Chinese-made Beijing Benz GLK makes market debut

Gasgoo.com (Shanghai April 26) - Beijing Benz's domestically manufactured GLK has officially hit the market, auto.sina.com.cn reported today, quoting an announcement made by the joint venture at the floor of the ongoing Beijing International Automotive Exhibition. The crossover is priced between 408,000 and 557,000 yuan ($64,660-$88,273), slightly less than the import version.

Compared with the import version, the Chinese-made GLK300 (pictured) adds memory seat functions, headlight brightness controls, a glass partition between the front and rear seats and other features. Several other features which were optional for the imported GLK, such as seat warmers, are standard for the domestic version.

The Chinese GLK also has slightly better performance specs than its import counterpart. The 3.0 L V6 engine in the domestic GLK outputs ten more kW, with its maximum output reaching 180 kW. It can produce up to 300 Nm of torque. The GLK is driven by a seven-speed automatic transmission and 4Matic all-wheel drive system.