Mercedes-Benz India has added a petrol-powered model to its GLE SUV range. The GLE 400, priced at Rs 74.90 lakh, joins the GLE 350d diesel in the line-up. Autocar India had reported a month ago that the German luxury carmaker was readying a petrol-engined versions of its mainstream SUVs for the Indian market. 

Mercedes-Benz, which was adversely impacted by the seven-month-long ban on large diesel cars in Delhi-NCR, made the move to bring in a petrol version of the GLE SUV to give customers a wider choice of engine options in its model portfolio. 

The GLE 400 is powered by a 3.0-litre twin-turbo six-cylinder petrol engine good for 333hp and mated to a seven-speed automatic gearbox. The GLE 400 currently does not have a direct rival. Mercedes will sell the GLE 400 in India via the CBU route with local assembly to start later. The GLE 400 petrol is the seventh product in the carmaker’s line-up of 12 products to launch in 2016.