The GLE coupe will be sold with a choice of two 3,0-liter diesels
BMW's new X6 rival joins Mercedes' SUV lineup as a dashing-look sporty five-seater
Mercedes-Benz has expanded its SUV portfolio with the second generation of the GLE Coupé. Opened on the eve of its public debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month, the BMW X6 rival will arrive in dealerships in the spring of 2020.
The newcomer raises a number of Mercedes eight SUV models, indicating significance for the brand sector accounting for a third of global sales. The GLE Coupe brings together an ever-growing style segment, focused variants of traditional high-riding models, and can also count on the Porsche Cayenne Coupe, Audi B8 and Range Rover Velar as competitors.
Despite sharing its underpinnings with the standard GLE, the GLE coupe is 15mm longer and substantially 63mm wider. Its wheelbase is 20mm longer than the previous version, but still 60mm shorter than it is. Mercedes claims that such advantages and visual proportions. Roof height 1722mm, 56mm lower than the standard model. Mercedes says aerodynamic efficiency has improved by 9% over its predecessor.
From the bottom of the pillar forward, the gle coupe looks almost identical to the gle, and from there back, it's very different, with a more sloping windshield and a rear window rake in charge of having a sloping roof, as well as bespoke rear shapes. Wheels are available in sizes from 19" to 22", depending on the vehicle's equipment.
The interior shares gle coupe almost everything with its sibling, too, with the same dashboard layout dominated by two 12.3's of screens and a raised center console with built-in handrails. However, sports seats and a nappa leather sports steering wheel are standard fittings in the coupe. Amazon's music streaming service will also be available at launch.
Mercedes claims that the new car offers "a notably larger" and "significantly better feeling of spaciousness" than its predecessor, thanks to a longer wheelbase and larger door openings. The storage capacity is also increased. In seat-form, the boot is only five liters more than the old car, but with the 40/20/40 split the folding rear bench down that increase rises to 70 liters. The boot sill is lower than before, and the air suspension can lower the rear by another 50mm at the push of a button.
The chassis of the GLE coupe is said to have a different setup from its sibling, which aims for a complex “sport and towter” driving experience, with air suspension standard on UK vehicles. The same 48V electronic active body control system is also available, which includes the ability to independently control spring and damper forces at each wheel.
At launch, the standard GLE coupe is offered with two versions of the 3,0-liter six-cylinder diesel engine, with variable all-wheel drive. The base 350d camera model puts out 268bhp and 443lb ft of torque, with the 400d at 325bhp and 516lb ft. Fuel economy is quoted at up to 37.6 mpg combined for both, depending on trim level.
A modest £62,000 increase in the price of an equivalent standard gle 350d camera is expected.
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