2008 Mercedes-Benz GL550
When we crowned a Mercedes-Benz GL450 king of our Top-Rung Sport-Utes in October 2006, at no point did anyone ever say anything remotely similar to, “Boy, this thing just needs more power.” With the 4.7-liter V-8 whipping up 335 horsepower, we recorded the quickest 0-to-60-mph dash in the group—6.6 seconds—which not only beat out the Escalade’s time but also led some staffers to speculate that we had a ringer on our hands.
In New York, Mercedes rolled out the 2008 GL550, a version of the comparo-winning truck with a totally unnecessary but certainly thrilling 47-hp bump—for a total of 382—thanks to the 5.5-liter V-8 found in the S-class sedan. Although we prefer our horsepower helpings served in low-slung, lightweight cars, nobody here will choose the slower of two tall orders.
Unlike the ML550 that Mercedes Benz is also introducing in New York, the more powerful GL gets a face distinct from lesser-powered versions. Perhaps because there is no AMG variant of the GL (yet), the GL550 wears the deeper grille and bigger three-pointed star from the Vision GL420 concept shown at the Detroit auto show. Look for that new face late this summer, and expect to pay about $65,000.
