| Concept Preview | Detroit Motor Show 2008 | Mercedes-Benz Vision GLK Freeside |

It's very much a case of look but don't touch for UK visitors to the Detroit Auto Show at the Mercedes-Benz stand. There, the German firm debuts its 'Vision GLK Freeside' - Vision being the company's favoured term for its concept vehicles. And however much you like it, you can't have it - at least not in right hand-drive. Mercedes will is expected to have the production car in European showrooms by the last quarter of this year, but British buyers may be denied access to the BMW X3 rival.

That's thought to be due to the GLK's underpinnings being too expensive to re-engineer for right-hand drive, the four-wheel drive system making the conversion difficult. It's a real missed opportunity, as even against an environment that's increasing anti-SUV, the GLK would undoubtedly attract big sales in the UK. Those mechanicals that are proving difficult to re-jig for right-hand drive are largely based on the C-Class, though with the 4Matic four-wheel drive transmission to give the GLK some off-road ability. Helping in the muck is a special transmission mode selected by a 'G' button that alters the 7-speed automatic's shift points and softens the throttle response. The ESP system is also revised for off-road use, and a Downhill Speed Regulation function for negotiating tricky descents also features.

It may have some trick off-road kit, but its focus is primarily road use. The GLK's transmission drives 55% of the torque to rear wheels in normal situations, it promising to be an entertaining drive. The usual myriad of electronic driver and safety aids feature, including ESP, ASR and 4ETS - which should allow the GLK to give its chief BMW X3 rival a fright on the road. The Vision model on display is powered by a 2.2-litre 170bhp turbodiesel, fitted with Mercedes' Bluetec emissions reducing technology. Production cars will initially be fitted with more conventional powerplants borrowed from the C-Class line-up. They include 3.0 and 3.5-litre petrol V6s, a 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel and a 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel. It's thought too that AMG will offer a version powered by its 6.2-litre V8, its power likely to match the 451bhp offered in the C 63 AMG.

It's also rumoured that Mercedes may produce a rear-wheel drive version in the future, which might eventually enable right-hand drive sales. However, that's unlikely for the moment, as Mercedes is certain to be busy enough trying to cope with demand from its left-hand drive markets to worry about the UK.

Kyle Fortune - 3 Jan 2008