The cool thing about revealing the new GLE Coupe way ahead of its market debut is that Mercedes-Benz is now free to do pretty much whatever it wants to in terms of testing. So completely camo-free prototypes have been seen parading in and around Stuttgart the past couple of weeks.
This one was spotted by Youtube walkoART and appears to be one of the new 450 models from the AMG Sport line, which has been designed as a sort of mass-market diluted version of the real AMG brand.
Instead of a big V8 or a super-tuned four-pot, the GLE 450 AMG makes due with a new 3-liter twin-turbo. At 367 hp, this produces more power than the equivalent Audi SQ5 TFSI. But we can't help notice the 2-liter engine in the A45 has 360 hp with two fewer cylinders.
The exhaust mystery!
While the bodywork of this Polar White "SUV" from Mercedes is standard, there's something weird about the exhaust. In the press photos, the 450 AMG has four holes for exhaust gasses to come out, while this has only two. The overall shape of the pipes is the same and so is the rear diffuser. So what gives?
Maybe the press photos show a better exhaust system that you have to pay extra for, just like on the A45 AMG. Another possibility is that you can still get an AMG Sport body kit without the 367 hp engine. For instance, this could be the GLE 350 d 4Matic diesel that develops only 190 kW (258 hp) and offers maximum torque of 620 Nm from 1,600 rpm.
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
Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?
Google News