Mercedes has come up with the GLE coupe based on the ML-Class. The GLE Coupe will compete with the BMW X6 and it will also be offered in the GLE 450 AMG and GLE 63 AMG trims.
BMW sells the X6 which is a niche crossover in the premium luxury segment. The X6 doesn’t really have any rivals up there but things are just about to be changed. Mercedes has come up with the new GLE coupe that is all set to fight it out with the X6. The GLE is based on the ML which itself is going to get a facelift next year, along with a re-name. Mercedes had displayed the GLE concept at the Beijing Auto Show and the actual production version looks quite similar with only the styling that has been toned down to an extent.
The front of the GLE coupe looks just like any other Mercedes. The huge star is flanked by a chrome strip on either side. The headlights are distinctive and the front bumper adds a sporty touch to the coupe. The honeycomb grilles are huge in size and the bottom part of the bumper is finished in silver for that rugged look. The side profile looks butch while the rear is classy. The GLE shares its chassis with the ML but the steering, suspension and electronic systems have been tweaked to provide a better handling experience.
The interiors of the new Mercedes GLE coupe give us a glimpse of what to expect on the upcoming M-Class facelift. The centre console gets new buttons while the COMAND system gets a pop-up screen. Mercedes will be offering a wide range of colours and materials to choose from. The GLE measures 4900 mm, 2003 mm and 1731 mm in length, breadth and height respectively. The wheelbase of the coupe is 2915 mm.
Powering the GLE are the following engines – 3.0-litre V6 CDI diesel engine giving out 258 PS of power and 620 Nm of torque and a 3.0-litre V6 bi-turbo petrol engine producing 333 PS of power and 480 Nm of torque. Apart from these variants, Mercedes will also offer the GLE 450 AMG Sport Coupe that will be powered by the same 3.0-litre V6 bi-turbo engine in a higher state of tune producing 367 PS of power and 520 Nm of torque. This model will get the DYNAMIC SELECT transmission mode being offered as a standard feature.
Mercedes will also launch the madly powerful GLE 63 AMG Coupe with a 5.5-litre twin-turbo V8 engine churning out 570 HP of power. Overall, the new GLE coupe looks like a clean attempt by Mercedes to rival the BMW X6. Of late, Merc designers have been producing great looking vehicles and the sportier AMG versions are too delicious with their aggressive styling and abundance of power. The Mercedes GLE coupe will be showcased at the Detroit Auto Show next month and it will be launched officially in the later part of 2015.
