In a matter of days, the three-pointed star will take the veils off their newest and most tech-conscious utility vehicle. With an internal combustion engine, that is, because the EQC is a different animal altogether thanks to the dual-motor setup and 80-kWh battery.
Bearing the codename W167, the second-generation GLE will pave the way for the next GLE Coupe, all new from the ground up. Because of the sloping roofline, the sexier-and-less-practical body style is referred to as C167.
Described as “the SUV trendsetter” and “completely reconceived,” the GLE-Class features two LED strips in each headlight cluster, mirroring the design of the E-Class. The profile and rear, on the other hand, hark back to the W166. BMW has set the bar high with the X5 in this regard, but in a similar fashion to Mercedes-Benz, the Bavarian competitor didn’t change too much from the original formula.
Moving on to the interior of the GLE, don’t expect to be surprised by the three-pointed star. A combination of the E-Class and A-Class is the most that Mercedes-Benz can offer, along with a three-spoke steering wheel, metallic accents here and there, and wood trim on the dashboard and door panels.
An assortment of four-, six-, and eight-cylinder engine options will be available, including a straight-six powerplant with EQ Boost technology. The GLE 53, 63, and 63 S will top the range, with the lattermost of the three featuring the M178 twin-turbo V8 with an output in the ballpark of 612 PS (604 horsepower).
Riding on the Modular High Architecture (MHA for short), the GLE-Class has been tested as a pre-production prototype by Auto Motor und Sport at the beginning of August 2018. According to the German publication, the mid-size SUV comes with EABC air suspension, adaptive dampers, and an integrated starter-generator system for the GLE 450.
Featuring an 80-millimeter longer wheelbase, the GLE is reported to gain one millimeter in height compared to the current generation. A plug-in hybrid option has been confirmed as well, packing the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder found in the E 350e and a 90-kW electric motor.
Described as “the SUV trendsetter” and “completely reconceived,” the GLE-Class features two LED strips in each headlight cluster, mirroring the design of the E-Class. The profile and rear, on the other hand, hark back to the W166. BMW has set the bar high with the X5 in this regard, but in a similar fashion to Mercedes-Benz, the Bavarian competitor didn’t change too much from the original formula.
Moving on to the interior of the GLE, don’t expect to be surprised by the three-pointed star. A combination of the E-Class and A-Class is the most that Mercedes-Benz can offer, along with a three-spoke steering wheel, metallic accents here and there, and wood trim on the dashboard and door panels.
An assortment of four-, six-, and eight-cylinder engine options will be available, including a straight-six powerplant with EQ Boost technology. The GLE 53, 63, and 63 S will top the range, with the lattermost of the three featuring the M178 twin-turbo V8 with an output in the ballpark of 612 PS (604 horsepower).
Riding on the Modular High Architecture (MHA for short), the GLE-Class has been tested as a pre-production prototype by Auto Motor und Sport at the beginning of August 2018. According to the German publication, the mid-size SUV comes with EABC air suspension, adaptive dampers, and an integrated starter-generator system for the GLE 450.
Featuring an 80-millimeter longer wheelbase, the GLE is reported to gain one millimeter in height compared to the current generation. A plug-in hybrid option has been confirmed as well, packing the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder found in the E 350e and a 90-kW electric motor.