What does the GL mean on the Mercedes GL 450?

Gelaendewagen Leicht The GL-Class was originally supposed to replace the old G-Class (or as it was originally known, the German equivalent of the Hummvee: the Gelaendewagen). The GL was a more road-going verion of the very off-road capable Gelaendewagen (G-Class) so presumable the L stands for Leicht (German for light) to keep with the current method of Mercedes model designation. Similarly, the K in the new small MB SUV the GLK will stand for Kompact or Kurtz (compact and short respectively). Also as you probably know 450 stands for 100 times the rounded engine displacement of 4.6 L.