By Ané Theron
International press launch: The re-conceived Mercedes-Benz GLE The Mercedes-Benz GLE is the German automaker's most successful global model. Built in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and not in Germany as one would presume, the all-new fourth-generation GLE has already gone into production, to be introduced to overseas markets in February 2019. We were the first to set foot inside the redesigned 'grande dame' and do some driving along Southwest Texas's finest twisties.
An early start
It's 6.30 am in Lajitas, in the middle of the Texas desert, just north of the Mexican border. As the sky turns brilliant shades of gold, orange and magenta, a swoop of GLE's stand at the ready, their MULTIBEAM LED lights on and their voluptuous curves subtly illuminated by the soft pink morning glow. It's the international launch of the new GLE, and an opportunity not only to spend some time exploring the region in Merc's new trendsetting SUV, but also to pick the brain of Daimler's Chief Design Officer, Professor Gorden Wagener, who has 700 designers in his team. This man is responsible for all the radical (and also divisive) changes that have taken place in the last few years.
After a traditional Tex-Mex breakfast our cars are allocated to us. I opt for a red GLE 450 with the optional Night Package, which means that there's a little less chrome and more blacked-out design details. But overall GLE design changes are much more than skin-deep: parts of its front-end are constructed from a brand-new, lightweight material that goes by the name of Organo, "a fibre-reinforced plastic that can be processed like metal." The new GLE is also 20 percent more rigid, with plenty of high-strength steel and different types of aluminium, which takes care of the weight issues and also makes for better handling.
Sensuous and shapely
As for the rest of the exterior design, Prof. Wagener seems very pleased with how the new GLE looks. During his informal presentation he mentioned more than once how 'sexy' the GLE's generously modelled surfaces with precise graphic elements appear. While the front-end looks like a spruced-up version of the smaller GLC, it's in the rear where most of the magic happened. The new GLE's shapely 'buttocks' and rear-light design is also the Chief Designer's favourite view, looking unlike any Mercedes-Benz before it.
Interior appointments
The cabin is super high-tech and ultra-luxurious. Where the S-Class is all about opulence with added tech, the GLE's cabin puts technology first and glamour second, but not that the fresh and light interior design looks as if it's playing second fiddle by any degree. I love the predominantly square setup of the dashboard and its elongated screens with air-vents to match underneath. "The interior derives its fascination from the contrast between the luxurious and elegant design and the digital high-tech of our MBUX system," Gorden says. We experienced the serene cabin and much of what if offers, as we drove from Lajitas into the Big Bend National Park, just north of the Mexican border which is formed by the Rio Grande river.
The perfect background
With a speed limit in the national park of about 40-50 km per hour, we could fully concentrate on the stark, desolate beauty of the Chihuahua desert, which looks much like parts of the Karoo, especially near Oudtshoorn and Prince Albert. At one stage a giant, black scorpion makes its way gingerly across the road, but on closer inspection it turns out to be a very hairy Tarantula. After stopping oncoming traffic to ensure a safe passage across for the not-so-little fella, we get back into the soothing, quiet cabin of the GLE and continued to explore some more of the tech.
Next-level technology
Mercedes-Benz's MBUX infotainment system (also seen in the freshly-launched A-Class) serves as the control centre to the rest of the car's enhanced systems. New safety features include a 'turning-off function', which will apply the brakes as you attempt to veer into a lane with oncoming traffic. All the other favourites such as Active Lane Change Assist, Active Emergency Stop Assist and Evasive Steering Assist are also available, but they have all been enhanced to be more 'intelligent', with added functionality.
You can access the MBUX system in a multitude of ways, and this also allows the front passenger to easily adjust settings too. Apart from the dedicated menu buttons, gigantic touchscreen, and track pad atop the centre tunnel, there are also steering wheel buttons and Mercedes’s twin touch pads for scrolling through the menus, or you can simply say "Hey Mercedes" in much the same way as you would summon Siri or Alexa on your phone. The latest-generation LINGUATRONIC system (which makes up a part of MBUX) is said to learn your particular manner of speech as it goes along.
The MBUX system itself will learn your regular driving routes, people that you frequently call at certain times, and even your favourite restaurants...but one of the most luxurious features certainly is Mercedes-Benz's ENERGIZING comfort control that makes incremental changes to the seat cushion and backrest on long journeys, to prevent your muscles from getting stiff and fatigued. A massage/heating function is also offered which we tested out as we drove from Lajitas to Marfa in the afternoon. Aah, it doesn't get more comfortable than this.
And, since the system is able to recognize precisely who is using it, the driver and front passenger can give the same command such as "navigate me home" with a different end result. MBUX's Interior Assist is also very helpful in general. Let's say, for example, that you want to find something in your handbag on the passenger seat. As your hand reaches over to that area, a light will come on and only go off as you retract your hand again. And then there's also gesture control...
Roadtrip, Texas style!
Southwest Texas's roads are made for driving! And what an excellent route to showcase the GLE's dynamic talents with its all-new E-Active Body Control (combined with AIRMATIC air suspension), which allows for independent suspension adjustment on each wheel. Just a pity about the 75-mile (120 km/h) speed limit which quickly drops to 35 (55km/h) or even 25 (40km/h) as a sharp bend approaches. But despite not really getting a proper chance to use the 270kW and 500Nm of torque (with an added overboost function due to the 48-Volt electric motor) to its full extent, it's in these sharp corners where the E-ACTIVE BODY CONTROL kicks in, if the CURVE driving mode is selected. This means the GLE physically leans into corners like a motorcycle would, reducing the lateral forces on driver and passengers for a more controlled effect. And with the help of ROAD SURFACE SCAN, cameras will monitor the road ahead and the GLE's suspension settings will adapt to any irregularities on the road surface, even before the large wheels roll over them.
Another one of the GLE's new off-road party tricks is 'rocking mode'. If you get stuck in a sand dune, this mode (forming part of the optional Offroad program) will raise and lower the suspension a few times in a rocking motion, which will increase the traction on different wheels, allowing the vehicle to free itself! So, does this mean that the Geländewagens don’t have to play chaperone on 4x4 adventures anymore? Well, when the GLE launches locally we will surely put this functionality to the test.
New-car curiosity
The advanced head-up display (the largest in the segment) has road-sign recognition and also displays your current speed (as well as the legal limit) in the windscreen in front of you. But despite this, we still managed to get pulled over by the state police. "Ma'am, do you realize that the speed limit is 70? You were going 75," he says, in a heavy Spanish accent. He then proceeds to walk around the car; not once, but twice. "Ma'am, would you roll down the back windows, please?" As I try to explain my way out of this pickle, I momentarily consider asking him to take a photo with us, but my co-driver didn't think it such a good idea. We get off with a warning and I eventually get the officer of the law to crack a smile as he sends us on our way. Yep, he probably just wanted to take a closer look at the gorgeous new GLE.
Spacious and comfy
As we reach Marfa, an artistic 'hot spot' in the desert with only 2000 inhabitants, we have a quick drive around to search for interesting landmarks. Another journalist joins us and sits up front, while I get into the back of the GLE for the first time. And what do I find? Fully electrically adjustable seats, just like the driver and front passenger's, not to mention legroom for days, due to the longer wheelbase. One can now also specify a third row of seats if you plan on subjecting your beloved GLE to more children on the rearmost bench. With all five seats up, the boot is a massive 630 litres. For easier loading of the luggage bay, the suspension can be lowered, of course.
The long and short of it
To name and describe all of the other tricks that the new GLE has up its sleeve, I'd have to write at least 5000 words more, so let's cut to the chase. The new GLE is terribly good to drive, comfort levels are unparalleled, and as for the technology, it's the latest and greatest that any German carmaker has to offer at the moment, and it looks sublime too. Mercedes-Benz has succeeded in creating a family SUV that may just lure loyal many supporters away from their competition in Ingolstadt and Munich, namely the Audi Q7 and BMW X5.
Let's just take the styling of the rear for example: compared to the flat and uninspired back-ends of the competitors, the GLE wins hands down. The same goes for the interior: Neither the Audi nor the Bimmer offer such seamless touchscreen integration on the dashboard. I would say that Stuttgart has succeeded in creating something that is going to drive their sales figures into new heights.
At a glance: Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 4MATIC
(The GLE 300d and the 450 4MATIC will be introduced to SA in the first quarter 2019. The 400d and 53 AMG will make their appearance later in 2019. Pricing to be announced closer to the launch date.)
Engine
|
Number of cylinders/arrangement |
6/in-line, 4 valves per cylinder |
|
|
Displacement |
cc |
2999 |
|
Bore x stroke |
mm |
83.0 x 92.4 |
|
Rated output |
kW/hp |
270/367 at 5500-6100 rpm |
|
Rated torque |
Nm |
500 at 1600-4500 rpm |
|
EQ Boost |
kW/hp (Nm) |
16/22 (250) |
|
Compression ratio |
10.5: 1 |
|
|
Mixture formation |
High-pressure injection
|
Power transmission
|
Drive system |
Permanent all-wheel drive |
|
|
Transmission |
9G-TRONIC 9-speed automatic
|
Suspension
|
Front axle |
Double wishbone, coil springs, single-tube gas-filled shock absorber, stabiliser bar |
|
Rear axle |
Multi-link suspension, coil springs, twin-tube gas-filled shock absorbers, stabiliser bar |
|
Braking system |
Internally ventilated disc brakes all-round, electric parking brake, ABS, Brake Assist, ESP® |
|
Steering |
Electrically supported rack-and-pinion power steering system |
|
Wheels |
8.0 J x 19 H2 |
|
Tyres |
255/50 R 19 W
|
Dimensions and weights
|
Wheelbase |
mm |
2995 |
|
Track, front/rear |
mm |
1667/1687 |
|
Length |
mm |
4924 |
|
Width |
mm |
1947 |
|
Height |
mm |
1772 |
|
Turning circle |
m |
12.0 |
|
Boot capacity, German |
l |
630-2055 |
|
Kerb weight acc. to EC |
kg |
2220 |
|
Payload |
kg |
780 |
|
Perm. Gross Vehicle Weight |
kg |
3000 |
|
Tank capacity/of which reserve |
l |
85/9.0 |
Performance and fuel consumption
|
Acceleration 0-100 km/h |
s |
5.7 |
|
Top speed |
km/h |
250 |
|
NEDC fuel consumption, combined[1] |
l/100 km |
9.4-8.3 (manufacturer's figure) |
|
CO2 emissions combined1 |
g/km |
214-190
|
