 The Stuttgart-based brand
2008
|
The GLK Urban Whip set heads turningWhen the word went out that Mercedes was running a tuner competition centred on the new GLK luxury SUV, Boulevard identified immediately with the brief for the Urban Whip and lost no time in getting to work.
READER COMMENTS
|
HOME
| CARS AND VEHICLES |
MERCEDES-BENZ
P. CARS |
GLK-CLASS
| MOTORIST LIFESTYLE |
MOTORSPORTS |
SHOWROOM |
OLDTIMER | 
"I've been a Mercedes fan since childhood," says
Boulevard President Chris Bradley, "and when I reviewed the design brief
for the Urban Whip I said to myself, 'we can do this better than anyone'".
While it may be one of the smaller competitors in the field, Boulevard is
big on ideas. Taking its inspiration from a number of Mercedes models, the
company set about creating a visual interpretation of the GLK that would
put it at the very top of the food chain in the urban jungle. The most striking
feature of the Urban Whip is what is doesn't have - a roof. Although the
original brief required the design to retain the structural integrity of
the GLK, the aggressive look of the custom-made wide-body kit - which was
developed in cooperation with RoBrady Design - made the roadster temptation
difficult to resist. Boulevard submitted renderings of its roadster ideas
to Mercedes-Benz USA and approval was received in double quick time. Working
with NBS Performance, Boulevard removed the roof, shorted the windshield
and added the necessary structural bracing to create a roadster with cosmetic
modifications to the door tops and pillars. "It was the finishing touch to
the whole design," comments Bradley. "The Urban Whip has that extra wow factor
to make it a true head-turner." With the focus on city life, the design of
the wide-body kit is sleek and futuristic. Boulevard worked with Superior
Auto Body on integrating bumpers, side skirts and fender flares to create
a factory finish, while the factory grille was opened up wide and finished
off with chrome mesh and accents hand-crafted by the artisans at STRUT. The
front headlamps retain their factory look, with the standard bulbs replaced
by custom LED units for added performance, while smoked treatment brings
distinctive style to the rear light cluster.
The overall ride height has been lowered by 64mm
using a one-off set of custom lowering springs. And, when it comes to wheels
and tyres, Boulevard is in no doubt that, for urban cruising, there is no
substitute for chrome - and that size matters. The Urban Whip is fixed firmly
to the asphalt with colossal 26" Asanti AF 150 chrome wheels with custom
black accents and wrapped in 295/25 ZR26 Pirelli Scorpion rubber for a perfect
ride. The stopping power is provided courtesy of a massive front and rear
Brembo performance brake kit, featuring 381mm 2-piece floating rotors and
8-pot callipers on the front and 344mm 2-piece floating rotors with 4-piston
callipers on the rear. With flagship Mercedes performance models providing
the inspiration for the interior, Boulevard worked alongside Mark Kraus and
John Lancaster to create a look that is highly individual, yet still distinctly
Mercedes. Using a striking black and white colour theme, the design integrates
both diamond-stitched and perforated leathers for a distinctive, upscale
look and feel. Piano black wood grain trim works together with a custom steering
wheel and shift knob to create a cockpit that is as stylish as it is outspoken,
while rear passengers are cosseted in twin hand-crafted bucket seats. No
seriously urban cruiser can be complete without a seriously urban stereo.
And the absence of a roof will help the GLK Urban Whip share its sound with
the rest of the world. Beneath the speedster cover lurks a mighty piece of
kit from JL Audio. The custom stereo system pumps out over 5,700 Watts of
ear-popping power in a visually stunning installation. Eight HD amps power
the ZR component speakers and subwoofers, including six new JL Audio 13TW5
flat subwoofers, two of which are displayed in the rear of the Urban Whip
in a custom-made clear acrylic tube that adds emphasis to their compact
dimensions and slim profile.