536-HP 2026 AMG GLE 53 Hybrid Twins Make U.S. Touchdown 'Later in 2025,' Price Unknown

Even if the duo doesn’t – yet – have the S E Performance medal of AMG distinction, the specs are something to write home about. First off, the three-liter inline-six develops 14 extra hp over the current setup’s peak. The added electric component puts down an extra 134 electric hp and 354 lb-ft (136 PS, 480 Nm).

The electric motor replaces the EQ Boost starter-generator unit found in the current models (mounted between the turbocharged six-cylinder engine and the AMG SPEEDSHIFT TCT 9G transmission). Specially tuned for the hybrid platform, the three-liter combustion powerplant has updated software, which, together with the additional heat exchanger, manages to up the top end to 443 hp (449 PS), available at 5,800 RPM.

The turbo-torque stands at 413 lb-ft (560 Nm) between 2,200 and 5,000 RPM, 27 lb-ft more than the present specs of the six-piston output. Since the 2026 model’s powertrain is a proper Plug-In Hybrid, the electric auxiliary compressor is no longer needed. In today's GLE SUV and Coupe, this system builds up boost before the exhaust-gas-driven turbine kicks in, eliminating turbo lag.

The SUV and the Coupe of the 2026 model year will bear the ‘53 HYBRID’ moniker, indicating the 31.2-kWh battery pack that feeds the power-dense permanently excited internal rotor synchronous motor. Like any hybrid from Affalterbach, the GLE 53 hybrids brag with cat-like reflexes, even in standstill starts.

The German automaker estimates a zero-to-sixty mph time (0-97 kph) of around 4.6 seconds – six-tenths quicker than the current models’ best efforts of 5.2 seconds. The incoming GLEs will go flat-out at 155 mph (250 kph), with an electronic limiter to pull the reins on the stud of fire-and-lighting horses. In proper plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) fashion, the bulky Mercs can also go full-electric – ‘under certain conditions,’ as the maker forewarns – until the speed clock reads 87 mph (140 kph).

Ettore Bugatti once said he makes cars for driving, not for stopping, but all cars must come to a standstill sooner or later. AMG’s high-performance brakes with internally ventilated discs (six-piston fixed-caliper 15.7 x 1.5-inch on the front, 14.6 x 1.3-inch single-piston floating-calipers on the rear) pull the reins hard when the hefty Mercs need to come to a full stop. So far, Mercedes hasn’t provided the weights for the two AMG GLE 53 hybrids’ body styles.

Both vehicles carry an 11-kW charger for Alternating Current and a 60-kW Direct Current charger. The two GLE AMGs will bring a pair of extra hybrid-specific driving modes, ‘Electric’ (go figure…) and ‘Battery Hold.’ All driving setups are configured for optimal hybrid drivetrain performance, but the two are custom-made to extract the best from the new architecture.

When in "Electric," the car moves solely on electron power – up to the maximum limit of 87 mph – until the battery runs below the discharge limit. At that point, the inline-six turns on and takes on, moving the car and generating electricity for the battery.

In "Battery Hold," the two work in a circumstance-variable tandem, providing a max boost of 25% while keeping the battery at the state of charge it was in when the program was selected. In other words, you switch the Battery Hold mode on when the battery is 53%. The drive mode will maintain the charge at 53% (and not allowing it to drop below that level) by limiting the electric motor usage and enabling recuperative charging.

During electric-only mode, the Mercedes’ AVAS (Acoustic Vehicle Altering System) will alert about the hybrid’s approach via a low-frequency, speed-modulated AMG sound. The tune – bespoke-composed for AMG – is sent out from an outboard-mounted sound system. A speaker at the front and a soundbar with two speakers at the rear reverberates as the GLE passes by. Acoustic feedback is sent to the cabin – at a diminished level - so the occupants can hear it.

Apart from the two hybrid-biased drive programs, five others are installed – "Comfort," "Sport," Sport+," "Slippery," and "Individual," completing the AMG DYNAMIC SELECT function of the 2026 GLE PHEVs. Each setup will alter the cars’ behavior by setting the steering, transmission, suspension, and drivetrain operation according to the preselected scenario. However, the GLE 53 HYBRID is preset to start in "Electric" – a "Ready" icon in the instrument cluster tells the driver that the car can be set in motion.

The 2025 GLE Coupe and SUV have AMG RIDE CONTROL+ air suspension with adaptive damping – designed and built for the GLE 53 HYBRID versions. New passive stabilizers on both axles, new stop buffers in the front struts, and all-new dampers on the rear are accompanied by new software. They should ‘deliver a balanced, dynamic, and confident driving experience’ (per Mercedes’ claims).

The 2026 Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 HYBRID has several distinctive design elements that point to its PHEV nature. An air intake on the front fascia ventilates the surplus heat exchanger, and badges on the front fenders and tailgate tell that the new coupe and SUV are plug-in hybrids. For the passengers – who can’t see the car while they’re inside – the Mercedes-Benz User Experience interface of the infotainment system comes with integrated hybrid-specific menus and functions.

Accessible from the driver’s screen and the main display, the hybrid-specific elements convey the charging menu, informing the occupants about the charging status, battery pack temperature, and electric range. This last detail is to be disclosed at a later date, closer to the showroom debut of the models (which will occur in late 2025 – again, the exact date is not set yet).