Mercedes-Benz Korea on Thursday unveiled three new luxury sports utility vehicle models, expanding its premium SUV lineup to nine in the country.

In the unveiling ceremony held via its official YouTube channel, the automaker presented Mercedes-Benz GLB, a “versatile” family SUV; the new Mercedes-Benz GLA, a dynamic sporty SUV; and the new Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe, a premium coupe SUV.

Opening the unveiling event was interim President and CEO Kim Jee-seop, who was formerly vice president of the company’s customer services department and was appointed earlier this month.

”I joined the company as a rookie employee, and it is an honor and exciting for me to stand here now as the representative of the company,“ Kim said.

Kim joined Mercedes-Benz Korea in 2002, and has since worked in various departments, including sales, marketing, product strategy and customer service, before his recent appointment.

“Taking the position at a critical time, I feel the weight of the responsibility on my shoulders ... as I have before, I will keep the company philosophy, to make nothing but the best, and do my best,” Kim said.

Following Kim’s greetings, Mark Raine, vice president of products and marketing at Mercedes-Benz Korea, took over the presentation to explain the new models.

“The Mercedes-Benz luxury SUV family is a lifestyle product and a perfect partner in crime to pursue and conquer any urban adventures,” Raine said.

“The new GLA, GLB and the GLE Coupe come with a stunning design, the latest digitalization and technology as well as superior luxury and exclusivity to compliment the active lifestyle of our Korean customers and Mercedes-Benz fans.”

The new GLB, which joins the automaker’s SUV lineup for the first time, is a family SUV with generous interior space and practicality. Equipped with a new four-cylinder 2.0-liter gasoline turbo-charged M260 engine, the GLB model combines that with the 8G-DCT transmission to deliver a powerful and efficient driving performance, according to the automaker. 

The new GLA is a second-generation model of the company's dynamic sporty SUV that was first released in 2013.

Raine emphasized its strong, dynamic character, with its AMG Line exterior adding the sporty look, and facilitating the same M260 engine as the GLB model. The Off-Road Engineering Package is also available. 

For the new GLE Coupe, Raine likened the vehicle to a “beast,” highlighting its strong appearance and sheer size that will mark its presence on roads. The GLE 400d 4MATIC Coupe is equipped with a six-cylinder in-line turbo diesel engine and the 9G-TRONIC automatic transmission.

The new GLB 220, the new GLB 250 4MATIC and the new GLA 250 4MATIC models will be released in September, and its prices are 54.2 million won ($45,700), 61.1 million won and 59.1 million won, respectively.

The new GLE 400d 4MATIC Coupe will go on sale starting in October with a price of 121 million won.

By Jo He-rim (herim@heraldcorp.com)