A first set of interior sketches of the all-new Mercedes GLE have been officially released, with the SUV set for an unveil at the upcoming Paris Motor show 2018.
The GLE’s interior adopts twin digital displays for the instruments and infotainment functions, both housed within a single panel. But unlike the free-standing units used by the new A-class, current-gen E-class, new G-class and the facelifted S-class, the digital panel in the new GLE is mounted below the upper section of the dashboard. The German carmaker’s interior design boss, Hartmut Sinkwitz, said this provides a more integrated appearance.
“We wanted to integrate the panel more seamlessly. It provides a greater feeling of sturdiness,” said Sinkwitz, who has played an important part in the transformation of the interior design in Mercedes models in recent years.
The panel supports two 12.3-inch digital displays as standard. They are supported by a new multi-function steering wheel featuring 18 controls, including two touch-sensitive pads within the horizontal spokes, as well as a larger touchpad within the centre console that replaces the rotary dial used by the outgoing GLE.
As with the new A-class, the instruments and infotainment system operate via a new MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) interface that supports conversational speech and information gathering via the Mercedes Me app.
Sinkwitz suggested that improvements in cooling have allowed Mercedes to better integrate the digital instrument and infotainment panel within the GLE: “We’ve improved the operation. There’s less heat build-up than we had before.”
Further interior elements of the new GLE previewed in the official sketches include a near-vertical steering wheel and wide centre console featuring two prominent grab handles. As in the existing GLE, the gear selection is handled by a so-called direct-shift stalk on the steering column rather than a traditional gearlever — a measure that frees up space for two large cupholders within the forward section of the centre console.
Known under the internal codename W167, the 2019-model-year GLE is described by senior officials from Mercedes’ R&D headquarters in Germany as a “clean-sheet design” with little relationship to the current model, which was launched under the M-Class banner in 2011 before being rebadged as part of a midlife facelift in 2015.
At the heart of the new SUV is the carmaker’s Modular High Architecture (MHA) platform, which is heavily related to the Modular Rear Architecture (MRA ) platform that underpins the C-class, E-class and S-class. The new structure has been conceived for Mercedes models featuring a high ground clearance, including the upcoming GLE and GLE Coupé, as well as successors to today’s GLC and GLS.
The new GLE will take on the recently unveiled BMW X5 and the Audi Q7 SUVs globally.
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