2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK350 4Matic

2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK350 4Matic

2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK350 4Matic

When a company like Mercedes-Benz can attribute 40 percent of its overall sales to its particular lineup of SUVs, that’s a lot of haymaking. It also requires them to constantly evolve in an effort to stay on top of their game – like a heavily updated entry-level GLK.

The GLK underwent a revision that improved on the build and character of the previous version. Labeled as a 2013 model, it was delivered for retail sales in the summer of 2012. Despite sharing the side profile of its predecessor, the GLK was vastly improved for the new model year.

We hopped on board the range-topping GLK 350 4Matic to check out the differences.

2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK350 4Matic

What is it?
Internally known as the Geländewagen Luxus Kompaktklasse, the GLK originally debuted at the 2008 Beijing Auto Show. Like its much larger G Wagen brother, it was available in Europe for several years before making its first appearance in North America as a 2010 model.

A five-passenger compact crossover, the GLK is a fave amongst a group comprised of pre- and post- family sets, hipsters with cash and urbanites who rarely carry more than two people at a time. Why buy a four-door, five-passenger vehicle when you’ll only carry two, you ask? To scoff at that suggestion would be to miss the point: Buyers seek the confidence of its capabilities rather than having an actual need for such. Sort of like car insurance, you hope you never have to use it, but it is comforting to know it’s there.

2013 Nissan Armada

2013 Nissan Armada

2013 Nissan Armada

Base Price

$39,870

Drivetrain	Rear Wheel Drive
Curb Weight (lbs)	5251
City (MPG)	13
Hwy (MPG)	19
Horsepower	317@5200
Torque (lb-ft)	385@3400
Wheelbase	123.2
Length (in.)	207.7
Width (in.)	79.3
Height (in.)	77.2

In an automotive world increasingly filled with car-based "crossover" SUVs, the Nissan Armada stands out with its old-school body-on-frame construction. This rugged base gives the full-size, eight-passenger SUV respectable off-roading chops and a towing capacity of up to 9,000 pounds.

2013 Nissan Armada

First introduced back in 2004, the Armada is getting on a bit in years but is still a good choice for those looking to do large amounts of people or cargo hauling. Nissan has also kept the big truck fresh with a series of updates throughout its life span, the most notable of which was a major interior overhaul in 2008. It replaced the old, garbage-can quality plastics with rich appointments that wouldn't look out of place in an Infiniti.

As one would expect from its gargantuan exterior dimensions, the Armada has no shortage of interior acreage. Space in generous for first and second-row passengers, although the third-row is best suited for children. Cargo room is 20.0 cubic feet with all three rows in place, 56.7 cubic feet with the third row folded and 97.1 cubic feet with just the first row seats in the upright position.

2012 Ford F-150 Harley-Davidson

2012 Ford F-150 Harley-Davidson

2012 Ford F-150 Harley-Davidson

Base Price

$48,720

Drivetrain	Rear Wheel Drive
Curb Weight (lbs)	5777
City (MPG)	TBD
Hwy (MPG)	TBD
Horsepower	411@5500
Torque (lb-ft)	434@4500
Wheelbase	144.5
Length (in.)	231.9
Width (in.)	79.2
Height (in.)	75.0

2012 Ford F-150 Harley-Davidson

The F-150 Harley Davidson Edition is the top-spec model in Ford's F-150 model lineup - featuring a potent 6.2-liter V8, a unique slammed look, a leather-covered interior, Harley-Davidson badging and exclusivity befitting of its price tag.
The latest collaboration between Ford Motor Company and Harley-Davidson Motorcycles marks the 15th such model, all of which have been based on Ford trucks ranging from the F-150 all the way up to the F-450. Over the years Harley-Davidson edition Ford trucks have utilized normally aspirated V8 motors, special supercharged engines and turbocharged diesels, but the latest model uses a special high-performance V8.

2013 Audi allroad

   2013 Audi allroad

2013 Audi allroad

Base Price

$39,600

Drivetrain	All Wheel Drive
Curb Weight (lbs)	3891
City (MPG)	20
Hwy (MPG)	27
Horsepower	211@4300
Torque (lb-ft)	258@1500
Wheelbase	110.4
Length (in.)	185.9
Width (in.)	79.0
Height (in.)	58.0

2013 Audi allroad

First introduced in 1999 as a jacked-up, quasi-SUV version of the A6 Avant wagon, Audi's allroad nameplate is back after a seven-year absence as a more macho version of the now-discontinued A4 Avant. Like the original, the latest allroad offers a mix of luxury, rugged looks and wagon practicality, although it lacks the old model's height-adjustable suspension and off-road-ready low-range gearing.

Outside, the allroad differs from the standard wagon with a unique eggcrate grille, a sportier front fascia and stainless steel skid plates and side sills. Matte finished lower bumpers and wheel arches along with aluminum roof rails are also allroad-specific touches. Despite the lack of off-road gear, the allroad does boast a 1.5-inch-higher ride height than the Avant for a total ground clearance of 7.5 inches.

2014 Mini Cooper

  2014 Mini Cooper

2014 Mini Cooper

Mini’s iconic 2-door hatchback is being redesigned on a new platform to be shared with the first front-drive cars from parent BMW. Other Minis will be updated in due course. All will be somewhat larger--but a “mini Mini” is in the works too.

What We Know About the 2014 Mini Cooper

You may need a scorecard to keep track of the changes planned for the Mini lineup in coming years. The British icon revived by BMW over a decade ago will start its third design generation in late 2013 with a larger 2-door hatchback on a new platform. This so-called F-Series architecture will eventually host all Mini models, as well as the first front-wheel-drive BMWs, a group of new 1-Series “Compacts” that are due to arrive in 2013. The F-platform replaces the R-Series design developed for Mini’s rebirth in 2001 (U.S. model-year 2002) and which was heavily updated in ’06 (U.S. MY ’07). It is essentially the same as the “UKL1” structure developed for the new baby Bimmers. “UKL” stands for ünterklasse, “entry-level” in German.

2013 Toyota Avalon

 2013 Toyota Avalon

 

2013 Toyota Avalon

Base Price

$33,195

Drivetrain	Front Wheel Drive
Curb Weight (lbs)	3572
City (MPG)	20
Hwy (MPG)	29
Horsepower	268@6200
Torque (lb-ft)	248@4700
Wheelbase	111.0
Length (in.)	197.6
Width (in.)	72.8
Height (in.)	58.5

2013 Toyota Avalon

Toyota has totally redesigned the large Avalon flagship sedan for the latest model year, with a fresh new body. The mechanicals are carried over, but there is a newly-added hybrid model. It's the first Avalon to get a four-cylinder engine, as all previous ones used Toyota's corporate 3.5-liter V6, good for 268 horsepower and 248lb-ft of torque.
The new-generation car continues to get this powerplant, sending motivation to the front wheels exclusively through a six-speed automatic. The transmission has been reprogrammed to be more responsive and efficient and gets a lower differential gear drive. There is also a transmission fluid warmer for prolonging its life.

2013 Land Rover Range Rover

  2013 Land Rover Range Rover

2013 Land Rover Range Rover

 

Base Price

$82,650

Drivetrain	All Wheel Drive
Curb Weight (lbs)	5697
City (MPG)	12
Hwy (MPG)	18
Horsepower	375@6500
Torque (lb-ft)	375@3500
Wheelbase	113.8
Length (in.)	195.8
Width (in.)	80.1
Height (in.)	73.9

2013 Land Rover Range Rover

Land Rover has redesigned its prestigious Range Rover flagship SUV for the latest model year. While the new full-size luxury ‘ute sports evolutionary changes to the exterior styling and cabin, the big news is a new, all-aluminum unibody structure that helps reduce curb weight by a staggering 700 pounds compared to the old model.
For the new generation, the Range Rover's tall greenhouse remains intact, a design cue that dates back to the 1970 model. However, an elongated front fascia that recalls the smaller Range Rover Evoque clearly gives it an updated, yet familiar, face. Instead of upright head lamps, the new Range Rover's lights sweep back into the fenders, further accentuating the rounded appearance.

Ferrari 458 Spider

 Ferrari 458 Spider

Ferrari 458 Spider

 Price: $590,000

The Ferrari 458 Italia is the most awarded Ferrari of all time, so can lopping the roof off make it any better, or has Ferrari ruined a masterpiece?
The ultimate Ferrari experience can only come from hearing its stunning soundtrack Al Fresco – and the Ferrari 458 Spider is the best way to do so.


Targeting the McLaren MP4-12C Spider and Audi R8 Spyder, Ferrari says the 458 Spider will be its best seller.