The GLE was formerly known as the M-Class
Former M-Class receives a new name and a host of upgrades, plus a new petrol-electric plug-in hybrid joins the mix
The new Mercedes-Benz GLE has been revealed ahead of its global debut at the New York motor show next week.
The SUV - formerly known as the M-Class - will go on sale in July, competing in the same crowded market as other top-end SUVs including the Range Rover Sport, Porsche Cayenne and BMW X5.
Alongside revised styling and new equipment, the GLE also ushers in a new era of hybrid SUVs for Mercedes-Benz.
The new GLE adopts many of the same styling cues as the smaller GLE Coupé, revealed at the Los Angeles motor show last year, including Mercedes’ family front-end styling. The GLE gets a more boxy appearance than its stylised sibling, however, and includes roof rails and dual exhausts integrated into the rear bumper. LED lights feature at both ends.
Engine options include a 201bhp 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel in the GLE 250d, which Mercedes says returns up to 52.3mpg with CO2 emissions of 140g/km.
Also available in the GLE 350d is a 254bhp 3.0-litre V6 diesel. Producing 457lb ft of torque, the unit returns up to 44.1mpg with CO2 emissions of 169g/km. Mercedes says that across the range, fuel consumption and C02 emissions have improved by 17%.
Perhaps most significant is the new GLE500e 4Matic. Described as the first plug-in hybrid SUV in Mercedes-Benz history, the GLE500e 4Matic features a 328bhp/354lb ft 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged V6 engine working in conjunction with a single electric motor, which produces and extra 114bhp.
Altogether, the hybrid GLE comes with 436bhp and 479lb ft, and can travel for around 18 miles on electric power alone at speeds of up to 80mph. Drive is sent to all four wheels through a transmission which is based on the older 7G-Tronic unit. All diesel GLE models, meanwhile, will come with Mercedes’ nine-speed automatic transmission as standard.
Drivers can inter-change between four different driving modes in the GLE hybrid. E-Mode offers all-electric driving, while E-Save preserves the current state of charge and Charge mode focuses on topping up the battery. Hybrid mode provides the best overall balance between the engine and the electric motor.
The GLE hybrid can be charged either from a wall-mounted box charger or from a conventional power output. Charging from a wall box takes around two hours. The launch of the hybrid will help Mercedes to stay competitive against the likes of Porsche's Cayenne S E-hybrid and the Range Rover Hybrid.
Inside, Mercedes as given the GLE the same 7.0-inch free-standing infotainment screen already in use across its range. Also featuring is the firm’s touch-sensitive controller, mounted on the centre console.
While the GLE’s cabin will be familiar to current Mercedes-Benz owners, the company says there’s a wider choice of interior colours and trim materials, which include wood and carbon fibre.
The optional AMG Line specification grants extra interior luxury with 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.
Other options include Mercedes’ Airmatic suspension and the AMG Ride Control system, as well as numerous technology upgrade packages.
Also on display in New York will be the Mercedes-AMG GLE63 S, which gets 577bhp from its 5.5-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine, along with 561lb ft. Mercedes says the high-performance SUV can reach 62mph in 4.2 seconds, and has a limited top speed of 155mph. Fuel consumption is rated at just 23.9mpg, with CO2 emissions of 278g/km.
Those performance figures mean the GLE63 S compares well with its chief rivals, BMW’s X5M and X6M, which each get 564bhp from their twin-turbocharged 4.4-litre direct-injection petrol engines.
Unique styling features on the GLE63 S include a modified front bumper and grille, 20-inch AMG alloy wheels - though optional 21-inch units are also available - and chromed exhausts at the rear.
Formerly a best-selling model for Mercedes, the brand will have high hopes for the GLE in what has become a highly profitable market.
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