2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK 350 Details, Photos

• Competes with: Acura RDX, BMW X3, Land Rover LR2, Infiniti EX35, Audi Q5
• Looks like: The “concept” we saw months ago
• Drivetrain: 268 hp 3.5-liter six cylinder engine, seven-speed automatic transmission, two and four-wheel drive
• Hits dealerships: January 2009

Audi dropped the veil on the new Q5 compact SUV earlier this week. Now, Mercedes-Benz has revealed details about the U.S.-bound version of its all-new BMW X3 competitor, the GLK 350.

Mercedes is giving us solid numbers: 268 hp, 0-60 mph in 6.5 seconds, 23 mpg on the highway (exactly what the X3 and LR2 get) and 54.7 cubic feet of cargo room with the rear seats folded, which is just a bit less than the LR2. 

What sets the GLK apart from the X3, LR2 and upcoming Audi Q5 is that it will be available in both two-wheel- and four-wheel-drive models. The others come standard with all-wheel drive. For the buyer just interested in the luxury and utility of the GLK, the two-wheel drive should cost less than the competition.

19-inch wheels, Bluetooth, power seats and dual-zone climate control come standard but almost everything else is optional. There are five — count ‘em, five — option packages and nine stand-alone options covering everything from a panoramic sunroof, power liftgate, navigation, leather seats, etc. We’ll have to weigh in on the value of the GLK when pricing is announced, but with so many options and two-wheel drive, the starting MSRP could be significantly lower than its competition. More photos below.

2008 Detroit Auto Show Video: Mercedes-Benz GLK

Kelsey Mays not only got to interview the head of Mercedes-Benz, he also took a close-up look at the GLK concept. Not only do you get moving pictures, you also get some insight into what type of engines this diesel prototype might have when it goes on sale in the U.S.

Up Close: Mercedes-Benz GLK Concept

Amid modish artwork and 1920s brass - yeah, try that for a combo - Mercedes had a Vision GLK concept on display for journalists in Detroit last night. We've had official details on the near-production SUV for more than week (see the original post here) but this was the first one we've seen in the flesh.

At first glance, the GLK seems promising. Its boxy styling stands out amid the welter of teardrop-shaped SUVs out there, with a high roofline and much chunkier face than, say, an Acura RDX or an Infiniti EX35. The whole thing recalls a shrunken GL-Class, which isn't a bad thing, and the tall windows make for excellent sightlines from the driver's seat.

The interior is pretty close to production-ready, though the striped cebrano wood and bright-white leather seats probably won't make the cut. The dashboard's twin cowls remind us of the S-Class, and here they're covered in leather stitching. It's an upscale touch that we hope makes it to production.

We spoke with Mercedes engineer Uwe Skrzypek, who said the concept's Bluetec four-cylinder diesel won't be included when the production GLK arrives here in early 2009. It seems the only diesels fitted for U.S. buyers have been V-6s so far, he said, and so the GLK will likely draw power from either the C300 or C350's gas V-6.

Speaking of the C-Class: Mercedes confirmed the introduction of a C-Class coupe, marketed to the same first-time Mercedes buyers as the previous C230 hatch, at the Geneva auto show in March. Naturally, Skrzypek remained mum on details. We'll let you know if we hear more.