LOOKS THE SAME TO ME

I have to agree that this is just too early for a GL facelift. It certainly is not the GL550 and the GLK would be smaller. I just have no inkling of what it is...

I'm with Merc1 and BMWowner here, it must be the Hybrid version of the GL.
It is waaay too early for a facelift (and the GL is selling good so it doesn't need a boost I think). And even in the smallest facelift, the rear bumper is retouched too!

But, question: if it is the hybrid, wouldn't it have make sense to give it the big grill like the Bluetec, to underline the fact that it is a "green" version?

I don't think the "big grille" will underline "green." The GL550 just released in the US has the "big grille" and is anything but green...:-)

Oupss sorry, I thought the big grille was only mounted on Bluetec GLs to improve their sex-appeal, encourage the clients to choose Bluetec and make publicity for Mercedes to release evironnemental-friendly SUVs...

Hurry up Mercedes, it is time for you to have hybrid models in your line-up!!

Is the big grille now standard on every GL? Or only on the big ones, and the Bluetec? So it can be considered as a sort of mini-facelift!?

In that cas it is absolutely impossible that a third facelift could come!

It reinforces my conviction that what we have here is the the hybrid GL.

At the present time the US (and Canada) GL550's are the only ones with the big (Bluetec Vision) grille. There are no plans to sell this model anywhere else with this body configuration.

Oh, so no Big fat grille on European GL? It gives it such a presence... Surely some clients will buy US-spec front bumper and grille to have it.... I think I would do it if I had a GL!

It would also require the flares on the wheel wells since the bumper is designed to match the edge of the wheel flares.