After watching the
BMW X6 inexplicably rack up sales and profits for nearly seven
years, Mercedes-Benz finally is launching its own model into the
crossover-coupe niche. Dubbed the GLE-class coupe, it is the first model to
reflect the new nomenclature at the German automaker; a
more conventionally roofed GLE, which will be the face-lifted and renamed
M-class, will debut later.
Underscoring the GLE coupe's sporting pretensions, it will
be sold in the U.S. only with AMG trimmings. The entry point will be the
Mercedes-Benz GLE450 AMG, which is a member of the AMG Sport lineup intended to bridge the gap between
regular Benzes and full-fledged Mercedes-AMG beasts. The GLE coupe will come in
the latter guise, as well, badged as the GLE63. (Europe gets two further
models: the 329-hp GLE400 and the GLE350d with a 255-hp 3.0-liter diesel V-6.)
The
GLE450 is confirmed to pack a twin-turbocharged V-6 rated at 362 horsepower and
384 lb-ft of torque. All-wheel drive is standard, and the system features a
40/60 front-to-rear torque distribution. Maximum torque is available from 1400
to 4000 rpm, and it will be routed through a nine-speed automatic transmission
that ought to keep the engine in that rpm window fairly easily.
The
GLE450 AMG will roll on 21- or 22-inch wheels and rear tires wider than the
fronts no matter which wheel diameter is fitted. (The 21s are fitted with
275-section tires up front and 315s out back; the 22-inch wheels wear 285s and
325s.) The suspension is tuned for sportiness and little body roll—Mercedes
claims that the vehicle "feels like a true sports coupe," despite its
high center of gravity.
The
standard adjustable chassis can be cycled through preconfigured
"Comfort," "Slippery," "Sport," and
"Sport+" settings for the steering, suspension, and engine response,
while an “Individual” mode allows the driver to dial in their own preferences.
Even the engine note, the instrumentation, and the reactions of the swiveling
headlamps can be manipulated. Oh, the endless possibilities imparted by lines
of code!
The
full complement of Mercedes’ latest active and passive safety systems is either
standard or available for a fee. The latest COMAND infotainment setup with an
8.0-inch central display is included, while Bang & Olufsen audio, a
rear-seat entertainment system, a panoramic sunroof, and several interior
leathers and trims are among the options.
Despite
its fast roofline, the GLE coupe offers ample room for five occupants;
Mercedes-Benz says it provides the widest rear seat and the largest cargo area
in its segment. And then there's this: it “happens to hold the world record for
luggage compartments in coupes.” Even so, it is less practical than a regular
GLE, and you’re going to buy this thing because you love the way it looks and
you love the way you look inside it.
Sending
only the AMG-fettled versions of the GLE-class coupe to the U.S. underscores
its status-symbol mission—and its place as a vehicle for folks who simply want
whatever sits at the top of the pecking order. But while there are few
automotive exercises that contain less logic than combining a coupe and an SUV,
the success of the BMW X6 proves that there is a market for such inanity.
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