The Vision GLK Freeside—the new compact SUV from Mercedes Benz to be concept-launched at this month’s Detroit motor show—merges the on-road comfort Mercedes is known for with the best off-road values of the G-series.

Its new-gen diesel engine is a four-cylinder unit with a 2.2-liter displacement and a 125kW output, yet is capable of reduced consumption and emissions.

Augmenting emission reduction is Bluetec technology that utilizes not one but two catalytic converters: an oxidizing catalytic converter and an SCR catalytic converter. Included in this set-up is a maintenance-free particulate filter, as well as a system that injects an innocuous aqueous urea solution called AdBlue into the exhaust gas stream. This solution degrades up to 80 percent of the nitrogen oxides in the exhaust into harmless water and nitrogen.

Performance features include a 4Matic drivetrain that guarantees a 45:55 front-to-rear axle drive torque distribution; as well as ASR, 4ETS, and ESP dynamic handling control systems that balance safety and dynamics under any road condition. These are to control the power from the CDI powerplant with a rear camshaft drive that showcases fourth-generation common-rail direct injection. This feature has a 2,000-bar injection pressure as well as a two-stage turbocharger system.

Activating the ESP’s off-road function requires only a push of a “G” button in the center console; and a feature called Downhill Speed Regulation or DSR automatically keeps a pre-selected speed for extreme descents. Moreover, the Freeside’s Agility Control suspension has “amplitude dependent damping” that lets the suspension respond softly during normal driving and slow off-road jaunts, yet has the dampers provide a harder performance during abrupt evasion maneuvers and hard driving.

Other features include the latest from Mercedes-Benz, such as the intuitively-controlled Comand APS infotainment center, the Thermotronic 3-zone automatic climate control, the Intelligent Light System, and the preventative Pre-Safe safety concept.

Source: www.wheels24.co.za