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2020 Mercedes GLE Coupe Makes Nurburgring Spyshots Debut

Mercedes may be selling fewer roadsters than ever, but sports activity coupe business is booming. This is the next big player, the second-generation GLE Coupe, and it was just spotted taking a stroll on the Nurburgring.
2020 Mercedes GLE Coupe Makes Nurburgring Spyshots Debut 20 photos
Photo: SB-Medien
2020 Mercedes GLE Coupe Makes Nurburgring Spyshots Debut2020 Mercedes GLE Coupe Makes Nurburgring Spyshots Debut2020 Mercedes GLE Coupe Makes Nurburgring Spyshots Debut2020 Mercedes GLE Coupe Makes Nurburgring Spyshots Debut2020 Mercedes GLE Coupe Makes Nurburgring Spyshots Debut2020 Mercedes GLE Coupe Makes Nurburgring Spyshots Debut2020 Mercedes GLE Coupe Makes Nurburgring Spyshots Debut2020 Mercedes GLE Coupe Makes Nurburgring Spyshots Debut2020 Mercedes GLE Coupe Makes Nurburgring Spyshots Debut2020 Mercedes GLE Coupe Makes Nurburgring Spyshots Debut2020 Mercedes GLE Coupe Makes Nurburgring Spyshots Debut2020 Mercedes GLE Coupe Makes Nurburgring Spyshots Debut2020 Mercedes GLE Coupe Makes Nurburgring Spyshots Debut2020 Mercedes GLE Coupe Makes Nurburgring Spyshots Debut2020 Mercedes GLE Coupe Makes Nurburgring Spyshots Debut2020 Mercedes GLE Coupe Makes Nurburgring Spyshots Debut2020 Mercedes GLE Coupe Makes Nurburgring Spyshots Debut2020 Mercedes GLE Coupe Makes Nurburgring Spyshots Debut2020 Mercedes GLE Coupe Makes Nurburgring Spyshots Debut
Models like this are big business because they allow carmakers to charge more than they would for regularly shaped SUVs. Even Porsche is getting in on the action with a "Cayenne Coupe."

While we have seen the GLE Coupe in Stuttgart on a few occasions, this is its first outing at the legendary Nordschleife, where Mercedes and other automakers test most of their cars.

Unfortunately, we're still not dealing with a hot version, as indicated by the shape of the exhaust pipes. This matches perfectly with the GLE 450 prototypes that Mercedes offered during a test event early this month.

So, GLE 450 Coupe - what's what like? Instead of a V6, it should have an inline-6 cranking out 367 metric HP or 362-hp of the U.S. variety. Of course, that's not the only powertrain available. In Europe, Mercedes should still offer at least two six-cylinder diesel units, competing with the new VW Touareg and BMW X5.

The GLE 350 d will start things off with 286 HP and will be followed by the twin-turbo GLE 400 d with 340 HP. While four-cylinder options have also been confirmed for the GLE, we don't know for sure what they are and whether they will reside under the GLE Coupe.

We're referring to the 245 HP 2-liter diesel, the 299 HP turbo gasoline unit with EQ boost and a potential plug-in hybrid. Of course, two of these would be ideal for China, considering they tax luxury cars on displacement.

Of course, V8s will also be available in the hardcore GLE 63 Coupe with over 600 horsepower. But this car will do other tricks besides going really fast. One of them is to jump up and down using its air suspension to get itself unstuck. The same systems will provide Magic Body Control-like driving qualities, as an expensive option, of course.

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About the author: Mihnea Radu
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Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida.
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