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2019 Mercedes-Benz GLE Spied with More Rugged "Offroad" Look

Don't make the mistake of believing Mercedes-Benz has made a rushed job by releasing the 2016 GLE on the 2012 ML platform, and with an interior that makes the underpinnings more than visible.
2019 Mercedes-Benz GLE Spied 12 photos
Photo: SB-Medien
2019 Mercedes-Benz GLE Spied2019 Mercedes-Benz GLE Spied2019 Mercedes-Benz GLE Spied2019 Mercedes-Benz GLE Spied2019 Mercedes-Benz GLE Spied2019 Mercedes-Benz GLE Spied2019 Mercedes-Benz GLE Spied2019 Mercedes-Benz GLE Spied2019 Mercedes-Benz GLE Spied2019 Mercedes-Benz GLE Spied2019 Mercedes-Benz GLE Spied
You see, Stuttgart engineers and designers are currently working on a mid-term plan that will allow the company's future crossover line to come with a stronger visual identity, with the current GLE simply being a piece that keeps us busy until the new strategy becomes dealership reality.

It all starts with the next-generation G-Class. The most rugged model in Mercedes-Benz's portfolio (let's leave out the market implications for now), the next Gelandewagen, which will mark a turning point in the history of the once-military machine, is set to dictate the styling direction for all future Mercedes crossovers and SUVs.

Sure, when it comes to a volume seller, such as the GLE, this will only be visible through small details, hence the quotes in the title above. But the beefier wheel arches on this early GLE prototype are a clue towards the fact that the model will deliver a more rugged appearance.

In fact, Mercedes-Benz has tried to implement such a design before (think of the GLK), but now we'll be looking at a more complex scheme covering multiple models.

As we mentioned above, this doesn't mean you should expect future high-riding Mercs to look like rough terrain animals, but the offroading-inspired details will be there.

More importantly, the 2019 GLE will be built on the automaker's MHA platform, which has already debuted on the new GLC. While this should bring a roomier cabin, engineers are also targeting a diet that will improve the efficiency of the vehicle.

Speaking of which, the engine compartment of the future GLE will be populated with the units we've already met on the new E-Class. On the transmission front, the 9G-Tronic nine-speed auto will come as a standard feature and we should be able to say the same about 4Matic all-wheel-drive.

Mercedes-Benz still hasn't moved on to the advanced stages of 2019 GLE development, so we'll have plenty of time to get into the details of the vehicle.
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About the author: Andrei Tutu
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In his quest to bring you the most impressive automotive creations, Andrei relies on learning as a superpower. There's quite a bit of room in the garage that is this aficionado's heart, so factory-condition classics and widebody contraptions with turbos poking through the hood can peacefully coexist.
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