Mercedes unveils GLE-Class ahead of New York debut

Mercedes-Benz has officially unveiled the GLE-Class ahead of the New York International Motor Show that is scheduled to take place next month.

It replaces the now defunct M-Class as part of the new nomenclature introduced by the German luxury car maker.

The GLE-Class aims at blending tradition with modernity. On one hand, you’ll find the signature C-pillar at the front and large lamps at the tail. On the other hand, modern radiator grille, bumpers, head wings and bonnet give the car a refreshed feel.

Under the hood, one gets to choose between a plethora of power units. First in line and the least powerful of all is the GLE 250 d which uses a V4 engine to produce 204 bhp. Next up is the 258 bhp GLE 350 while the top-of-the-line GLE takes advantage of a V6 engine to churn out 442 bhp.

If you’re still longing for more power, you can choose from the two AMG variants, with the better of the duo capable of doing 0-100 km/hr in just 4.2 seconds before topping of at an electronically controlled speed limit of 250 km/hr. So what gives this SUV such high acceleration and top speed? The answer lies in the 5.5 litre twin-turbo V8 engine that is capable of churning out 585 bhp and 760 NM of torque.

The new GLE-class is expected to hit the UK showrooms this September. Indians are likely to wait slightly longer before getting a hold of this (powerful) beast.