India’s largest luxury car manufacturer Mercedes-Benz has launched the latest generation of the GLE featuring a long-wheelbase (LWB). The new LWB GLE boasts of the latest technology offered in an SUV on Indian roads and combines superlative on and off-road driving characteristics with an interior, which is luxurious and spacious than ever before, thanks to the long wheelbase.
2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE LWB Price:
The new Mercedes-Benz LWB GLE 300 d is priced at INR 73.70 Lakh, and the LWB GLE 400 d (hip-hop variant) is priced at INR 1.25 Crore
All prices are ex-showroom, India.
The LWB GLE displays iconic Mercedes-Benz design while remaining true to its character as an off-roader. The interior derives its fascination from the contrast between the luxurious and elegant design and the digital high-tech of our MBUX system.
Modern luxury both on and off the road that is the design message of the new GLE. The new GLE follows the design strategy of sensual purity and dispenses with individual edges and beading in favour of generously modelled surfaces. The surfaces interact with precise graphic elements.
This striking appearance is emphasised by the distinctive headlamp design for day and night. The rear lights are also divided into two sections, which not only gives an impression of width but also creates an unmistakable night design with illuminated blocks typical of Mercedes-Benz SUVs, in this case with backlit edge lighting.
The new LWB GLE has an 80 mm longer wheelbase than its predecessor does and it is 105 mm longer in overall length. That makes the new long-wheelbase GLE even more spacious and comfortable.
This new LWB design of the GLE offers benefits, especially to the rear seat passengers. The legroom in the second row has increased by 69 mm over the previous generation. The headroom of the new GLE at the rear has now increased by 35 millimetres as well. The rear seat also has an inclination angle of 30 degrees along with a fore-aft movement of 100 mm which makes the drive even more comfortable.
Even better ride comfort and agility plus completely new functions such as free-driving mode are provided by the E-Active Body Control suspension, which is now combined with the newly developed AIRMATIC air suspension.
Available on the GLE 400 d, this is the only system on the market where the spring and damping forces can be individually controlled at each wheel. This means that it not only counteracts body roll but also pitching and squat. The luggage capacity is up to 825 litres behind the rear seats and up to 2055 litres when the second seat row is folded down.
The new Mercedes-Benz GLE will be equipped with two diesel engine options. The OM 654 four-cylinder diesel engine comes with 245 hp and 500 Nm of torque on the GLE 300 d 4MATIC and the OM 656 six-cylinder diesel engine comes with 330 hp and 700 Nm of torque in the GLE 400 d 4MATIC (hip-hop variant). Power is transmitted by the 9G-TRONIC automatic transmission.
Mercedes-Benz has focused on the interaction with the vehicle and its functions through gestures, touch or the voice control system. This is made possible by the latest telematics generation of the Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX), which is characterised by intuitive logic and a wide range of operating options.
There are five different possibilities to interact with the infotainment system of the GLE:
Per Touch control on the multimedia display in the centre
Using the Touch Control buttons on the multifunction steering wheel
With the multifunction touchpad on the centre console
By voice control, either with the talk button on the steering wheel or the “Hey Mercedes” prompt
The revised voice control system makes operation even more convenient and natural. By voice command, the driver can have the system read out text messages, operate the audio systems or access vehicle functions such as the climate control system, for example.
The system requires no memorised commands – the user has the freedom, for example, to phrase the desired destination address or the question about the weather report off-the-cuff. Passengers activate the voice control with the “Hey Mercedes” prompt. The talk button on the steering wheel is additionally available for this purpose.
With the new GLE SUV is also the debut of the latest generation of Mercedes-Benz driving assistance systems giving cooperative support to the driver. The level of active safety has not only been improved compared to the preceding model – some of its Intelligent Drive functions are even unrivalled outside the SUV segment.
Active Braking Assist can help avoid rear-end collisions and accidents with crossing pedestrians and cyclists. Besides distance and collision warning, it also provides situation-dependent brake boosting if the brakes are applied with insufficient force. It is also able to initiate autonomous emergency braking.
Active Braking Assist is designed to detect vehicles travelling in front and which are stationary, crossing pedestrians and cyclists in the danger zone in front of the vehicle. The functions are optimised for typical urban speeds. However, at higher speeds too the system is still always able to react to slower-moving vehicles. The goal is always to avoid accidents or at least to reduce their severity.
Blind Spot Assist takes a very close look for the driver in particular as soon as the turn indicator is activated. The system gives a visual and audible warning of side collisions with other road users in the blind spot. After the trip, the system remains alert and warns you if the user opens the door at the wrong time.
With Blind Spot Assist there are two additional radar sensors fitted in the rear bumper. With these, the system can detect not only cars but also two-wheeled vehicles in the area of the blind spot. If a vehicle is detected, a red warning triangle lights up in the appropriate outside mirror.
If the indicator is also activated, Blind Spot Assist gives an audible warning of a possible collision. This warning helps to deal safely with dangerous situations, such as lane changes, turning off and getting out in flowing parallel traffic.
2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE LWB Images:
