Mercedes-Benz has revealed the new GLE prior to its global debut at the New York motor show next week. Formerly known as the M-class, the GLE will go on sale internationally this July, and rival the likes of the BMW X5, Range Rover Sport, Porsche Cayenne and the upcoming Volvo XC90. The new GLE gets revised styling, new equipment and hybrid powertrains.
In terms of styling, the GLE adopts quite a few elements from the smaller GLE Coupé, which was revealed at the Los Angeles motor show last year, including Mercedes’ family front-end styling. The GLE, however, gets a more boxy appearance than its stylish sibling, and includes roof rails and dual exhausts integrated into the rear bumper. LED lights feature at both ends.
Inside the cabin, the new GLE gets a seven-inch free-standing infotainment screen already in use across Merc’s range. It is aided by a touch-sensitive controller mounted on the centre console. While the GLE’s cabin is quite similar to other Mercs, the company says there’s a wider choice of interior colours and trim materials, which include wood and carbon fibre. The optional AMG add-ons include Artico leather upholstery and a new leather multifunction sports steering wheel, while exterior modifications include reprofiled front and rear bumpers and large 20-inch alloys.
Engine options for international markets include a 201bhp 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel, and the 254bhp 3.0-litre V6 diesel. Mercedes says that across the range, fuel consumption and C02 emissions have improved by 17 percent. Perhaps the most significant feature is the new GLE500e 4Matic.
This plug-in hybrid features a 328bhp 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged V6 engine working in conjunction with a single electric motor, which produces an extra 114bhp. Altogether, the hybrid GLE comes with 436bhp. Drive is sent to all four wheels through a transmission unit which is based on the older 7G-Tronic unit. Meanwhile, all the diesel GLE models will come with Mercedes’ nine-speed automatic transmission as standard. Other mechanicals include Mercedes’ Airmatic suspension and the AMG Ride Control system.
Also on display in New York from Mercedes-Benz's stable will be the Mercedes-AMG GLE63 S, which gets 577bhp from its 5.5-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine. Mercedes says the high-performance SUV can reach 100kph in 4.2 seconds, and has a limited top speed of 250kph.
When Mercedes launches the GLE in India, it’ll replace the current M-class and retain the engines. This means, a 203bhp 2.1-litre diesel for the GLE 250d and a 255bhp 3.0-litre V6 for the GLE 350d. Mercedes also has the ML 63 AMG on sale here, and that is likely to be replaced by the GLE63 S.