New Mercedes GST 2004 model, Made in USA - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

#1 08-30-2002, 02:08 AM

Here is a picture of the upcoming Mercedes GST model which will appear at the end of 2004. The car will be produced in the Alabama factory in the USA right where the M class is currently produced.

The model has been conceptualized as a cross between a car an SUV and a van. It will probably have three rows of seats and will accomodate 6 people.
The prototype appeared last January in Detroit Auto show and was powered by the AMG V8 5.5 liter engine producing 360 HP. It is questionable wether this engine will power the actual car though.

#2 09-01-2002, 03:27 AM

Why the hell is Mercedes focusing on SUV's so much? The ML and G are enough. Maybe they should focus on coming out with some new engines instead of of making another SUV!!!!!!

engatwork · #3 09-01-2002, 07:56 AM

Thanks for the pic PE. I could imagine a 617 engine with a 5 speed manual transmission in that baby

- wouldn't that be a sweet ride.

Lebenz · #4 09-01-2002, 10:59 AM

Its cool! Note the suicide rear doors!

Thanks for the post, George!

#5 09-01-2002, 12:37 PM

Art, they only focus on SUV on the USA market simply because that is what Americans want to buy. That is why they are building it in Alabama, so they can keep the cost down for the USA market. These vehicles including the M class do not sell well in Europe, mainly because of their huge size and also because of the different tastes of the European public.

Jim, radical thoughts as always

akry · #6 09-01-2002, 02:36 PM

I really doubt that MB would put the 5.5L V8 in the car.... at least not initially..... IMO, the new 3.5L V6 is a more likely candidate...

Andy Kuo

sixto · #7 09-03-2002, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by public enemy
The model has been conceptualized as a cross between a car an SUV and a van

They're called station wagons and they've been around for decades.

Sixto
91 300SE
87 300SDL

#8 09-03-2002, 06:30 PM

So will there be no w211 E-class wagon for North America if this GST "thing" is marketed in the US?

Hmmm....E500T wagon or whatever the nomenclature for the Vision GST will be...that's a hard decision.

Oh yes, as akry mentioned, will the 3.2 liter V6 be punched out to 3.5 liters starting with the Vision? It's about time...3.5 liters seems to have superseded 3.0 liters as the "Standard V-6 Engine Size" among many manufacturers.

-Sam

#9 09-04-2002, 02:51 AM

"They're called station wagons and they've been around for decades. "

Sixto and Bill thanks for the information. I was not aware that station wagons with three rows of seats have been around for decades.

Always something new to learn in this life.

rainmaker · #10 09-04-2002, 06:40 AM

There have been station wagons with three rows of seats for decades. The W123 wagon had a third row as a matter of fact. Maybe they did not come out in the US (not sure) but they did have them in other parts of the world.

Well, whaddaya know? You do, in fact, learn something new everyday!

#11 09-04-2002, 12:07 PM

Well, I was obvoiusly refering to three front facing rows of seats. Of course I am aware of Volvos and MB that have a rear facing seat in the back but that is not what is going on in the GST.

Aside from all this, it is becoming clear to me that we have people in the forum who derive pleasure from disagreeing with others. They will actually go to any extend to disagree even with the obvious and self explanatory. They will disagree just for the sake of disagreeing.
I have a couple of suggestions for those poor individuals. First, try more fiber in your diet, I have heard people swear by it. Second, go get yourself a job, it also seems to help.

Well, since I do not have time to play childish games and trying to defend myself for no important reason, it became clear to me that I have no business being part of this forum anymore.

As a farewell, I would like to thank the people who have enlighten me with their knowledge, it has been of invaluable help in many MB projects.

sixto · #12 09-04-2002, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by public enemy
Well, I was obvoiusly refering to three front facing rows of seats. Of course I am aware of Volvos and MB that have a rear facing seat in the back but that is not what is going on in the GST.

In the 70s, I toured Barcelona in a Citroen CX wagon that had three forward facing rows of seats. In the James Bond movie Goldfinger (circa 1964?) there's a Ford Fairlane wagon or something like that with three forward facing rows. If you go back to the Chrylser Town and Country and Chevy Suburban models of the 30s, you'll find three forward facing rows of seats in a vehicle you wouldn't market as an SUV today.

I think it's one more ill effect of the Chrysler merger. Chrylser made a big deal of minivans with two sliding doors when the Japanese had been making them for years. My earliest recollection of a van with two sliding doors is my family's special edition 1970 VW Kombi.

I'm not disagreeing or arguing with you for the heck of it, I'm challenging the professional opinion of whomever wrote, "The model has been conceptualized as a cross between a car an SUV and a van..." Those sound like words pulled from a published article. If those are your words, then I suppose I'm challenging your opinion... though not for a lack of fiber or employment.

If there's something uniquely MB about this vehicle other than the skylight, I'm not aware of it. It doesn't mean that I don't like it or that you shouldn't.

Sixto
91 300SE
87 300SDL

hitch02 · #13 09-04-2002, 01:21 PM

If my memory serves, the Peugeot 504 and 505 wagons were available with three rows, forward facing.

-Reed
'84 300D/T
'70 BMW 2800
'95 Accord Wagon with only 2 forward facing sets of seats...

sixto · #14 09-04-2002, 02:37 PM

Next we can compare the glass top to the Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser

http://filkins.net/auto/images/64vista.jpg

Sixto
91 300SE
87 300SDL