Alabama’s automotive pioneer, Mercedes-Benz, drew a bit of premature buzz when pictures of its newest M-Class SUV were leaked on the Web in early June—just before the company planned to unveil its new look.
Just a few days later, the company’s plans were again previewed from outside when the website rumors.automobilemag.com reported that the company is planning a sporty new SUV called the GLS Class by 2014.
The M-Class leak happened in early June, just before the new model was to be officially unveiled in Germany. Company officials responded by posting their own photos of the new SUV on Facebook.
Later in June, the rumor mill announced the new GLS Class SUV—a style that’s designed to compete with the BMW X6. Autocar reported that it would be built on the M-Class platform, meaning “it may be built in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, alongside the M-Class.”
It could offer a choice of powertrain right up to a turbocharged V-8 that would overpower the BMW competition.
By Nedra Bloom
