The GLK, the new compact SUV from Mercedes-Benz, made its world debut today (April 20) at the Auto China fair in Beijing.

With its functional yet attractive and striking body lines, and extraordinary capabilities both on and off the road, this distinctive GLK sets new standards in the compact SUV segment, said an official spokesman.

The multi-talented GLK not only sets itself apart from the competitive line-up by virtue of its functional yet strikingly attractive body design, but also reconciles attributes that were previously completely contradictory thanks to the Agility Control suspension, outstanding performance and handling safety are now matched by a first-class level of ride comfort.

Working in conjunction with the onboard electronic control systems, the variable 4MATIC four-wheel drive ensures perfect on-road performance together with well-balanced off-road capabilities.

'The GLK rounds off our extremely successful SUV family, and transfers typical Mercedes attributes such as refinement, dynamism and safety into a compact format. This means that the bar in this market segment has now been raised considerably,' said director, sales and marketing, Mercedes-Benz Cars, Middle East & Levant, Frank Bernthaler.

Superior performance is assured by the range of powerful yet economical and environmentally compatible six-cylinder engines with the GLK 280 and GLK 350 arriving in the Middle East at the end of 2008.

A very high standard of onboard features and attractive equipment packages will distinguish the GLK from the rest of the compact SUV field. Moreover, the very latest systems such as the trailblazing PRE SAFE safety concept or the Intelligent Light System (ILS) are available for the first time in this market segment.

The biennial Auto China fair celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2008. Organised by the Munich exhibition specialist IMAG together with its Chinese partners, the Auto China fair has become the most successful motor show in the Middle Kingdom.

The exhibition site is located in the industrial area of Tianzhu airport in the Shunyi district of Beijing, and was planned and constructed as part of the urban development scheme for the coming Olympic Games. More than 600,000 visitors are expected to attend the fair. – TradeArabia News Service