Automotive

Mercedes-Benz chases the best of both worlds with GLE Coupe

Mercedes-Benz chases the best of both worlds with GLE Coupe
The new Mercedes GLE Coupe
The new Mercedes GLE Coupe
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Inside, the GLE Coupe features the same COMAND screen that appears in all other recent Mercedes cars
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Inside, the GLE Coupe features the same COMAND screen that appears in all other recent Mercedes cars
Three V6 engines will be available on the GLE Coupe at launch
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Three V6 engines will be available on the GLE Coupe at launch
Wheels up to 22 inches can be specced on the GLE Coupe
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Wheels up to 22 inches can be specced on the GLE Coupe
Drivers can tune the car's responses through the Dynamic Select system
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Drivers can tune the car's responses through the Dynamic Select system
Customization was a focus for Mercedes on the GLE Coupe's interior
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Customization was a focus for Mercedes on the GLE Coupe's interior
Mercedes wants drivers to enjoy their time behind the wheel of the GLE Coupe
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Mercedes wants drivers to enjoy their time behind the wheel of the GLE Coupe
A range of interesting wood options, including eucalyptus and ash, are available on the GLE Coupe
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A range of interesting wood options, including eucalyptus and ash, are available on the GLE Coupe
The obvious differentiating factor for the GLE Coupe is its sloping roofline
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The obvious differentiating factor for the GLE Coupe is its sloping roofline
Mercedes has tried to combine a commanding driving position with coupe-like styling and handling characteristics
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Mercedes has tried to combine a commanding driving position with coupe-like styling and handling characteristics
The GLE's bluff front end is distinctive
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The GLE's bluff front end is distinctive
Despite the sloping roofline, Mercedes claims the GLE Coupe is still a practical choice
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Despite the sloping roofline, Mercedes claims the GLE Coupe is still a practical choice
The GLE 450 AMG debuts a new sporty sub brand for Mercedes
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The GLE 450 AMG debuts a new sporty sub brand for Mercedes
The GLE Coupe is very similar in concept to the BMW X6
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The GLE Coupe is very similar in concept to the BMW X6
All GLE Coupes are fitted with a nine-speed gearbox
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All GLE Coupes are fitted with a nine-speed gearbox
4MATIC all-wheel drive helps provide a stable drive in the GLE
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4MATIC all-wheel drive helps provide a stable drive in the GLE
The GLE's front end is unmistakably that of an SUV
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The GLE's front end is unmistakably that of an SUV
All of the GLE Coupe's engines meet Euro 6 emissions standards
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All of the GLE Coupe's engines meet Euro 6 emissions standards
The new Mercedes GLE Coupe
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The new Mercedes GLE Coupe
The new Mercedes GLE Coupe
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The new Mercedes GLE Coupe
Wide, slim rear taillights and strong haunches make the car look wide and low on the road
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Wide, slim rear taillights and strong haunches make the car look wide and low on the road
Mercedes offers choice of one diesel or two petrol engines
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Mercedes offers choice of one diesel or two petrol engines
The new Mercedes GLE Coupe
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The new Mercedes GLE Coupe
The new Mercedes GLE Coupe
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The new Mercedes GLE Coupe
The new Mercedes GLE Coupe
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The new Mercedes GLE Coupe
Wide, slim rear taillights and strong haunches make the car look wide and low on the road
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Wide, slim rear taillights and strong haunches make the car look wide and low on the road
There are some interesting styling details on the GLE Coupe
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There are some interesting styling details on the GLE Coupe
The GLE Coupe is available in 11 different colors
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The GLE Coupe is available in 11 different colors
The taillights are reminiscent of those on the S-Class Coupe
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The taillights are reminiscent of those on the S-Class Coupe
Wide rear taillights help give the GLE Coupe a strong presence on the road
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Wide rear taillights help give the GLE Coupe a strong presence on the road
The GLE 450 AMG has a rear-biased all-wheel drive setup
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The GLE 450 AMG has a rear-biased all-wheel drive setup
A range of different colored leather and wood finishes are available on the GLE
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A range of different colored leather and wood finishes are available on the GLE
The new Mercedes GLE Coupe
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The new Mercedes GLE Coupe
The GLA Coupe is designed to combine sporty handling with SUV practicality
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The GLA Coupe is designed to combine sporty handling with SUV practicality
View gallery - 33 images

When BMW launched its X6, the world's motoring press wondered if the Bavarian giant had finally gone insane. After all, who would want a coupe combined with an SUV? As it turns out, the X6 was popular enough to warrant a second generation, and the concept has also been applied to create the smaller X4. Mercedes is also keen to get in on the coupe/SUV combo action with its new GLE Coupe.

Powering the new GLE, which combines the high-riding visibility of an SUV with the sporty profile of a coupe, will be two different petrol engines and a diesel. The GLE 350D is powered by a 3.0-liter V6 turbodiesel motor, producing 258 hp (192 kW) and 620 Nm (457 lb.ft) of torque between 1,600 and 2,400 rpm. Mercedes is yet to reveal fuel consumption figures for the GLE, but all engines meet Euro 6 emissions standards.

A range of different colored leather and wood finishes are available on the GLE
A range of different colored leather and wood finishes are available on the GLE

For those who prefer petrol power, the GLE will be offered with two variations of the same twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6. The range starts with the GLE 400, which gives you 333 hp (248 kW) and 480 Nm (354 lb.ft) of torque - 40 Nm less than the range-topping GLE 450 AMG is making. Both do produce peak torque between 1,400 and 4,000 rpm, however. The GLE 450 AMG is also more powerful than the 400, with peak power pegged at 367 hp (274 kW).

Mercedes' "dynamic select" system allows drivers to choose between five different drive modes, ranging from smooth riding "comfort" mode to "sport plus," where the suspension, gearshifts and steering are sharpened. In the GLE 450 AMG, Sport plus mode also brings up a special section on the car's COMAND display which shows information about the g-forces you're pulling: presumably as you dodge traffic to get the kids to school on time.

All GLEs are fitted with Mercedes' 4MATIC all-wheel drive system, and channel their power through a 9-speed automatic gearbox. The GLE 450 AMG comes standard with air suspension and Mercedes' "active curve system," which can stiffen individual anti-roll bars to help the car stay level across rough roads or when the driver is throwing it around in the corners.

The GLA Coupe is designed to combine sporty handling with SUV practicality
The GLA Coupe is designed to combine sporty handling with SUV practicality

The GLE's coupe body style helps it stand out from the crowd of SUVs. Wide, slim rear taillights and strong haunches make the car look wide and low on the road, and big wheels (up to 22 inches) give it a sense purpose. It's not conventionally pretty, but there's no denying the GLE is distinctive, something the target audience should love.

Inside, the GLE Coupe's interior isn't quite as distinctive as its exterior. The central COMAND screen will be familiar to anyone who has seen inside one of the German brand's recent cars. Elsewhere, there are a broad range of leather and wood designs, including eucalyptus wood and open-pore ash.

The new Mercedes GLE Coupe
The new Mercedes GLE Coupe

Although the coupe-style roofline offers less headroom and trunk space than a normal SUV, Mercedes is still keen to highlight the practicality that the GLE Coupe offers, going so far as to claim the vehicle sets a new world record for luggage space in coupes.

Pricing has not been announced for the new GLE Coupe, although you can expect to pay a small premium over the equivalent ML-Class (soon to be renamed GLE) SUV for the extra style the GLE Coupe offers. It will debut at the Detroit Motor Show.

Source: Daimler

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3 comments
3 comments
wahip
Not sure if MB was the first to call a sedan a coupe with the 550cls, but it continues to make their marketing dept. look stupid. Maybe that's the intent though, like mis-spelling the movie "Dumb & Dumberer" was a toungue-in-cheek poke at the title? I vote for "Sedoupe"
Vadim K
Couldn't agree more with wahip's comment. Next they will call their 2 door roadster an SUV.
Bill Bennett
Coupes have two doors MickieBenZ.