The 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLE has been revealed ahead of its public debut at the Paris motor show in October.
It’s a masculine bit of kit with refined proportions, octagonal grille, bonnet powerdomes and new lighting signature.
Mercedes-Benz claims the new design possesses a 0.29 coefficient of drag rating, making it the most aerodynamic SUV in the segment.
Inside the GLE, the multimedia system has been upgraded to the new MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) which features two 12.3-inch screens positioned next to each other for a widescreen look.
For this application, the MBUX is specifically tuned for the GLE with over 40 additional new functions which include support for off-road specific driving modes (free-driving mode and individual wheel actuation) and extended off-road displays in the instrument cluster (linear and lateral inclination, torque on demand, suspension level).
Dimensionally, the wheelbase has been stretched by 80mm to 2995mm, meaning legroom in the second row has increased by 69mm to 1045mm. Headroom has also grown by 33mm.
The luggage capacity is up to 825 litres behind the rear seats, and up to 2055 litres when the second seat row is folded down. Buyers who option air suspension can lower the rear of the GLE by 40mm for easier loading and unloading.
Initially, Mercedes-Benz will offer the car as a GLE450 4Matic, powered by a turbocharged six-cylinder 270kW/500Nm petrol engine with a 48V mild hybrid system. An additional 16kW/250Nm is available via EQ Boost over short periods. It’s paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission and variable torque on demand all-wheel drive.
Additional engine choices including diesel options and a plug-in hybrid will follow in due course. Four-cylinder engines will get a 4Matic system with a permanent 50:50 torque split between the front and rear axle.
Australian specifications and pricing are yet to be confirmed, full details are expected in the leadup to the GLE’s local launch in the second quarter of 2019.
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