Stuttgart.  The new GLE Coupé from Mercedes-Benz combines the sportiness and elegance of a coupé with the technology of the new large premium-SUV model series from Mercedes-Benz. At the launch in the spring of 2020, powerful six-cylinder diesel engines in the form of the 350 d 4MATIC (combined fuel consumption 7.3-6.9 l/100 km, combined CO₂ emissions 193-182 g/km) [1] and the 400 d 4MATIC (combined fuel consumption 7.4-6.9 l/100 km, combined CO₂ emissions 195-183 g/km)¹ will be initially available. Together with the new 4MATIC with torque-on-demand and a wheelbase which is 60 mm shorter than on the GLE SUV, they ensure a pleasurably dynamic driving experience. The GLE 350 de 4MATIC Coupé (weighted fuel consumption 1.3-1.1 l/100 km, weighted CO₂ emissions 34-30 g/km, weighted power consumption 28.7-25.9 kWh/100 km)[2] as a plug-in hybrid will expand the range by a variant capable of driving up to 106 km with zero local emissions. At the same time, Mercedes-AMG is launching the GLE 53 4MATIC+ Coupé (combined fuel consumption: 9.3 l/100 km; combined CO₂ emissions: 212 g/km)¹.

The new GLE Coupé is a further example of the Mercedes-Benz objective to address all the requirements of customers in the premium-SUV segment in a targeted manner. From a relatively small niche, the segment of SUVs, that is to say the SUV coupés, has developed into a trend within a trend in no time. With the renewal of the premium-SUV family Mercedes-Benz is also putting the GLE Coupé on a new technical footing.

“The GLE Coupé combines the impressive power of an off-road vehicle with the emotively appealing sportiness and elegance of a coupé”, says Gorden Wagener, Chief Design Officer of Daimler AG. “The sensuous, reduced design idiom in combination with the extreme proportions creates a unique design statement.”

Like the GLE and the GLS, as a member of the large premium-SUV family, the GLE Coupé is being built in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. In total Mercedes-Benz now offers eight SUV models in the form of the GLA, GLC, GLC Coupé, the G-Class and the new GLB. With currently around one third of sales, the SUVs are a major structural pillar in the Mercedes-Benz product portfolio, and greatly contribute to the growth of the brand. To date, more than six and a half million customers around the world have opted for a Mercedes-Benz SUV.

Exterior design: powerful presence

The new GLE Coupé is 4939 mm long and 2010 mm wide (39 mm longer and 7 mm wider than its predecessor). The proportions emphasise the dynamics of the GLE Coupé. The front view combines characteristics of the Mercedes-Benz SUV family with clear coupé attributes: the diamond grille with its single horizontal louvre creates association with the other Mercedes-Benz Coupés, while the openings in the louvre and the high-gloss chrome-plated underguard in the front apron showcase the SUV character. With the AMG Line, the grille widens towards the bottom in an A shape, and the pins in the diamond grille are finished in chrome. The headlamps feature full-LED technology as standard.

The windscreen is more raked than on the GLE SUV and not only makes the vehicle look more dynamic; it is also a better fit with the dropping roof line and ensures a harmonious elegance. The flank with its smooth design that emphasises surfaces effectively highlights the large flush-mounted wheels (19 to 22 inches). The black cladding of the wheel wells (for AMG Line exterior painted in the vehicle colour) and the optional running board between them underscore the SUV character.

The dynamism of the coupé line is especially evident in the rear-end design. A broad muscle in the vehicle flank beneath the C-pillar that starts in the rear door and envelops the tail lamps gives the GLE Coupé its powerful, ready-to-pounce appearance. Together with the elongated tail lamps, it highlights the width of the rear end. The lamps are specific to the coupé, but fit the characteristic day and night design of the Mercedes-Benz SUVs with their hallmark rounded blocks in a slim outline. The flush transition from the tailgate to the bumper, the number plate in the bumper above the high-gloss chrome-plated underguard and the integrated tailpipe trim elements complete the synthesis of coupé and SUV.

Interior design: sporty, with particular design touches

The interior of the new GLE Coupé shares numerous features with the other models in the new premium-SUV family and clearly emphasises the sporty aspect. A familiar sight is the modern cockpit with two large 12.3-inch /31.2 cm screens. The strikingly styled instrument panel, horizontally divided by a trim tier, transitions seamlessly into the door panels and in the GLE Coupé features ARTICO man-made leather on top as standard. The sporty emphasis comes courtesy of the standard sports seats with particularly good lateral support and ARTICO cover, and the new sports steering wheel with nappa leather rim. The SUV touch, meanwhile, is added by the tall centre console with the dominant grab handles. Leather/nappa leather seat covers and door panels in the colour combination classic red/black are exclusively available in the coupé.

As spacious as they come: entrance opening significantly enlarged

The lines of the four-door coupé body have been deliberately tailored more tightly than on the GLE and offer tangibly more room in many places than the predecessor, giving up to five occupants a comfortable amount of space. Although the wheelbase is 60 mm shorter than on the GLE SUV, it is 20 mm longer than in the previous coupé, and this extra space benefits the seating and legroom of the passengers. The entrance opening has even been enlarged by 35 mm. The capacity of the stowage spaces in the interior has grown to a total of 40 litres. The sports suit features figure-hugging tailoring – but is a comfortable fit. The optional panoramic sliding sunroof is now larger, too.

The boot is already generous with 655 litres in its standard configuration and in this position conceals its load beneath a high-quality, folding and removable cover attached with magnets. The backrest of the rear seats with 40:20:40 folding split increases the boot to up to 1790 litres – 70 litres more than in the predecessor and an outstanding figure in this segment. A loading length of almost two metres and a minimum width of up to 1106 mm surpass the predecessor by 78 and 72 mm, respectively, and make the GLE Coupé an unexpected loading champion in the coupé segment. The loading sill is inherently higher than on the conventional SUVs – but here, too, the new GLE Coupé is 59 mm better than the previous model, and when equipped with AIRMATIC, the rear end can even be lowered by a further 50 mm at the touch of a button.

Enjoy the pleasure of being served: the Mercedes-Benz User Experience

The GLE Coupé offers the latest generation of the MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) infotainment system with a host of functions for connectivity, entertainment and operating comfort. They include the intuitive voice control and the learning capability of MBUX as well as a large range of apps that can be integrated into or controlled with MBUX. The information in the instrument cluster and on the media display is easily legible on the large, high-resolution screens. An emotive presentation with brilliant graphics underlines the comprehensibility of the intuitive control structure. The learning MBUX can also be voice-controlled and enables individual adjustments by means of apps, as well as a host of options for the user that are also offered in the GLE and in the GLS.

From the six-cylinder diesel for Europe to the plug-in hybrid

The sporty aspiration of the new Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupé is also clearly apparent in its engine line-up.
The two GLE Coupé models available at launch are powered by the OM 656, the six-cylinder in-line engine from the current engine family. It is available in two output levels, as the GLE Coupé 350 d 4MATIC rated at 200 kW (272 hp) and 600 Nm and as the GLE 400 d 4MATIC Coupé rated at 243 kW (330 hp) and 700 Nm of torque.

In both versions, even in demanding driving situations, this powerful engine meets the Euro-6d standard (RDE/Real Driving Emissions Stage 2) under RDE conditions. This is achieved, among other things, with an additional selective catalytic reduction (SCR) converter with an ammonia slip catalyst (ASC) in the exhaust tract of the GLE Coupé.

The plug-in hybrid Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 de 4MATIC Coupé will complement the range in summer 2020. It impresses with its electric operating range: thanks to a battery with a capacity of 31.2 kWh, it is capable of over 100 kilometres (according to NEDC) with a corresponding driving style. It also has a top speed of up to 160 km/h under electric power. Its state-of-the-art four-cylinder diesel engine rated at 143 kW (194 hp) is also highly efficient.

Sportiness as standard: the powertrain engineering

Power as desired, i.e. torque-on-demand, is also the power transmission motto. Because all variants of the new GLE Coupé have a transfer case with an electronically controlled multi-plate clutch as standard behind the 9G‑TRONIC automatic transmission. It allows a variable shift of the drive torque from 0-100 percent (torque-on-demand) between the axles. During cornering, the system can influence the yaw torque in a targeted manner towards over- and understeer of the vehicle and together with the shorter wheelbase increases the agility of the new GLE Coupé.

Suspension: AIRMATIC or E-ACTIVE BODY CONTROL as options

As standard, the new GLE Coupé comes with a steel suspension with a sportier and firmer set-up than the predecessor had. Compared with the preceding generation, it benefits from firmer mounting points and improved axle geometry, and offers even more precise wheel location and better shielding from vibrations caused by unevenness in the road surface. The further advanced air suspension system AIRMATIC is available as an option and has a sportier set-up than in the GLE SUV. Its adaptive adjustable damping uses highly complex sensor systems and algorithms to adapt the damping characteristics to the road condition and driving situation in real time. In addition, the air suspension keeps the vehicle at the same level irrespective of the load and can also adjust the ground clearance – automatically or at the touch of a button depending on the driving speed and the situation.

A further improvement is offered by the optional E-ACTIVE BODY CONTROL suspension, which is combined with the AIRMATIC air suspension system. This is the only system on the market that can control spring and damping forces individually at each wheel. This means that it not only counteracts body roll, but also pitch and squat movements. Together with ROAD SURFACE SCAN as a component of the Driving Assistance package and the curve inclination function CURVE, E-ACTIVE BODY CONTROL combines roadholding and comfort in a unique way and thus underscores the aspiration of Mercedes-Benz to build the world’s most intelligent SUV suspension.

E-ACTIVE BODY CONTROL operates with a voltage of 48 V, and is available as an optional extra. On poor road surfaces the system is even able to recuperate energy, roughly halving the energy requirement compared with the preceding system in the S-Class. The hydraulics generate dynamic forces that overlay the air suspension forces and actively support and dampen the vehicle body, e.g. during longitudinal and lateral acceleration or when driving on uneven roads.

Driving assistance systems: even better support in all situations

The new GLE Coupé has the latest generation of Mercedes-Benz driving assistance systems giving cooperative support to drivers. This results in an especially high level of active safety. As standard, the new GLE Coupé boasts Active Brake Assist, which can help prevent rear-end collisions and collisions with crossing pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles.

Some Intelligent Drive functions, which are also on the market at the highest level beyond the SUV segment, can be ordered as additional options. They include the Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC with route-based speed adaptation. If the driver switches it on, the GLE Coupé can react to information from Live Traffic, in the ideal scenario even before the driver or the radar and camera sensors can perceive a traffic obstruction. When a traffic tailback is detected, the speed is reduced to approx. 100 km/h as a precaution unless the driver specifically decides otherwise.

When actually driving in a tailback on the motorway, Active Stop-and-Go Assist is then substantially able to perform the tasks of keeping in lane and maintaining the safety distance with a high level of availability at speeds up to around 60 km/h. Moving off can be automatic up to one minute after coming to a stop. On multi-lane roads, Active Steering Assist is able to support the driver with the emergency corridor function. On motorways, at speeds under 60 km/h the vehicle refers to detected lane markings and applies swarm intelligence to take its bearings from vehicles in the surrounding area. If no such vehicles or markings are detected, the GLE Coupé will take its bearings from the vehicle ahead, as previously.

The technical data of the new Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupé

[1] The stated figures are the measured “NEDC CO₂ figures” in accordance with Art. 2 No. 1 Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/1153. The fuel consumption figures were calculated based on these figures. A higher figure may apply as the basis for calculating the motor vehicle tax. Further information on the vehicles on offer, including the WLTP figures, can be found for each country at www.mercedes-benz.com

[2] The stated figures are the measured “NEDC CO₂ figures” in accordance with Article 2 No. 1 Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/1153. The fuel consumption figures were calculated based on these figures. The range and the electrical consumption have been determined on the basis of Regulation (EC) No. 692/2008. A different figure may apply as the basis for calculation as per the German Electric Mobility Act (EmoG). A higher figure may apply as the basis for calculating the motor vehicle tax.

Originally published