The Mercedes-Benz Concept Style Coupe is now featured in the Future Models Section of MBUSA.com. This vehicle may not become a production model exactly like you see it now, but there are elements that we will certainly see in the next few years.

Would you choose this flashy two-door over a traditional C-Class sedan? Would you prefer the small and sporty coupe to the larger CLS-Class? Is lime green piping the way to go?

What a beautiful sight! Three 2013 SL550s have arrived at Atlanta Classic Cars! Two are still available for sale including the Edition 1 Launch! We’ll have the tires on the ground soon…call me for a test drive!

Here are the empty brackets. They are very slim and I hardly noticed them while I was driving the car.

iPads and USB charging cables are not included. The cables were $5.99 at my local Fry’s Home Electronics.

The iPads slide into the bracket so that the headphone jack, volume controls and plug line up with the openings in the bracket. The iPad 1 is fatter than the iPad 2 and will only fit in the specific iPad 1 bracket. The iPad 2 will fit in the bracket for the iPad 1 but is more stable in the bracket that is specific to the iPad 2/3.  

The iPads can be tilted up or down to adjust the viewing angle.

The brackets can be rotated vertically for reading.

Our first experience with the docking stations was great! The system was easy for the technicians to install, looks great in the vehicle and offers our customers another way to entertain back seat passengers! You can listen from the iPad out loud or through headphones. Also, vehicles with Bluetooth Audio Streaming should be able to pair to the iPads and stream through the vehicle sound system. Each docking station costs about $400 plus the cost of installation. That is a pretty good savings over the $1950 Rear-Seat Entertainment system, considering you can take these screens with you!

“…all staffers who drove it made note not only of the car’s amazing return on the gallon but also how much they enjoyed the performance along the way.”

“If you need further proof that a turbodiesel is the ideal powerplant for a big luxury car, look no further than the E350 Bluetec”

“Still, one might question whether that real-world mpg is good enough to eclipse a $1,200 price premium and, arguably, the incrementally higher maintenance fees associated with keeping the diesel-combustion process relatively clean…If you consistently achieved as high an average as we did during our time in the diesel E-class, the break-even point shrinks to just 3.2 years.”

“When two tons of luxury sedan can get more than 30 mpg indicated in mixed driving with no extension cords, weird clunks or CVTs needed,” one editor explained, “I have to ask why so many manufacturers (and so many Americans) are wedded to the idea of hybrid/electric propulsion.”

Read the full review at Autoweek.com.

• GL350 Bluetec 4Matic – 240 hp, 455 lb/ft torque – 11% Better Fuel Economy – Arrives October 2012
• GL450 4Matic – 362 hp, 406 lb/ft torque – 13% Better Fuel Economy - Arrives September 2012
• GL550 4Matic – 429 hp, 516 lb/ft torque – 18% Better Fuel Economy! – Arrives September 2012

New Standard features:

• Rear view camera
• Power liftgate
• ATTENTION ASSIST
• COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST
• Crosswind Stabilization
• AIRMATIC air suspension
• Adaptive Brake Technology with HOLD function, Brake drying, pre-charging, hill start assist
• Central Controller with NTG 4.5, 7-inch head unit display
• Manual EASY-ENTRY for both sides of 2nd row seat
• 115-volt outlet in 2nd row seat

Colors:

• Black
• White
• Cinnabar Red (Pictured below) (starting with July production)
• Obsidian Black
• Steel Grey
• Iriduium Silver
• Pearl Beige (starting with July production)
• Dakota Brown
• Diamond White (limited)
• Lunar Blue

Interior:

The interior of the new GL-Class is a big improvement. It looks plush and luxurious! The MB-Tex interiors are now perforated for comfort but still do not allow for Ventilated Seats. The Leather and designo interiors are not perforated unless Ventilated seats are ordered. The designo interiors are STUNNING! I am very impressed!

• GL350/GL450 – MB-Tex Standard, Leathers $1620, designo $4800
• GL550 – Leather Standard, designo $4100
• Black – MB-Tex and Leather
• Almond – MB-Tex and Leather
• Grey – MB-Tex and Leather
• Almond Beige/Black – Special Order Leather
• Grey/Black – Special Order Leather
• Auburn Brown/Black – Special Order Leather
• designo Porcelain with Dinamica Headliner
• designo Auburn Brown with Dinamica headliner
• designo Black with Dinamica Headliner

* Click on Thumbnail Images to enlarge *

Packages:

Premium1 Package: GL350/GL450 $3500, GL550 Standard

• COMAND with Hard-Drive Navigation
• Enhanced Voice Control
• 10 GB Music Register
• 6 CD/DAV changer
• SD Card Slot
• SiriusXM Radio, Traffic and Weather
• iPod/MP3 Media Interface Cable
• 10-way power passenger seat with 3 position memory
• Autodimming mirrors
• Power folding mirrors
• Power steering column
• Multi-Color Interior Ambient Lighting
• Front Illuminated Door Sills

Premium 2 Package: GL350/GL450 $5850, GL550 Standard

• All components of Premium 1 package
• harman/kardon LOGIC7 surround sound system
• Soft Close Doors (Like the S-Class!)
• Rear Lockable Storage Compartment
• Keyless-GO

Lighting Package: GL350/GL450 $1290, GL550 Standard

• Bi-Xenon Headlamps with Active Curve Illumination
• Adaptive High Beam Assist
• Headlamp Cleaning System

Appearance Package: GL450 only $1340

• 20″ Twin 5-spoke Wheels
• Chrome Exhaust Tips
• Illuminated Running Boards

On/Off Road Package: GL450/GL550 $2850

• Adaptive Damping System
• Front Underride Protection

Active Curve System: All $3950 (Limited Availability)

• Adaptive Damping System
• Roll Stabilization

3-Zone Automatic Climate Contol: GL350/GL450 $1450, GL550 Standard

• Rear AC control and additional vents
• Mist Sensor

Lane Tracking Package: GL350/GL450 $850, GL550 Standard

• Blind Spot Assist
• Lane Keeping Assist

Driver Assistance Package: GL350/GL450 $2950, GL550 $2100

• Distronic PLUS with Pre-safe Brake
• Active Blind Spot Assist
• Active Lane Keeping Assist

Parking Assist Package: GL350/GL450 $1290, GL550 $320 – Delayed Availability on All

• Parktronic with Active Parking Assist
• Surround View System

Options:

Parktronic with Active Park Assist – GL350/GL450 $970, GL550 Standard

Wood/Leather Steering Wheel – GL350/GL450 $590, GL550 Standard

Multi-contour driver/passenger seat with massage and comfort headrest – GL350/GL450 $1100, GL550 Standard

Heated/Ventilated front seats (requires leather) – GL350/GL450 $570, GL550 Standard

Panoramic Sunroof – GL350/GL450/GL550 $1090

Heated Steering Wheel – GL350/GL450/GL550 $225

Trailer Hitch (7500 lbs) – GL350/GL450/GL550 $550

20″ Twin 5-spoke wheel – GL350 Only – $750

Power Easy-Entry 2nd row (delayed) – GL350/GL450/GL550 $400

Illuminated Running Boards – GL350/GL450 $670, GL550 Standard

Rear Seat Entertainment – GL350/GL450/GL550 $1970

Rear Heated Seats – GL350/GL450/GL550 $620

Keyless-Go – GL350/GL450 $650, GL550 Standard

Special Order Options:

Adamptive Damping System – GL350/GL450 $800, GL550 Standard

2nd Row Seat Pass-through – GL350/GL450/GL550 $160

Rear Sunshades – GL350/GL450/GL550 $380

Night View Assist Plus (requires lighting package) – GL350/GL450/GL550 $1780

Bang & Olufson Sound System – GL350/GL450/GL550 $6400

MB-Tex wrapped lower dash – GL350/GL450/GL550 $300

Black headliner (only for black MB tex and leather) – $0

The first GL450s and GL550s have been scheduled for production. Order now to make sure you get the options and colors you want! The vehicles should arrive in early September.