Mercedes launches GLE 450 AMG Sport Coupé
Mercedes has rolled out a proper segment-buster for January, following up their facelifted A-Class. The new GLE 450 AMG Coupé takes a leaf from BMW’s book by combining the sleek profile of a coupe with the stance of an SUV with four doors. That’s not to say Mercedes is a mere follower. Remember: they did the CLS four-door coupe first. The GLE 450 AMG Coupé runs a 3-litre V6 bi-turbo engine which produces 367hp and a maximum torque of 520 Nm. It goes from 0–100 km/hr in just 5.7 seconds. “An AMG V6?”, you may wonder. The GLE 450 is “tuned” by AMG for its motor, steering and suspension, but isn’t an all-out AMG-built car.
The GLE 450 motor is mated to Mercedes’ 9G-TRONIC 9-speed transmission, which supports multiple downshifts. The ‘sport’ in SUV is by way of many things, including a single louvre front grille, contoured powerdomes, a distinctive underguard and front splitter in chrome finish, rear bumper with chrome-look simulated underguard, 21-inch AMG 5 spoke light alloy wheels and drilled brake discs. Mercedes claims this is their first production model running 21” rims.
The GLE 450 comes replete with Mercedes’ current-gen gizmo range: a high-resolution 8” media display which includes the COMAND Online system that has navigation, telephone, audio, video, and internet functions. It also comes with two USB ports and an SD card slot, a voice control system and WLAN hotspot functionality. The display is multi-touch and recognizes simple gestures, handwriting, letters and numbers. Five drive modes are present: INDIVIDUAL, COMFORT, SLIPPERY, SPORT and SPORT Plus.
The Mercedes GLE 450 AMG Coupé is priced at Rs.86.40 Lakhs (Ex-showroom Mumbai), which is competitive for what it is, and handily beats the only other vehicle available in India of it’s kind: the BMW X6.
