2008 Mercedes-Benz GL Class
Last year, the Mercedes GL450 emerged as the most desirable luxo ute in a very desirable field. Facing an equally strong challenge for 2008, Mercedes responded by expanding the GL-class from a class of one to a family of three. For those who seek thrift and torque, there’s the GL320 CDI turbo-diesel, an impressive powerplant that’s currently creating compression-ignition converts in service with our long-term test fleet. And for those who find the GL450’s 335 horsepower and 339 pound-feet of torque a bit too tame, there’s the GL550, with a 5.5-liter V-8 generating 382 horsepower and 391 pound-feet.
Power is always welcome in vehicles weighing upwards of 2.5 tons, but in this class there are other important factors. Packaging, for example. The GL-class provides useful three-row seating and comfortable accommodations for seven in a wrapper that’s shorter, lower, and not quite as wide as most of the luxo leviathans. Those accommodations are posh, as you’d expect in this realm, and that wrapper is also stylish.
Another GL strong suit is refinement. The GL is exceptionally quiet, the seven-speed automatic is at the top of the charts for seamless operation, and ride quality is creamy, surprisingly so for a vehicle that’s extraordinarily responsive by large-SUV standards. None of the foregoing comes cheap, of course. But luxury is as luxury does, and the GL does it best.
VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, 4-wheel-drive, 7-passenger, 5-door wagon
BASE PRICE: $53,775–$77,750
ENGINES: turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 24-valve 3.0-liter V-6 diesel, 215 hp, 398 lb-ft; DOHC 32-valve 4.7-liter V-8, 335 hp, 339 lb-ft; DOHC 32-valve 5.5-liter V-8, 382 hp, 391 lb-ft
TRANSMISSION: 7-speed auto with manumatic shifting
DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 121.1 in Length: 200.3 in Width: 76.0–76.9 in Height: 73.4–75.6 in
Curb weight: 5450–5550 lb
FUEL ECONOMY:
EPA city driving 13–18 mpg
2008 Chevrolet Silverado
High fuel prices have softened the market for pickup trucks, especially full-size pickups, but even so, there are more contenders in this formerly all-American arena than ever before. Which makes the Silverado’s preeminence all the more impressive.
So what gives the Silverado its edge? In a word, structure. The GMT900 truck platform, shared with the General’s full-size SUVs, set a new standard—make that the standard—for chassis rigidity, the essential starting point for ride, handling, big payloads, and hefty towing capabilities. And don’t forget durability.
Secara fitur,… Honda CS1 menurut gue sudah memenuhi mindset konsumen… !!! Terlepaz dari design nya… engine yang digunakan 125cc, 4 stroke, SOHC dengan liquid cooled. Compression rationya juga lumayan tinggi nyampe 10.7:1…!!! Power yang dihasilkan tercatat 12.8HP pada 10000RPM…!!! Rem depan belakang sudah pake disc brake, shock belakang sudah monoshock, knalpot sudah racing, velg juga racing.. so mirip laagh dengan feature yang ada pada kompetitor terdekatnya yaitu FU-150..!!! Kalau soal design memang terjadi debatable… !!! Motor yang didesign oleh 3 ahli dari Jepang, Thailand dan Indonesia ini… cukup kontroversial.. !!! Lagh ya.. karena membuat segment baru… cukup unik..!!! Kalau soal design.. gue nggak bisa comment.. soalnya relatif sih.. dan biarkan pasar aza yang menjudge…!!!
Secara harga,… Honda cukup smart… !!! Setelah dikritik.. bahwa jika ngelepaz motor seharga Rp. 17-an jeti… pasar bakalan bereaksi negatif… harga finalnya menjadi Rp. 16.9 jeti on the road…!!! Terlihat bahwa Honda juga mendengar pasar…walau dikit… !!! Dan harga Rp. 16.9 jeti … menurut gue juga ‘pricing test’ … karena bisa saza seperti Supra X 125.. jika kedodoran.. harga toh bisa dikoreksi…!!! So ngapain buru-buru mengkoreksi harga… toh skema kepemilikan masih ada melalui kredit / leasing..!! Ada anak perusahaan yang cukup kuat… dan siap mendukung product ini di pasaran…!!!
Target Market share / penjualan, … cukup menarik untuk dibahas… !!! Yup karena targetnya adalah paling sedikit 15 rebu unit perbulan…!!! Nah ini yang gue bingung… pigimana sih petanya…??? Supra X 125 tuh sekitar 40 rebu unit per bulan,… Jupiter MX 135 sekitar 30 rebu unit sebulan… Shogun 125 sekitar 8 rebu unit, dan FU-150 sekitar 4 rebu unit sebulan…!!! Nagh.. target 15 rebu unit sebulan.. kira-kira mau ngambil market share yang mana…??? Mau itung-itungan sumbangan.. dari FU-150, dari Jupiter MX 135 dan dari Supra X125 sendiri… apa nyampe target segitu… apalagi target 15 rebu unit itu target minimal…!!! Apa bisa 40% konsumen Jupiter MX 135 + FU-150 pindah ke Honda CS 1…??? Beda harga sekitar 2 jeti dibandingkan Jupiter MX 135… ??? Waduuuh.. gue nggak bisa nge-judge deh… biarin aza.. market aza.. dan gue lebih demen memperhatikan angka aza… ntah bulan April atau Mei 2008
