GLE 450 AMG Coupe: The Mutant SUV

Mercedes-Benz builds a crop-top SUV to rival the fashionable BMW X6 in a segment that mingles practicality with sporty coupe lines and performance. Meet the GLE 450 AMG Coupe

The automotive segments are as convoluted as ever. Today, we have sedans that pose as coupes, hatchbacks that pose as SUVs etc - and every manufacturer seems to want to invent a new form.
In 2008, BMW brought a new equation to utility vehicles with the launch of the X6 in the so-called 'Sports Activity Vehicle' segment. This pseudo class allowed owners to enjoy two distinct automotive worlds from the same seat. It combined the elevated presence and off-road capabilities of the SUV with the youthful sporting appeal of the coupe. Clearing initial public apprehension, the X6 - being the 'lone wolf' in the segment - became a rainmaker of sorts for the Bavarian company.
But now Mercedes wants a piece of that pie. They too have built a crop-top SUV, with the bulk of its genetic makeup derived from the GLE SUV, for 2016 - previously known as the ML-Class. We got to run around the urban wilderness in the 450 AMG Coupe variant. and here is our honest opinion.

DESIGN & AESTHETICS
The GLE 450 Coupe, like the X6, has been created for people who wish to gain identity. It is not just a commuter; it is more of a lifestyle choice, something to parade in, with the added advantage of SUV practicality and 'sportscar' thrill.
They may have chopped the top off of the regular GLE to build this coupe, but it still is a very sizable vehicle, one that will not go unnoticed, thanks to its 4,900mm length, 2,003mm width and proper SUV-like 1,731mm height.
The GLE Coupe's frontal view is endowed with full-form aggression that makes the X6 look rather tame in comparison. The short, slanted and stubby nose, with three gaping air-intakes and a large grille above them, looks like that of a famished beast, ready to swallow large volumes of air in order to makes some prodigious power. This being the mini-AMG version, it gets the hood vents and single blade on the grille to complete that look. You may also notice that the nicely integrated LED headlamps look like a 'plug and play' element from other models in the current Mercedes range.
Its unique coupe-like disposition becomes evident when you get around to the sides where the raked roofline becomes visible. But it is also here that proportions look questionable - the GLE Coupe can appear bulky and bulbous, and we often caught ourselves staring at it to find the 'beauty angle'. with little success. Its dominant presence cannot be denied, however, mostly due to its coupe-like roofline and the massive steamroller-sized 21-inch wheels that Mercedes-Benz have bolted on as standard. Our test car had the even-larger optional 22-inch wheels that wore 325mm wide rear tyres - larger than that on a Chevrolet Corvette! The Coupe also pilfers cues from the S-Class Coupé to help it play the upmarket card, like the slim band of rear lights with their 3D look. We especially like the chrome strip the goes around the back end, not unlike a ribbon over a gift. As for the AMG-derived quad exhausts, these large outlets can create excitement by themselves.
The idiosyncratic exterior styling begs for one to investigate the interiors, which are typical of a Mercedes-Benz cabin and a direct import from the regular GLE SUV - with a good level of sophistication and sensible functionality. The centre console is a busy panel of hard buttons and knobs; and between the silver frame air vents is an iPad-like free-standing screen which suggests touch control. but isn't a touchscreen. Instead, every instruction goes through the iDrive-like swivel wheel or the polished touch pad above it. The touch pad doesn't necessarily make navigating the menus simpler, but the interface is easy to get around. The 450 AMG gets the flat bottom steering and interesting chequered inserts in the dials of the instrument cluster, both of which we liked. A 'real' AMG would have an awkward-looking short shifter with a badge on it, but this one is a more convenient stalk on the steering column.
With the GLE Coupe, you can dress the black-base interior with either longitudinal-grain aluminium, brown open-pore ash wood, brown eucalyptus wood, dark-graphite poplar wood or, as we did in our test car, black AMG carbon fibre/piano lacquer. You also get a broad palette of leather dyes without even delving into the Designo custom programme, which would make it a more expensive affair.
Even with all the technology inputted, the interior looks just a tad dated. We see this as more of a lost opportunity for Mercedes to showcase new architecture, especially considering the price point. But the feel from steering, the pedal locations and the multiple power options for the front seat make it a good place to be. Many will agree with the elevated driving position, but will find the view out of the rear window tight and the side view mirrors not too large either. Mercedes claim that the GLE has the widest rear seat in the class, and it is rather commodious.

POWERTRAIN & PERFORMANCE
The GLE 450 AMG Coupe, by definition, has to deliver on both fronts - as an SUV and as a sporting coupe. Appropriately, Mercedes-Benz has powered up the vehicle with a potent bi-turbo 3.0-litre V6 that puts out generous horsepower and torque. From a numerical standpoint, you get as much as 362 bhp at 5,500 rpm and 520 Nm of maximum torque between 1,400 and 4,200 rpm. As you may have guessed, a flat torque curve makes it very drivable.
The 6-pot is hooked up to Mercedes' 9G-TRONIC - a 9-speed automatic transmission of the torque convertor type and power is distributed to all four corners via Merc's 4MATIC all-wheel drive system. If you give the accelerator pedal  the full monty, it will crush the 0 to 100 km/h dash in 5.7 seconds, leaving behind some sports and muscle cars, let alone SUVs. It is accompanied by a burbling note from the exhaust tips that crackles on the overrun, and which Mercedes boffins call 'controlled misfire' - but we just call it pure aural bliss! Granted, it's not a true AMG V8 and has a 200 bhp deficit compared to the GLE 63 but, in reality, the power of the 450 AMG is all you need.
To give a supposed rear-wheel drive's characteristics, they have moved the torque split ratio front to back from 50:50 to a drift-inducing 40:60, not that you would ever notice it. Its over two-tonne weight isn't ideal, but the GLE Coupe is capable of carving cleaner lines around a street than what you expect. The steering feel doesn't have that racecar quality but offers plenty of feel for speedy street antics and it is genuinely entertaining hustling down a back road or sweeping curves en route to Jabal Hafeet or elsewhere. You can augment the driving experience by using the paddle shifter, although we only used it to keep the revs high and the exhaust popping.
To go off road, our advice is to replace the low-profile tyres with ones with a lot more sidewalls. The combination of the air suspension, hill decent control and DYNAMIC SELECT (which lets you switch to 'Slippery' in the 5-piece menu) will help you negotiate most dunes and trails.
The other important element in luxury car dynamics is ride quality. The GLE's well-sorted suspension gets the better of tarmac irregularities and keeps it mostly smooth within the cabin. The roar from low-profile tyres can be noticed at higher speeds though. These days, manufacturers are claiming economy figures that are, quite frankly, baffling. Even the GLE 450 AMG on a mixed cycle is claimed to return an optimistic 9l/100km when, in reality, the number is closer to 12 and 13l/100km. It may not match its claims but is a good way to burn fuel.

FEATURES & FUNCTIONALITY
With its roots as an SUV firmly planted, the GLE 450 AMG Coupe gets almost all the associated benefits, including the biggest boot in the segment at 1,650 litres - enough to swallow almost all the luggage you can throw at it. But first, you need to fold up the rear seat bottom, then fold the headrest down and then fold down the back rest to get the seat completely level with the floor. You also get an automatic tailgate as standard and plenty of space under the cargo floor. However, the coupe has a high load lip so you can't just slide things into the bay; you need to pick and drop them.
The GLE Coupe is prepped with a comprehensive suite of safety features that would be tiresome to repeat. But you do have DISTRONIC PLUS with Steering Assist and Stop&Go Pilot, PRE-SAFE® Brake with pedestrian detection, BAS PLUS with Cross-Traffic Assist, Active Blind Spot Assist, Active Lane Keeping Assist and PRE-SAFE® PLUS. You also get a full surround mode, which leverages four cameras to give you a bird's-eye view of the car, and a back-up camera cleverly concealed on the flip side of the tri-point star badge - like Volkswagen does.
The A/C kept cabin interiors reasonably cool, even when parked outside. As an option to the latest generation of COMAND Online system, besides the 8-inch TFT display and intuitive touchpad, you also get the optional 6-disc DVD changer, Rear Seat Entertainment System with remote control, TV receiver or Bang & Olufsen Sound AMG sound system.  

VERDICT
The 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 AMG Coupe is built to be an object of affection. It is an eccentrically styled, yet sporting SUV that we think will be more of an emotional purchase than a rational one. It gives up some of the space and price advantages of the regular GLE SUV for certain aesthetic indulgences that elitist individuals crave. As for performance, the turbo 3.0-litre V6 may not be comparable to the mighty V8 in the GLE 63 AMG on paper but, on the road, it is just as fun to drive!

FUN FACT
The story of Mercedes' 4MATIC began in 1985 with the all-wheel drive E-Class. Then, the customer was able to choose between six different models. Today, almost 30 years later, the portfolio of passenger cars with all-wheel drive has grown to include more than 70 models in 18 model series.

Pros: Outlandish, yet sporting looks; high-performance limits with a crackling exhaust note; general fit and finish; general practicality
Cons: Can look frumpy from angles; watch your head when you enter the rear cabin; pricey
Author's rating: 7.5/10

SPECIFICATIONS  
Body type: 5-seater; 5-door premium high-performance SUV
Engine: Front-engine; biturbo 3.0-litre V6; all-wheel drive
Transmission: 9G-TRONIC (automatic)
Peak output: 362 bhp @ 5,500 rpm; 570 Nm @ 1400 - 4200 rpm
0 to 100km/h: 5.7 seconds (claimed)
Top speed: 250 km/h (electronically limited; claimed)
Price: Starting at Dh360,000

wknd@khaleejtimes.com

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