2012 Mercedes GL-Class Spied During Testing: Spy Shots

Since we last got some photos of the new GL-Class from Mercedes, during the winter testing to be precise, the car has evolved. Now it’s time to show you some new photos, and we can see that some of the cammo has been dropped, showing the rear lights for the first time. Beside this, we can also see the LED-indicator on top of the head light and by the looks of it, our guess is that the rear bumper will share its shape with the Mercedes ML.

Even with that camouflage, we can see a vehicle with very similar proportions and lines to the existing GL, along the front and sides obscure the more cosmetic changes. Behind the screen overlaid on the nose, we can see hints of a two- or three-bar grille, a reduction in count from the current GL’s number, or at least set at wider spacing.

Also the headlights look slightly different in layout, and the tail lights look to be at least partially moved onto the rear lift gate. The exhaust and rear bumper on the vehicle spied don’t look to be dressed in production trim, but it will likely be a two-exit system with one tip on each side of the rear.

So far we have no technical details, but expect to return is the fuel-efficient 3.0-liter turbo-diesel V-6, which makes 210 hp and 400 lb-ft in today’s truck. Although a 300-hp V-6 is possible for other markets, gas-powered GLs in the U.S. will probably use V-8s only. The 550 will get Benz’s fabulous new twin-turbo 4.7-liter V-8, with output between 400 and 450 hp, but the fate of the naturally aspirated 4.7-liter V-8 in today’s GL450 is unknown. A hybrid also is likely down the road, especially since Mercedes already offers a two-mode gas-electric ML.

Below in the photo gallery you can see the latest spy shots of the new GL-Class from Mercedes.

Vector illustration of teamwork concept. Office workers are made up of parts of the whole, working on the project.

Images: CarPix