motor

Mercedes is developing an all new platform upon which the new generation of A and B-Class and a number of totally new models will be built. A mid-size four-door coupe called BLS, and a new compact SUV, the BLK, are some of the upcoming products on this platform. Here;s an artist’s impression of the Mercedes BLK, which will challenge BMW X1 and the upcoming Audi Q3.

The BLK probably will be released in 2011 as a 2012 model, until then Mercedes has enough time to study strength and weakness points of the rivals and use them to its advantage. Mercedes already has a compact SUV called GLK, and BLK certainly won’t be much smaller than it, but the GLK is on the par with BMW X3 and Audi Q5, so Mercedes needs a new model to take on the new smaller crossovers such as the X1, which has also received a warm welcome in the market.

Like the GLK, Mercedes BLK will be available with either two or four wheel drive, but it’s not likely for it to get six cylinder engines. Compact SUVs are meant to be economical, so we can expect a range of four cylinder engines for it, both petrol and diesel, in different displacements some of them with Kompressors. It is also quit possible that a hybrid variant to come out later on.