An efficient 429-hp 4.6-liter V-8 in the GL550 4MATIC combines numerous advances and twin turbochargers to deliver 12% more power. Its 516 lb-ft torque peak offers 45% more thrust at just 2,000 rpm. Its rapid-multispark ignition can fire up to four times per millisecond, while high-pressure Direct Injection can microscopically fine-tune fuel spray in just 0.1 milliseconds, reducing emissions, fuel consumption and noise. A lightweight diecast-alloy block, quicker and more widely variable valve timing, reduced friction, and clever "on-demand" ancillary components like the alternator further boost efficiency.  

A pair of paddles strategically positioned behind the upper steering-wheel spokes allows you to manually upshift and downshift the 7-speed automatic transmission with just a flick of your fingers.  

For optimum traction, even in slippery conditions, 4MATIC all-wheel drive incorporates our advanced 4-wheel Electronic Traction System. 4-ETS can help get you going even if three wheels lose their grip. Sensors at each wheel monitor traction based on wheel speeds. If one or more wheels start to slip, 4-ETS individually brakes the slipping wheels to maintain the flow of torque to the wheels with grip. Even if only one wheel has grip, 4-ETS can help get you going and stay in control.   (Disclaimer)

For a balanced, comfortable ride, the AIRMATIC semi-active suspension employs electronically controlled air springs that adjust to changing driving conditions. At the push of a button, the vehicle's ride height can be raised for added ground clearance. The suspension also lowers automatically at higher speeds for improved aerodynamics, stability and fuel-efficiency. AIRMATIC also provides automatic 4-wheel level control, to help compensate for additional cargo or passengers.  

Incorporated into our innovative AIRMATIC air suspension, ADS II continually optimizes ride and handling by automatically selecting one of four damping profiles for each spring-strut every time a wheel changes its direction of up-down travel. Driver-selectable Comfort and Sport modes allow you tailor handling response and ride firmness to your present driving style.  

Powerful 4-wheel disc brakes feature a number of advances. If you lift off the accelerator quickly, Predictive Brake Priming sets the pads closer to the discs for more immediate response when you apply the brakes. In the rain, Automatic Brake Drying periodically applies the brakes just enough to sweep water build-up from the discs. During uphill starts, Hill-Start Assist helps prevent unwanted rollback. And a HOLD feature can make long red lights or stopped traffic a little easier.   (Disclaimer)

From its bold grille to its muscular rear fenders and wraparound taillamps, the new 2013 GL-Class combines rugged capability with refined elegance and unexpectedly sleek aerodynamics. Glistening chrome accents highlight the sculpted body, from the front skid plate to the trim surrounding the large side windows. It all comes together to give the GL-Class a presence that's undeniably confident and unmistakably a Mercedes-Benz.  

A winglike span of hand-polished wood sweeps from its dash to all four doors. Crisp, brushed metal trim highlights the ergonomic precision and elegant logic of its controls. And refinement can be found in every detail, from the precise top-stitching of its seats and armrests, to the numerous storage areas, beverage holders and power outlets. In space and style, the GL-Class delivers a first-class experience to all three of its seating rows.  

Commanding 21-inch AMG alloy wheels feature five twin spokes and a glistening silver finish. Massive 295/40R21 all-season tires are designed for more aggressive grip in corners, balanced with confident wet-road performance and a composed ride quality.  

LED taillamps feature a stylish fiber-optic effect for a distinctive nighttime appearance. Long-lasting, attention-getting LEDs are also employed for the rear turn signals and red rear foglamp.  

Aggressively styled lower bodywork expresses the performance prowess of the GL550 4MATIC, while setting off its standard 21-inch AMG wheels. Bright chrome skidplates add a purposeful highlight to the front and rear bumpers.  

Sleek and purposeful, the roof rails accommodate a variety of available accessory attachments for carrying bikes, surfboards, skis, snowboards and cargo carriers.They're crafted from elegant aluminum that adds modern style even when you're not using them.  

Stylish and functional running boards ease your entry and exit while providing a rugged element of design. Grippy rubber studs dot the running boards, for a surer step even in inclement weather. And elegant, seamlessly integrated new fiber-optic LED illumination of the step area helps to light your way aboard.  

Put a classic touch of luxury in your hands with a steering wheel accented with hand-polished wood to match the interior of the vehicle and trimmed in supple Premium leather. Multifunction controls put many of the features you use most right under your thumbs, along with providing easy access to the many useful screens of the color display in the gauge cluster and the Bluetooth® hands-free system.   (Disclaimer)

Hand-polished Burl Walnut wood trim graces the dash and all four doors, lending the GL550 4MATIC cockpit a further air of refinement and exclusivity.  

An advanced system of 9 air bags offers 13-way occupant protection. Dual two-stage front air bags, front and 2nd-row side-impact air bags, a driver's knee air bag, and side curtain air bags for all three seating rows are standard.   (Disclaimer)

Active Parking Assist helps you size up parallel-parking spaces as you drive by, using sensors in the bumper to determine if available spots can accommodate your vehicle. Then, while you control the brakes and gear selection, the system automatically and expertly steers the car into the space.

In any low-speed maneuver, PARKTRONIC's ultrasonic sensors in the front and rear bumpers detect nearby objects within the system's field of view. Audible signals and illuminated displays in the cabin help you navigate tight spaces with confidence.  

The first system of its kind, ATTENTION ASSIST continuously monitors different parameters of driving behavior, and can automatically alert the driver with both visual and audible warnings if it detects signs of drowsiness on long trips.   (Disclaimer)

When the vehicle is traveling above approximately 20 mph, this system uses radar technology to sense when a vehicle enters the blind-spot area. Blind Spot Assist then automatically alerts the driver via an illuminated red icon in the appropriate side mirror. The system also gives an audible warning if the driver activates a turn signal while a vehicle is detected in the blind spot.   (Disclaimer)

With technology that monitors ordinary road markings, Lane Keeping Assist helps detect unintended drifting off-course, and alerts the driver by vibrating the steering wheel.   (Disclaimer)

Another Mercedes-Benz safety breakthrough, PRE-SAFE® is a predictive occupant-protection system that helps prepare for an accident in the critical moments before it occurs. If sensors detect certain vehicle movements that indicate that an accident is possible, PRE-SAFE takes action: Reversible electronic tensioners tighten the front seat belts. The occupied front passenger seat (on models equipped with front-seat memory) adjusts to a more favorable position for air-bag and seat-belt effectiveness, while both active front head restraints adjust for optimum protection. If severe skidding indicates that a rollover is likely, PRE-SAFE closes the sunroof and the side windows in the first two rows. If no accident occurs, the seat-belt tensioners reverse, and you simply readjust your seat, open the sunroof and continue on your way.   (Disclaimer)

Complementing the preparations made by the PRE-SAFE system before an impending collision, a GL-Class automatically takes measures to help ensure the safety, and facilitate the rescue, of the occupants immediately after one occurs. These include shutting off the engine and fuel supply, unlocking all doors, and turning on the hazard flashers and interior lights. In models equipped with driver-seat memory, the system can also move the power steering column upward.  

This innovative driver-assistance feature helps you to see directly behind your vehicle when reversing. Shift into Reverse, and a wide-angle camera mounted in the rear displays a live view of what's behind the vehicle on the COMAND screen in the dashboard. Active parking guidelines on the screen help you back into a parking space. A special new mode helps you line up the optional trailer hitch of your GL-Class with your trailer, then zoom in for more precise maneuvering.   (Disclaimer)

The exterior lights can be programmed to turn on for a preset interval when you remote-lock your vehicle in darkness, to help light a path for you as you leave.  

An advanced new uni-body structure elevates the safety, comfort and performance of the GL-Class to new heights. The passenger cell is made more robust via the extensive use of high and ultra-high-strength steel, triple-layer roof pillars, and multiple reinforcements of the floor, doors, side sills and even a tubular magnesium structure spanning behind the dashboard. Advanced front and rear crumple zones progressively deform to help absorb impact forces before dissipating them over, under and around the cabin. In addition, the strategic use of aluminum (such as the hood and front fenders) and acoustically optimized materials helps to manage weight and noise, for more precise handling and a quieter ride.  

The Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) can automatically detect a substantial loss of tire pressure in any wheel and alert the driver via a warning message in the multifunction display. The advanced TPMS can also display the numeric tire pressure for each mounted wheel.  

Enjoy the strong, controlled stopping power of dual-circuit power-assisted 4-wheel disc brakes, backed by an Antilock Braking System (ABS). ABS senses impending wheel lockup under heavy braking and pumps the front brakes individually or the rear brakes together. This intelligent system can pump the brakes as needed up to 30 times per second, to prevent lockup and preserve the driver's steering ability.   (Disclaimer)

Brake Assist senses emergency braking via the speed at which the driver presses the brake pedal and immediately applies maximum available power boost. Brake Assist can potentially reduce the overall stopping distance by eliminating the delay caused by a common human tendency not to brake hard enough, soon enough. Letting up on the brake pedal releases Brake Assist.   (Disclaimer)

Adaptive braking technology integrates a suite of advances. If you lift off the accelerator quickly, Predictive Brake Priming sets the pads closer to the discs for more immediate response when you apply the brakes. In the rain, Automatic Brake Drying periodically applies the brakes just enough to sweep water build-up from the discs. During uphill starts, Hill-Start Assist helps prevent unwanted rollback. And a HOLD feature can make long red lights or stopped traffic a little easier.   (Disclaimer)

This safety breakthrough first introduced by Mercedes-Benz continually monitors your driving inputs and the vehicle's motion to help keep it going in your intended direction, especially in corners and during evasive maneuvers. If it detects wheelspin, severe understeer (plowing), or oversteer (fishtailing), ESP can brake individual wheels and reduce engine power to help bring the vehicle under control. A new load-sensing feature adapts the engagement thresholds of ESP to allow more sporty handling feel when the vehicle is lightly laden.   (Disclaimer)

A clever adaptation of the information already gathered by the AIRMATIC suspension, adaptive braking technology, electromechanical power steering and Electronic Stability Program (ESP) allows the GL-Class to automatically compensate for the effects of strong side winds. When sufficiently strong lateral gusts are detected, the system gently applies the brakes on one side of the vehicle to help keep the vehicle smoothly on course, in both straight-line travel and through gentle curves. The system operates above approximately 50 mph, and is automatically deactivated by significant steering inputs by the driver.   (Disclaimer)

A trailer in tow can adversely affect the driving dynamics of a vehicle. That's why the GL-Class is equipped standard with Trailer Stability Assist. The sensors for the Electronic Stability Program (ESP®) monitor for trailer sway, or oscillations caused by the trailer's movement. The system then intervenes by using the front brakes of your Mercedes to help stabilize the vehicle and trailer. Once the system is satisfied that the situation is under control, braking intervention is ceased.   (Disclaimer)

The SmartKey remote control integrates remote door locks, a removable valet key, and a remote panic alarm. You may selectively unlock only the driver's door and fuel filler, or all four doors plus the liftgate and fuel filler.  

The standard antitheft alarm system is armed automatically when you lock your Mercedes from the outside. It sounds the horn and flashes the exterior lights if a door, the trunk or the hood is opened without first unlocking the vehicle. You can also sound the alarm by pressing the red "panic" button on your SmartKey remote when you're within range of your vehicle.  

Rain-sensing windshield wipers automatically adjust the intermittent wiper frequency based on the amount of rainfall.  

Equipped with Emergency Tensioning Devices (ETDs) and belt force limiters, 3-point seat belts are arguably our most important passive safety feature. If a collision exceeds a preset threshold, the ETDs instantly remove slack from the front and rear outboard seat belts. Belt force limiters allow a slight amount of give in the ETD-equipped seat belts, to reduce the peak seat-belt forces on the occupant.   (Disclaimer)

Bi-Xenon headlamps help deliver greater visibility than halogen headlamps because their brighter, whiter light is much closer to natural daylight. Active Curve Illumination helps you see better into corners at night, swiveling the headlamps as you steer to increase usable illumination by up to 90% over conventional fixed headlamps.  

Engineered to provide the maximum possible road illumination without creating glare for other drivers, this innovative feature uses continuous input from a camera to automatically vary the range of your high beams, based on the distance both to oncoming vehicles and to those ahead of you. Enhancing your ability to identify changes in the road's path and the presence of pedestrians and hazards earlier, Adaptive Highbeam Assist can help you drive more safely and confidently in the dark.  

Supple, richly grained double-stitched leather is hand-fitted to all seating surfaces, even the head restraints.  

Separate left and right temperature controls allow the driver and front passenger to enjoy personalized comfort, while a third zone is dedicated to the rear cabin. In addition to fully automatic or manual control of blower speed and airflow distribution, the system includes a humidity sensor, a dust/pollen filter, and an activated charcoal filter that helps remove odors from the cabin air. The rear-cabin settings can be adjusted from control panels both in the dash and in the second row.  

Both front seats power-adjust for reach, height, tilt and recline. Convenient, intuitive controls on each front door make it easy to find your ideal driving position. For long-term comfort and lower-back support, the driver seat features a 4-way power-adjustable lumbar support.  

Intuitive, seat-shaped controls on each front door help you and your front passenger find your ideal seating positions with 10-way power adjustment. A memory system for the driver seat recalls three stored positions for the seat plus the power steering column and side mirrors. And 4-way power lumbar support is added to the front passenger seat.  

Electrically heated front seats quickly take the chill out of even the coldest day. Three levels of warming automatically step down after several minutes to the lowest setting.  

Heated and Active Ventilated seats are a luxury you'll soon consider a necessity. Three levels of heating and cooling ventilation are offered. By gently circulating air through perforations in the seat and backrest, Active Ventilated seats help keep you cooler and your clothes dryer during warmer months. On cold or damp days, using both the ventilation and heating features together can circulate the seat heating more quickly, to help keep you warm and dry.  

With more than 38 inches of legroom, the spacious 2nd-row seating offers generous space for three passengers. The seats fold flat in seconds in a 60/40-split, for flexible cargo space as well. An EASY-ENTRY feature on both sides eases 3rd-row access from either the right or left rear door.  

The 50/50-split 3rd-row seats in the GL-Class can be individually folded flat in less than five seconds at the touch of a button. When used in combination with the folding 2nd-row seats, this standard appointment gives you easy access to nearly 94 cu ft of cargo space.  

A leap in ease and efficiency pioneered by Mercedes-Benz, KEYLESS-GO lets you unlock, start and drive away without removing the SmartKey from your pocket or purse. You can lock and unlock the doors with a touch of the exterior handles, and start the engine by stepping on the brake pedal and pushing the Start/Stop button on the dashboard. You can also start the vehicle in the conventional way by removing the Start/Stop button and inserting the SmartKey into the ignition.  

At the touch of a button, the tinted glass sunroof tilts up at the rear for ventilation, or slides open for a breezy view of the sky. An express feature fully opens or closes the roof with a single touch, and a manual sliding sunshade helps block out unwanted sunlight.  

To help you find your ideal driving position, the steering column power-adjusts up/down and in/out at the touch of a button. The settings can also be stored in the 3-position driver-seat memory.  

The side mirrors can be folded in at the touch of a button, adding convenience when parked in tight quarters. You can also program the mirrors to fold automatically when you remote-lock the vehicle, then unfold upon unlocking.  

Automatic assist mechanisms quietly and graciously finish closing the doors for you or your passengers. Just bring the door to its latch, and the closing assist gently snugs it to its fully closed position.  

For added convenience in the rain or with an armful of packages, you can fully open and close the liftgate via a switch on the driver's interior door panel or a button on the SmartKey remote. Press a button on the underside of the liftgate and it powers itself closed. A sensor automatically stops the liftgate if it detects an obstruction, and you can set the system to limit the opening height, useful under low ceilings.  

Deep-tinted windows for the rear doors, rear quarters and liftgate affords added privacy and warm-weather comfort to rear-cabin passengers.  

Three buttons on the rear view mirror can be programmed to operate many types of garage door openers, security gates and other HomeLink-compatible features.   (Disclaimer)

Efficient, low-intensity LEDs help illuminate the center console, front footwells and interior door handles, to help make nighttime driving more convenient and passengers feel more secure.  

A network of efficient LEDs and fiber optics casts a gentle glow from beneath the trim on the dashboard and door panels, both to welcome occupants into the cabin and to help make nighttime driving feel more secure. For an added touch of personality, any of three illumination color profiles (Polar, Solar and Neutral) can be selected. Additional lighting enhancements include illuminated front door sills, rear footwells and front cup holders.  

Conveniently located in the 2nd-row seating area, a household-style 115V outlet lets you charge your laptop or camera, plug in a gaming system, or use other electronic devices, up to a maximum of 150 watts, without a special adapter.  

Featuring a large high-resolution color-LCD display mounted high in the dash and a central controller on the console, the Cockpit Management and Data (COMAND) system gives you convenient control of audio, video, hands-free calling and optional navigation functions. Many features can also be accessed via the integrated steering-wheel controls.  

The in-dash player can play audio CDs and DVDs. You can even watch a DVD movie while the vehicle is in Park.  

Place and answer calls, and even access select phonebooks without taking your hands off the steering wheel with standard Bluetooth connectivity for hands-free calling. Pairing your Bluetooth-compatible phone with the vehicle is simpler than ever. Then, just leave your phone in your pocket and enjoy hands-free conversations over the audio system. Visit http://www.mercedes-benz-mobile.com/us/en/ to learn more about Bluetooth connectivity.   (Disclaimer)

Bluetooth audio streaming makes it even easier to enjoy your digital music player. It allows you to connect your Bluetooth-equipped iPod® or other MP3 player wirelessly to your vehicle's audio system for convenient, cable-free playback.  

Using a fast 80GB hard drive to store maps, points of interest and even Zagat® Survey ratings for restaurants, hotels and golf courses, this virtual copilot offers detailed driving directions with a friendly voice. The 7-inch LCD screen displays your route with new 3D maps of building profiles and elevations, plus gas stations, ATMs, Mercedes-Benz dealerships and even scenic routes. Data for the contiguous U.S., Canada and Oahu, Hawaii are standard, with periodic updates available at your authorized Mercedes-Benz dealer.   (Disclaimer)

The MP3 Media Interface turns your Mercedes-Benz into an extension of your iPod or compatible electronic device. Browse, select and play your musical accompaniment of choice via the multifunction steering wheel or central controller. New for 2013, you can even search for music via the Enhanced Voice Control system.   (Disclaimer)

An in-dash SD memory card reader enables you to enjoy your music through the stereo system of your Mercedes-Benz without having to bring along a media player. It supports MP3, MP4 and WMA audio files.  

Both an auxiliary audio input jack and USB connector allow plug-and-play enjoyment from your iPod® or other MP3 player.  

Delivering remarkably clear audio that gives AM stations the crispness of FM radio, and FM stations CD-grade sound, HD Radio™ technology also offers a larger bandwidth that can actually increase the number of stations available to you.   (Disclaimer)

Music Register allows you to store up to 10GB of your own digital music on the in-dash hard drive. It lets you copy songs from your CDs and DVDs and save them to your vehicle's audio system, so you can listen to them anytime and anywhere you drive.  

• Blind Spot Assist
• Lane Keeping Assist