The new Mercedes-Benz GLK crossover SUV won’t go on sale until next January, but four uniquely styled GLKs were on display at the SEMA show in Las Vegas. This was the first official appearance of the German automaker at SEMA, and to do it properly, the company created a competition among tuner shops to create a custom-designed GLK.

Four tuner companies were chosen for presenting the most inspiring designs and were given a short 45 days to build their creations for display at SEMA. The winning designs came from RENNtech, in Lake Park, Fla.; Brabus, based in Bottrop, Germany; Boulevard Customs, in St. Petersburg, Fla.; and Legendary Motorcar Co., in Ontario, Canada.

Mercedes-Benz Head of Design Gorden Wagener was very excited about the four designs. “We wanted to see what kinds of interpretations were inspired by our GLK and how they would further sharpen this very strong character. The tuners opted for completely differing approaches, demonstrating the potential of our GLK concept,” he said.  

Here are the details of the four very different GLK concepts:

RENNtech GLK Rally Racer

It’s not easy to picture a crossover SUV as a race car, but RENNtech did a fine job of making it work. From the front splitter to the side skirts to the large rear wing, this GLK doesn’t look like your typical crossover. Adding to the racy styling are the bold fender flares and 20-inch 3-piece, 5-spoke RENNtech wheels in a “Sniper Gray” anthracite finish. Inside are a full roll cage and four lightweight carbon-fiber seats. Most unusual about this racer is the hybrid powertrain – the 3.5-liter 350-horsepower V6 is teamed with an electric motor that adds an additional 40 lb-ft of torque. A control mounted on the center console allows the driver to choose the aggressiveness of the hybrid system, gearing for performance or fuel economy.

Brabus Widestar GLK

The most mainstream of the four concepts, the Brabus Widestar looks like it’s ready to go into production. In fact, according to Bodo Buschmann, president of Brabus, “Our Brabus GLK Widestar may be a show car created specifically for SEMA in Las Vegas, but our technical solution meets legislative requirements in both Europe and the U.S. With sufficient interest from the public, the Widestar can become a reality.” The GLK Widestar features customized front and rear bumpers, LED daytime running lights, side skirts, a roof spoiler with LED lights and all-new LED lighting units above the front windshield. Wider than the standard GLK, the Widestar carries out the more aggressive look with lower ride height, as well as 21-inch custom wheels.

GLK Urban Whip

Where the Brabus Widestar looks ready for production, the Boulevard Customs GLK Urban Whip comes in at the other end of the scale.  The low-riding concept sits on massive, 26-inch Asanti chrome wheels with matching large Brembo brakes. The grille has been enlarged and uses a chrome mesh, while headlights have been replaced with LED units. But most noticeable is the removed top and shortened windshield, giving this GLK the style of a true speedster. Beneath the rear hard cover is the custom JL Audio system that puts out an eardrum-shattering 5,700 watts of sound.

GLK Rock Crawler

Legendary Motors turned its GLK into the ultimate outdoor sports vehicle with a slew of unique accessories. Not only is the Rock Crawler designed to get the enthusiast to any type of location, it can also be used in the sport itself. Central to this role is the gasoline-powered tow winch built into the rear of the vehicle. The “Grinch Winch” is able to tow boarders of any description at speeds of up to approximately 30 mph. It can be transferred to either the front or the rear of the vehicle and has a hand throttle for tow speed adjustment. The Rock Crawler also features a detachable ramp system, side- and roof-mounted grinding rails and a custom push bar.