WASHINGTON DC: The general public were confused by car models being offered by manufacturers. It took several minutes to understand the fact that the new Mercedes GLE is a coupé version of the old M-class 4×4, which was itself an off-road version of the E-class saloon, which of course has its own coupé version.
Dr Zetsche, Mercedes chief executive tried to explain the confusion away, claiming the company’s model strategy was running out of letters. “We’ll soon have more models than there are letters in the alphabet,” he said.
So from now on, Mercedes models will be based around the four core models in the range: A, C, E and S. Each model derivative will then be signified by prefixes showing what it is, so the GL part of GLA shows it is an SUV/4×4. There’s logic to it, but it’s not easy to get your head around when it comes to coupé versions of 4×4 versions of saloons.
So the new GLE Coupé (which arrives in the UK this May) is like Dr Doolite’s Pushmi-pullyu, although the design team under Gorden Wagener, VP of design, has done alright.
Since there aren’t many things uglier than an X6, this is faint praise for the new car, although the design team has given the car a comfortable and classy interior.
Engine choice shows it is aimed unashamedly up-market, with the smallest at launch being the 258bhp 350d, which is coupled to the new nine-speed automatic gearbox and Mercedes’ 4Matic permanent four-wheel drive system. Mercedes is claiming that the new nine-speed ‘box can save up to 6.5 per cent in fuel economy.
The top model will be the monstrous AMG GLE 63 version, but we’re still waiting for precise specifications and prices.
