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The luxury SUV quickly replaces the luxury car. Mercedes-Benz could not afford to go around. The new 2020 GLE model revealed online is characterized by a sharper and more consistent design than the outgoing model, a greater choice of standard and optional technology features, as well as a soft hybrid powertrain available. He is ready for another Jurassic Park adventure if the researchers discover that another thing has survived on an isolated and infested dinosaur island.
We love that Mercedes designers make efforts to make the new GLE stand out from its predecessor and the growing list of SUVs with which it will share its space of exhibition. It's not just a large-scale GLC. It has its own look that retains the sharply angled C-pillar introduced in the 1997 M-Class that played a famous role in The Lost World: Jurassic Park. The plastic coating on the wheel arches and on the bottom of both bumpers adds a sturdy touch to the appearance.
The GLE is longer and wider than before. It sleeps up to seven people, although the third row is reserved for young children, and the list of options includes six-way power adjustable second row seats.
Each variant of the SUV comes with a pair of 12.3-inch screens mounted under a single pane for an elegant look. The screen behind the steering wheel replaces the analog dashboard. The one in the center column runs the new MBUX infotainment system, also present in the electric EQC. The optional gesture control technology allows front passengers to access functions (such as massage seats, for example) without touching the screen. The technology even recognizes the hand of the front passenger driver so he knows which side the order is coming from. If you want to feel like a magician, you can use the gesture control feature to turn on and off the reading lights without pressing a button.
At launch, the range will include two models called respectively GLE 350 and GLE 450. The 350 is equipped with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produces 255 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque. Rear-wheel drive and nine-speed automatic transmission are standard, while the Mercedes 4Matic AWD system is available at an additional cost. The 450 receives the 3.0-liter in-line six-cylinder that gradually extends over the Mercedes portfolio; we have recently tested it in the CLS. It is 362 hp and 369 lb-ft. of torque alone, but an electric motor contributes to 21 hp for short periods of time. It's all-wheel drive.
The 450's electric motor is powered by a 48-volt battery that also powers an advanced electronic suspension. It improves comfort by neutralizing roll, pitch and squat. Mercedes has added a free driving mode that allows the GLE to use its 48-volt suspension to free itself if it gets lost in a sand dune.
Mercedes will expand the GLE family with additional engines in the coming months. We believe that a hybrid plug-in model will become the champion of the efficiency of the lineup. At the other end of the spectrum, the Mercedes-AMG model could feature an evolution of 600 horsepower from the 4.0-liter V8 twin turbocharger.
Built in Alabama, the Mercedes-Benz GLE 2020 will celebrate its world premiere at the 2018 Paris Auto Show. Sales will begin soon after and Mercedes has scheduled the first deliveries for the first half of 2019. Prices have not been announced yet. For reference, the outgoing GLE starts at $ 52,500. Upon arrival, the GLE will participate in the same segment as the BMW X5, Audi Q7, Jaguar F-Pace, Lexus RX and Acura MDX.
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