Mercedes' compact softroader, the so-called 'GLK', could still come Down Under. That's the view of local Benz boss, Horst von Sanden.

Built to take on the likes of BMW's X3, Audi's yet to be seen Q5 and the VW Tiguan -- as well as the rest of the burgeoning prestige mini-SUV segment -- the GLK is tipped to be unveiled at next March's Geneva show.

The Carsales Network reported the GLK as dead and buried for Oz earlier this year (more here). Now it seems there make be a spark of hope.

Von Sanden will travel to Germany next week to take part in Mercedes' Right Hand Drive Workshop during which he will lobby the company to review its decision to build the GLK in left-hand drive only.

The GLK's official designation, X204, reflects the fact the car is based on the new C-Class (W204). It features a modified C-Class platform and uses essentially the same running gear as the European and US market 4-MATIC all-wheel drive C-Class sedan and wagon.

At this stage the platform is engineered for left-hand drive only. Similarly Benz offers all-wheel drive versions of the E and S-Class – but also only in left-hand drive.

"We'd love to have it [the GLK]. At the moment we haven't got any good news but we will keep raising it because we think it would be a good car for our market."

Von Sanden says the chances of the GLK making it to Oz are still "less than 50:50" however.

"I don't know [yet] how much re-engineering is required. I think it's more of a [right-hand drive] business case issue."

The GLK has been spotted undergoing testing in America but the model is most likely to be produced in Gemany, alongside the mainstream C-Class models.

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