The Mercedes GLE will go from one of the lowest range PHEVs on the market to one longest with the arrival of the 2020 Mercedes GLE PHEV.
Currently, the automaker has the GLE 550 e with an 8.8 kWh battery which is rated by the EPA at just 8 miles, which is equivalent to 13 kilometers. Not surprisingly, Mercedes has only sold a few thousand of these, and it knows it needs to do better, much better.
Mercedes is looking to step up its electric game in general, having just launched the EQ electric SUV. In parallel to this, the cars that previously had around 30 kilometers the electric range will be able to travel for up to 50 kilometers thanks to a new 13.5 kWh battery pack, but the GLE will be able to double that.
"The GLE will be the first car with a 100-kilometer (62-mile) range on a plug-in hybrid in the WLTP [Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicle Test Procedure] cycle," Ola Kaellenius, Daimler sales chief, told Automotive News.
Considering it's a big SUV, the GLE will probably need a battery big enough to eat into trunk space. But with that kind of range, you could probably go to work and back for a couple of days before the need to recharge.
Using our excellent power of deduction, we were able to spot the fact that the prototype spied on the Nurburgring has fuel ports on both sides. However, we can't make out the sound of the engine due to the traffic.
A 2-liter would make sense considering that's what the successful Volvo XC90 T8 uses, but on the other hand, the old GLE 550 e had a 333 horsepower V6 matched to its 116 HP electric motor.
BMW is also developing a plug-in SUV arsenal. The X3 xDrive30e will debut next year, followed quickly by the X5 xDrive45e. This direct rival to the GLE is expected to have a 3-liter turbo and a small e-motor encased in the gearbox delivering a combined maximum of 394 HP and 600 Nm (442 lb-ft) of torque. No word on the range yet, but it's unlikely to match the Benz.
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. Full profile
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