1 Sep 2015
The SUV Coupe segment was given a Mercedes-Benz member with the release of the new GLE range, which for the first time took on BMW head to head with an X6-opposing coupe.
The all-wheel drive GLE Coupe weighed an extra 75kg and was 72mm longer than its revamped and renamed GLE SUV sibling, as well as being 68mm wider and 65mm lower.
Benz claimed a small reduction in headroom (between 30 and 40mm) and a boot capacity of 650 litres for the coupe, rising to a 1650 litre maximum.
Among the new GLE five-seater coupe's claims was the widest rear bench in its class and a segment first electric trailer coupling.
The standard safety fare of the GLE Coupe includes nine airbags, Collision Prevention Assist Plus, Distronic Plus with Steering Assist and Stop and Go Pilot, trailer sway control where applicable PreSafe braking and PreSafe Plus, Crosswind Assist, active blind spot and lane keeping assistance, LED lighting with adaptive automatic high beam.
The range entry model shared the SUV wagon's drivetrain - the 190kW/620Nm six-cylinder GLE 350 d 4MATIC, equipped with the nine-speed auto and laying claim to 7.2 litres per 100km and a 0 to 100km/h sprint in 7 seconds.
Among its standard equipment was air suspension, 21-inch AMG alloy wheels, LED intelligent lighting, satnav, an automatic powered tailgate, a 14-speaker Harman Kardon Logic 7 surround sound system, leather trim and power-adjustable heated AMG sports front seats.
Also new with the arrival of the coupe was an intermediate AMG model beneath the full-tilt AMG flagship - the GLE 450 AMG 4MATIC Coupe, powered by the 270kW/520Nm (the latter between 1800rpm and 4000rpm) twin-turbo petrol V6, the 450 lays claim to 9.4 litres per 100km and a 100km/h sprint time of 5.7 seconds.
The flagship Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S 4MATIC Coupe was powered by the 5.5-litre twin-turbo V8 producing 430kW and 760Nm with the same 40/60 front/rear AWD split as the 450 but with the seven-speed auto.
The run to 100km/h was completed in a claimed 4.2 seconds and top speed governed at 280km/h and its features list included heated and ventilated power-adjustable massaging front seats, AMG leather trim, 22-inch AMG wheels, red AMG brake calipers, soft-close doors, a powered tailgate and a chunky AMG Performance steering wheel.
