation. Low-friction bearings and a new thermal management for the transmission fluid further reduce fuel consumption.

The energy requirements of the new GL-Class are reduced even more by an optimised belt drive with decoupler and the intelligent, adaptively controlled activation of all auxiliary units and pumps. In the same way as the fuel pump in the vehicle's rear, the engine's oil and water pump are activated only as far as required by the actual loads. The same control logic is also utilised in the standard THERMATIC (GL 350 BlueTEC 4MATIC) and THERMOTRONIC (GL 500 4MATIC BlueEFFICIENCY) climate control systems, which activate the refrigerant compressor only when necessary. In addition, an internal heat exchanger and the sophisticated sensor system including a misting sensor on the windscreen ensure the highest-possible efficiency for passenger-compartment climate control. Also significant in the case of the diesel model is the flow and counter pressure-optimised BlueTEC exhaust system with AdBlue® injection.

Less drag through sophisticated aerodynamics

With a drag coefficient of cd = 0.35 (GL 350 BlueTEC), the new GL-Class improves upon its predecessor and takes a peak position in its market segment (overall drag cd x A = 1.05, predecessor 1.07). Intense simulations as part of the digital prototyping process as well as fine-tuning in the wind tunnel have provided for perfect airflow around the vehicle. An overview of the most important aerodynamic improvements:

- Adjustable radiator shutter facilitating adaptive limitation of the cooling air intake which otherwise results in substantial pressure losses when travelling through the engine compartment, thus increasing drag.

- Aerodynamically optimised 18 and 19-inch alloy wheels that reduce flow separation and airflow losses around the wheels.

- Sealed panel gaps between bonnet and headlamps for further optimisation of the front-end airflow.

- Wheel spoilers on the front wheels to improve airflow around the tyres while simultaneously reducing lift.

- Engine compartment and underbody panelling that optimise outflow of the cooling air from the engine compartment and prevent flow losses caused by accumulation and turbulence in the underbody area.

Findings from the "energy-transparent vehicle" put to good use

The GL-Class's energy efficiency has also been improved by applying experiences gained from the energy-transparent vehicle (ETV), a process first employed during the development of the M-Class. Through high-precision, in-depth examination of the energy flows within the entire vehicle (tank-to-wheel), engineers are capable of optimising all consumption-related assemblies – right down to individual components such as the wheel bearings. The notion of the ETV arose from the fact that, in the past, many consumption effects and correlations between economy measures could not be conclusively verified or validated. Thanks to the ETV, developers can now identify in detail the optimisation potential by breaking down the energy-related causal loops and by analysing the correlations within the overall vehicle.

The process utilises extremely complex high-precision measurement technology capable of recording up to 1,000 measurement values per second at around 300 energy-related measurement points. Thus, approximately 2.4 million values are obtained per minute. Their analysis provides reliable indication of optimisation potential. The process is supplemented by energy simulation models that are validated by means of measurement values. In combination, these procedures facilitate analysis and quantification of the energy efficiency of individual units and components as well as of the entire vehicle.

Where the specialists identify a vehicle component with dissatisfactory energy efficiency, solutions are developed in collaboration with the technical departments. These solutions can focus, on the one hand, on design or material properties of individual vehicle components such as wheel or axle bearings but may also be achieved by modifying control strategies.

Dietary measures for improved agility and efficiency

Thanks to extensive lightweight design measures, a reduction of the new GL's weight by 90 kilogrammes compared to the predecessor model (GL 350 BlueTEC 4MATIC) has been achieved – in spite of additional equipment such as the standard sliding sunroof, the significantly improved second row of seats with easy-entry on both sides of the vehicle, the optimised crash characteristics and the noise-reduction measures. The front and rear-axle links as well as the bonnet and the wings, for instance, are made of light but strong aluminium alloys. The further weight reduction was achieved through the new high-insulation windscreen, the dashboard's magnesium cross beam, the BlueTEC system with SCR technology or components such as the new electromechanical steering, the electric parking brake, the plastic engine bracket or the new aluminium brake booster.

Long-distance travel with less refuelling stops

Particularly impressive is the range of the new GL-Class on just a single tank. This parameter is especially important in a terrain-going vehicle that is able to get almost anywhere. At an NEDC consumption of 7.4 l/100 km, the particularly economic compression-ignition engine of the GL 350 BlueTEC 4MATIC with the standard 100-litre fuel tank can cover around 1,350 kilometres without a refill. The GL 500 4MATIC BlueEFFICIENCY's V8 petrol engine achieves a range of up to 890 kilometres before requiring refuelling.

Credits: Daimler AG

Copyright © 2012, mercedesgla. All rights reserved.

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The new Mercedes-Benz GL-Class: Visibility and safety - Complete awareness

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Mercedes-Benz has based its development of active and passive safety for the GL-Class on the findings of the company's own accident research, which began more than 60 years ago and which to this day makes a significant contribution to the continued evolution of automobile safety. Besides this wealth of experience, the latest insights gained from detailed simulations and extensive testing are of course also incorporated in development and translated into concrete safety measures.

In conjunction with the assistance systems' "electronic crumple zones" and the intelligent bodywork design, the occupant protection systems provide the highest-possible degree of safety. An overview of the latest-generation restraint systems:

- Two-stage airbags for driver and front passenger

- Driver kneebag

- Sidebags for driver and front passenger (combined thorax airbag/pelvisbag)

- Sidebags available for the central row of seats upon request

- Windowbags across three rows of seats from A- through to D-pillar

- 3-point seat belts for all seven seats

- ISOFIX child seat anchorages on the left and right in the central and the rear row of seats

- Belt-height adjustment for driver and front passenger

- Belt-status indicator for rear-compartment passengers in instrument cluster

- ACSR automatic child seat recognition system (optional) with front-passenger airbag deactivation when using Mercedes-Benz child seats

Passenger compartment encloses occupants like a protective cocoon

In a frontal crash, the front-end assembly can absorb impact energy and thus attenuate the peak loads on the occupants. The front-end structure essentially comprises two straight front longitudinal members, a second upper longitudinal-member plane and a subframe that supports the drive unit, connects the structure's two halves and deforms when subjected to high frontal impact loads. The lateral connections in the front-end activate the side opposite of the impact point in offset frontal impacts. The long front-end, short V-engines and the articulated shaft with its deformation element also contribute to the front-end assembly's deformation potential. In the event of major deformations, the wheels are supported against the strong bulkhead. The bulkhead itself is reinforced by an exterior cross member resting against the A-pillars above the pedal floor.

The passenger compartment's strength is tailored to the deformation resistance of the front-end assembly and envelops the occupants on all seven seats like a protective cocoon. The outstanding rigidity and strength result in part from the floor system with its separate transmission tunnel and longitudinal members integrated into the sidewall that, together with cross members set onto the floor, forms a stable supporting structure. The high-strength sidewall assembly comprises the body pillars, the lateral roof frame and the lateral longitudinal members. The sidewall assembly's outer shell is formed by the outer panelling. The inner shells are partially made up of several components with large-surface nodes between the pillars, roof frame and lateral longitudinal members.

The dual-shell A-pillar with its maximum-strength interior reinforcement is stabilised along the transverse line by the front roof frame and various cross members. The latter are located in the area beneath the windscreen, above the pedal floor and below the dashboard. An effective protection concept has also been implemented to account for rear impacts. Long deformation paths thanks to box-shaped rear longitudinal members, the location of the fuel tank ahead of
the rear axle and of the filler neck above the rear axle provide a high energy absorption capacity in the event of rear-end collisions.

The GL-Class also provides the greatest possible protection for more vulnerable traffic participants such as pedestrians and cyclists. Besides the yielding areas of the front-end, the folding exterior mirrors and the smooth contours, the risk of suffering injury from impact with the vehicle has been reduced through modifying the bonnet and increasing the distance to the components in the engine compartment. In addition, the active bonnet is a standard feature. It has the potential to reduce the severity of any injuries suffered by an impacting pedestrian or cyclist and further increases the deformation space. To optimise trigger criteria detection, acceleration sensors have been additionally integrated into the front bumper.

The GL-Class easily meets new crash requirements

In developing the GL-Class, the test specifications and criteria for accident testing applied in-house went far beyond those required by law. The GL was therefore perfectly able to fulfil even the most stringent requirements of the most important international test institutions:

- Frontal collisions: New full-width front impact in accordance with US-NCAP (US New Car Assessment Program)

- Side impact: New mast impact in accordance with Euro-NCAP (European New Car Assessment Program)

- New side impact in accordance with US-NCAP

- Roof strength: New roof strength test in accordance with IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)

- Pedestrian protection: Impact testing according to Euro-NCAP

Thanks to its comprehensive protection concept, the GL-Class has the potential to achieve excellent marks in all international crash ratings.

Assistance systems act as "electronic crumple zone"

Further optimisation of driving and condition safety in the new GL-Class is provided primarily by the numerous assistance systems' capacity to pre-empt accidents by acting as an "electronic crumple zone".

In addition to the driving dynamics control systems ESP® and 4ETS, the GL-Class comes as standard with the electronic brake control system ADAPTIVE BRAKE that improves traction, driving safety and operating comfort. The ADAPTIVE BRAKE electronic brake control system comprises the basic anti-lock braking (ABS) function and anti-slip regulation (ASR) as well as GMR active yaw control. ABS and ASR primarily monitor and affect longitudinal dynamics while GMR controls lateral driving dynamics. Where critical driving conditions are detected, and where physics will allow, selective wheel braking and engine torque adjustments are applied in order to maintain or recover traction and driving stability. In addition, ADAPTIVE BRAKE communicates with all other assistance systems and further comprises the following functions as standard:

- BAS Brake Assist

- PRE-SAFE®

- Trailer stabilisation

- DSR Downhill Speed Regulation

- Cruise control

- Tyre pressure loss warning

- HOLD, hill start assist, brake priming and brake drying

With the GL-Class, COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST premieres in the SUV segment. Also featured at no extra charge are the fatigue detection system ATTENTION ASSIST and a steering assistant. Optional systems such as the distance and cruise control system DISTRONIC PLUS, BAS PLUS Brake Assist or PRE-SAFE® BRAKE featuring autonomous braking are also available to increase safety in the event of hazards not recognised by the driver. The available options also include Active Lane Keeping Assist, Active Blind Spot Assist and Speed Limit Assist.

Radar-assisted COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST

Almost fifty percent of all rear-end collisions can be prevented, or their severity reduced, with the aid of radar-based safety systems such as collision warnings and adaptive brake assistants. This has been shown by the detailed analyses performed by Mercedes-Benz accident research. It is here that experience with the Mercedes-Benz innovations DISTRONIC PLUS and BAS PLUS pay off. With the GL-Class, an SUV will now feature such a system for the first time: COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST*. Unlike conventional systems, this new brake assistant is not merely a purely urban-driving system designed to minimise trifling damage. The innovative solution aims instead to provide protection against typical rear-end collisions in all traffic situations. The company expects the collision warning system to have a significant and positive effect on accident occurrence statistics. Test results underscore this assessment: in simulator tests with drivers, COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST was shown to reduce the accident rate in three typical accident scenarios from forty-four to eleven percent.

* Country-specific standard equipment

COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST issues visual and audible warnings when detecting obstacles to drivers who may be distracted and prepares the brake assistant to apply the brakes as precisely as possible. This brake application is then triggered as soon as the driver exerts pressure on the brake pedal. The system also meets the fundamental "Forward Collision Warning" requirements of the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and is capable of:

- Identifying the distance to the vehicle in front as too low in a speed range from 30 to 250 km/h.

- Detecting a reduction in distance. Where there is a risk of collision, the driver receives a visual and audible warning.

- Detecting stationary obstacles along the path of motion and issuing corresponding warnings.

- Identifying specific driving situations, such as driving in queued traffic, and adapting the trigger threshold for warnings and the adaptive brake assistant accordingly.

- In the event of a collision risk, calculating the precise brake force ideally required to avoid impact and make the best-possible use of the remaining distance. This inherently increases a following driver's chances of himself avoiding a rear-end impact.

- Readjusting the brake pressure when the situation changes – if the vehicle in front accelerates, brake pressure is returned to the degree requested by the driver; if the distance to vehicles driving or stopping ahead drops, brake pressure is increased even further.

- Activating, where necessary, preventive safety systems such as PRE-SAFE® or belt tensioners.

In the extreme range of driving physics, drivers are also aided substantially by a number of systems, including the steering assistant which, for instance, helps the driver by applying steering torque to the steering wheel when the vehicle oversteers. An innovation and a highlight in the new GL is the standard Crosswind Assist, which uses targeted brake application to aid the driver when driving in high transverse wind force conditions, thus increasing the perception of safety and comfort.

Stability even in sudden crosswind gusts

The driving situation is well-known: when driving on high-quality country roads or dead straight stretches of motorway, the occupants suddenly perceive a forceful blow from the side, for instance when overtaking a truck, driving onto a bridge or at the end of lateral constructions such as noise abatement walls. The vehicle has been hit by a crosswind gust. Drivers of the new GL need not fear such gusts of crosswind as the driving dynamics control systems reliably compensate for these meteorological assaults and keep the vehicle firmly on course. Depending on the direction and intensity of the crosswind, the control systems apply corresponding brake pressure to the wheels and compensate, or at least substantially mitigate, the wind's effects on the vehicle. The intervention manoeuvre is handled by ADAPTIVE BRAKE. The required information is supplied by the sensors of the Electronic Stability Program ESP®, the AIRMATIC ADS air suspension and the electromechanical steering.

If the system identifies a necessity to intervene, the driver is assisted through brake application on the front and rear wheel on the upwind side. This intervention results in a steering effect that reduces the impact of the crosswind. Crosswind Assist is active when driving straight ahead or through light bends at a speed of 80 km/h or more. The driver always remains in control: in the case of substantial and/or rapid steering corrections, Crosswind Assist is automatically suspended. The system filters minor crosswinds and only becomes active at a certain threshold. Continuous, constant crosswinds are also ignored. Research has shown that the latter driving situation affects comfort and perceived safety far less and is intuitively compensated for by drivers.

Back on track with the steering assistant

The standard steering assistant becomes active whenever the assistance systems identify unstable driving conditions that can be eliminated through simple steering actions. The system determines a steering torque corresponding to the driving condition and applies this torque through the electric power steering. When oversteering – the vehicle's rear creeping toward the outer edge of the corner – the steering assistant requests the driver to countersteer via the steering wheel until the vehicle has once again stabilised. The second primary feature is assistance when braking on a surface that displays different friction coefficients on the right and left of the vehicle, as is the case for example on partially iced-up carriageways in winter. The steering assistant notifies the driver of the direction in which the steering wheel should be turned in order to neutralise the yawing impulse. Even if the driver ignores the steering assistant's recommendations, ample reserves remain to stabilise the vehicle in the form of the driving dynamics systems such as ADAPTIVE BRAKE, ESP® or 4ETS. The steering assistant is always available to provide the driver with recommendations, but never takes over.

Even after a crash: occupant protection

After a more substantial crash, the hazard warning lights are switched on automatically in order to warn the surrounding traffic. At the same time, the door locks are automatically disengaged in order to facilitate the best-possible access to the vehicle occupants for emergency services. Thanks to the partial opening of the side windows, the interior is more efficiently ventilated after restraint systems have triggered.

Where a collision is detected, the central control unit shuts off the fuel system. After determining the cylinders' positions, the engine management opens the injectors on cylinders not in compression stroke and relieves the fuel high-pressure area by releasing the remaining fuel directly into the combustion chambers. This reduces the risk of fuel escaping. As a further measure to prevent fuel from escaping, the relevant points feature cut-proof fuel lines and this also increases safety in the event of a collision.

If COMAND Online is chosen for the new GL-Class, the automatic Mercedes-Benz emergency call is included as standard. In the event of a serious accident, emergency services are notified automatically and within minutes are furnished with extensive information on the precise accident location or the respective vehicle model. The operating principle: if airbags or belt tensioners are triggered in a crash and COMAND Online is connected to a mobile phone, the system transmits the vehicle's precise GPS location and its chassis number (VIN) to both the emergency services and the Bosch Communication Center's service control room by text message. The location data is also transmitted by DTMF (dual-tone multi-frequency). Even if the occupants are unconscious or do not know their precise location, for example when on holiday, the emergency services called by the Communication Center can be informed precisely and rapidly.

The vehicle also quickly establishes a voice connection to the Bosch Communication Center. The language used does not correspond to the respective country's language but to the language set in COMAND Online by the driver. Emergency calls can also be placed manually as the "Mercedes-Benz emergency call" entry is always located at the very top of the phone book list. With the launch of the GL-Class, the emergency call will be able to access the phone network in nine European countries: Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands and Switzerland. By late 2012, nineteen further countries will be added. Apart from any possibly applicable mobile phone rates, a Mercedes-Benz customer will incur no costs for using the Mercedes-Benz emergency call service.

The GL sees all: 360° camera, NightView Assist PLUS and off-road lights

Together with the compact character GLK, the GL-Class will be available for the first time with the 360° camera. The 360° camera is always combined with PARKTRONIC and is supplied with imaging information by a total of four cameras located respectively in the radiator frame, in the tailgate above the number plate and in the two exterior mirrors. The system uses the imaging information to compile various views, among them a depiction of the vehicle and its surroundings from a bird's-eye perspective. Occupants view the picture in real time in the central COMAND display. This allows the areas behind, in front and to the side of the vehicle to be observed and can thus prevent collisions in a multitude of different manoeuvres both on- and off-road. Supplemented dynamic guiding lines assist orientation. For example, the 360° camera indicates the vehicle's turning area in accordance with the steering-wheel angle.

The 360° camera is automatically activated when reverse gear is engaged or when selected directly in COMAND. The camera images in the display switch depending on the transmission position selected: when reverse is engaged, the display automatically shows the image relayed by the rear camera. Bird's-eye view or the individual images can be selected by the driver by means of the COMAND controller at any time. Specifically, the 360° camera can provide assistance to the driver through the following functions:

- Virtual bird's-eye view shows the GL from above and the three metres ahead and behind as well as 2.5 metres of the area next to the vehicle.

- Depiction of perspectives not actually physically attainable. Example: when manoeuvring inside a multi-story car park with low ceilings, the GL and its surroundings are depicted from a bird's-eye view more than three metres above the vehicle, even if the ceiling is only a few centimetres above the vehicle.

- Visualisation of vehicle sides and their surroundings to prevent contact damage, e.g. of the exterior mirrors or rims.

- Visualisation of obstacles outside of the field of vision below the vehicle's beltline.

- Visualisation of crossing traffic when manoeuvring out of tight parking spaces or departing from driveways.

- Visualisation of pedestrians on the pavement when manoeuvring out of tight parking spaces or departing from driveways.

- Assistance when driving off-road in difficult and confusing terrain.

- The GL-Class is always depicted in the COMAND display in the vehicle's actual colour.

For the first time, the cameras in the GL now feature high-performance digital CMOS image sensors (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor). Each camera processes images at a resolution of one megapixel and covers a 180-degree field of vision. The views compiled from the four individual images by the system and shown in the COMAND display are of impressively high quality. The virtual bird's-eye view is almost entirely distortion-free. Unlike the familiar systems, which utilise black bars to separate the individual images, the 360° camera displays the total image homogeneously without transitory elements. In addition, the 360° camera adapts to the various vehicle heights, for example if the maximum-possible ground clearance of 600 millimetres that comes with the ON&OFFROAD package has been chosen. The driver is also kept aware of the surroundings when manoeuvring at night. At speeds of up to 10 km/h with the headlamps switched on, activating the 360° camera also activates the surround lighting. The 360° camera also offers another special feature that prevents occlusion of the rear camera through soiling, for example during long journeys through muddy terrain or when driving on wet, salt-strewn motorways in winter. A flap covers the camera and provides reliable protection from soiling. The flap opens automatically when the 360° camera is activated.

NightView Assist PLUS turns night into day. The optionally available assistance system utilises two infrared headlamps. The emitted long-wave light is invisible to the human eye and covers the carriageway ahead of the GL-Class at a range corresponding to main beam. The camera located in the windscreen in the area of the rear-view mirror records the infrared image and, after processing by the control unit, relays it to the COMAND display. Here, the scene is depicted in high-definition grey-scales. Detected pedestrians are additionally highlighted by "photo corners" to make them even more easily visible. The system is available at full performance as of a speed of 10 km/h.

 When driving in difficult terrain at low speeds, it is useful to illuminate the area ahead of the vehicle as brightly and as widely as possible. The new GL, if equipped with the ON&OFFROAD package in conjunction with the Intelligent Light System, will feature special off-road lights that provide precisely such illumination. If the driver activates either the OFFROAD 1 or the OFFROAD 2 driving program while the headlamps are switched on, the off-road lights are automatically activated as well. The bi-xenon headlamp modules are swivelled outward through six degrees, the xenon burners output is increased by 3 watts and the light cone is set to symmetrical. In addition, the LED cornering lights on both sides are switched on permanently, while both the dynamic cornering light function and the headlamp beam adjustment are deactivated. These settings combine to give a wider and brighter illumination of the area ahead of the vehicle than is provided by the Intelligent Light System, configured for optimal illumination when driving on roads. Orientation during off-road driving is substantially improved and any obstacles can be seen earlier. The off-road lights are active at speeds up to 50 km/h. When the driver exceeds this threshold, the Intelligent Light System automatically resets the lighting functions to optimum road operation.

As 40% of all serious accidents occur at night, the temperature of the xenon burners used by the Intelligent Light System has been raised to 5,000 Kelvin to further increase safety. This results in an illumination very similar to daylight, which improves comfort and relieves the strain on the driver.

Braving the gap: Active Parking Assist

The new-generation Active Parking Assist utilises ultrasonic sensors at a speed of up to 35 km/h to identify potential parking spaces along the road on the side the vehicle is travelling on, or on both sides in one-way streets. Suitable parking spaces are indicated in the central display. The driver can then start Active Parking Assist by pressing a button on the multifunction steering wheel. The system calculates a suitable trajectory from the vehicle's current position. The driver then only needs to accelerate or brake – the required steering motions are completed fully automatically by the system. Departing from parking spaces works the same way.

Active Parking Assist comprises six ultrasonic sensors in the front bumper and four in the rear bumper. The ultrasonic sensors on the corners of the front bumper have a greater range than the other sensors in order to facilitate reliable detection of parking spaces when driving past them.

Get your bearings: parking and manoeuvring aids through the years

In the early days of the automobile at the beginning of the last century, car manufacturers were already thinking about ways to aid drivers in keeping an overview when manoeuvring their vehicles. First efforts using a variety of marker rods on the outer ends of the bumpers only caught on with commercial vehicles. In 1959, with the Mercedes-Benz passenger car models referred to as "tailfins", the first real attempt was made to integrate orientation aids into the general design concept of a car. The tailfins on Mercedes-Benz medium-sized and premium-class saloons, officially termed marker bars, facilitated excellent estimation of the body's position, in particular when glancing obliquely over one's shoulder such as one might do when parking. For a long time, the more or less substantial bulges on the rear wings remained the tool of choice.

This did not change until the early 1990s and the new model series 140 S-Class. At up to 5.20 metres in length, the premium-class car offered its occupants superior space in the interior but also required aids to make the rear end of the body visible when manoeuvring. The solution: extendable, chrome-plated marker bars on the rear wings that were pneumatically lifted when reverse gear was engaged, thus providing a visualisation of the S-Class's rear end. Though effective, the mini-aerial solution did not correspond to the technology levels associated with Mercedes-Benz's top-range model over the long term.

Consequently, the developers went to work and, in 1995, presented the revolutionary PARKTRONIC system. The new system adopted a natural model by adapting the ultrasound orientation system familiar from bats and combining it with highly sophisticated electronics. The distance to obstacles was indicated by coloured LCD displays in the dashboard. If the driver ignored the displays, closer approaches were accompanied first by a clearly audible intermittent tone and then by a continuous tone warning of imminent collision.

Parking Assist, available for the S-Class as of 2005, provided even greater precision by relying not on ultrasound like PARKTRONIC but on the radar sensors of the DISTRONIC and Brake Assist PLUS systems. The advantage compared to the bat principle: the territory monitored around the vehicle was significantly larger. Here too, the driver was notified of his territorial behaviour by way of the typical beeping. Visually, however, a colour display in the instrument cluster now provided substantially greater details on the manoeuvring course. In addition, engaging reverse gear also automatically activated an additional display in the rear roof lining.

In the same year, the first reversing camera premiered in the S-Class, available then in conjunction with PARKTRONIC which was still on offer. The camera eyed the surroundings from the boot lid above the number plate, relaying its image to the COMAND display once reverse gear was engaged. The system's electronic director also calculated the optimum path into the targeted parking space and supplemented the camera's image with corresponding guiding lines.

In 2008, searching for a parking space and parking "manually" became a thing of the past. The then latest generation of the A- and the B-Class were offered to Mercedes-Benz customers for the first time with the option of Active Parking Assist. The electronic passenger kept an eye open for parking spaces on both sides of the vehicle up to a speed of 35 kilometres an hour. Once it found a parking space, the driver was not only happy but also relieved that the following manoeuvring was taken off his hands. An arrow in the instrument cluster indicated the side on which the parking space was located. The driver then needed to engage reverse gear and give the go-ahead by pressing a button on the multifunction steering wheel. The assistant then took over steering while the driver needed only accelerate and brake.

A further step followed only a year later. Parallel to Active Parking Assist, the E-Class was offered with the classic PARKTRONIC including the new parking guidance. This version also looked for parking spaces as described above. However, the driver here needed to handle the steering himself, albeit with the aid of indicators in the instrument cluster display describing the necessary steering manoeuvres. The climax in development of parking and manoeuvring assistants, at least for the present, are the GL-Class's Active Parking Assist with automatic parking and departing function as well as the 360° camera that displays the surroundings to the driver from a variety of perspectives: from the complete panorama of bird's-eye view to the various detailed views that facilitate down-to-the-centimetre precision manoeuvring even in difficult terrain.

Credits: Daimler AG

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