2019 Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 Spied on the Nurburgring, Is Joined by Other GLEs

Nordschleife spy Supercarsfromeu has captured not only the GLE 63 making its maiden voyage but also other versions of the new GLE on this most famous of test tracks.

Even though these are 2+ ton behemoths on wheels, they corner without much in the way of body lean, which makes us think that Mercedes has fitted the same kind of trick electronically controlled roll bars as the Audi SQ7. The 48-volt electric system is a certainty, given the new powertrains use it to save fuel.

The demands placed on a modern performance SUV have changed in recent years. You have air suspension available even on the GLC and Audi Q5, something that used to be reserved for the biggest and most expensive models. So to keep Russian oligarchs flocking to the GLE 63, Mercedes needs to bring its A-game.

The powertrain for this SUV is almost certain to be a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 producing the same 612 horsepower as in the E63 S. There should also be a "regular" 571 horsepower model. Will it drift? Probably not, but the straight-line performance will be extreme.

Styling is also a big part of what the GLE 63 is about. As you can see, most of the bodywork differs from the regular model - flared arches and doors, the Panamericana grille, bigger air intakes and more aggression all-round.

We believe that one of the other GLE-Class prototypes is the successor to the current 43 model. In place of the 3-liter V6, it should deliver around 430 hp from an inline-six mill of the twin-turbo variety. There will also be a vanilla version of that engine in the GLE 450, as well as new inline-6 diesel engines. Even plug-in hybrids will be part of the mix, but a non-AMG V8 model looks unlikely.