Here’s what to expect from Merc’s new SUV
The second-generation Mercedes-Benz GLE SUV is expected to debut very soon, as the current-gen model is quickly approaching its inevitable death, after seven years of service – first as the ML, and then as the post-facelift GLE.
Now, Mercedes-Benz posted an official sketch of the upcoming car, with a description that reads “no place for boredom.” It’s an approximate image of what we can expect to see when the SUV is unveiled, and one thing is certain – the iconic shape of the C-pillars, which was introduced on the first ML back in 1998, is here to stay.
The new Mercedes-Benz GLE – no place for boredom.#MercedesBenz #Mercedes #Benz #GLE #NewGLE #SUV #Crossover #TheBestOrNothing #MBcar pic.twitter.com/HWeZeXwttB
— Mercedes-Benz (@MercedesBenz) 10 septembrie 2018
While official details are still scarce, we know that the GLE will feature a revised interior with the new MBUX infotainment system, and an E-Active Body Control suspension which allows the driver to raise or lower each wheel individually by about 100 mm (0.4 in) in order to get unstuck when off-roading.
Engine-wise, the 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLE will feature a 3.0-liter inline-six gasoline unit with 380 hp and a 48-Volt mild hybrid setup at launch. Later, a 2.0-liter turbo-four with approximately 250 hp on tap will be available in China and the US, with a diesel joining the party in Europe further down the line.
Moreover, it will have a 100-mm longer (0.4 in) wheelbase than the model it replaces, which translates into more interior room, theoretically. In fact, a seven-seat configuration will be available as an option for the first time on the ML/GLE.
The brand-new Mercedes-Benz GLE is expected to make its world premiere at the 2018 Paris Motor Show in October.
READ MORE: Here's what the 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLE may look like in AMG Line kit