Mercedes‑Benz GLE revealed ahead of Paris motor show

No more name changes, this is still badged GLE, which translates as the Geländewagen (off-road) version of the E-class, and second only to the GLS giant in the M-B SUV hierarchy. When the first M-class came out 21 years ago it joined the original G-wagen as the only Mercedes high-rider with off-road ability; now there are seven of them with an eighth, an electric one, due next year.

Unveiled ahead of a public debut at the Paris Motor show on October 2^nd, the new GLR arrives in UK showrooms early in the new year. What can we expect?

More elegant and aerodynamic looks for starters, along with a size jump: a new near-3m wheelbase is only 75mm (3ins) shorter than the GLS’s. Consequently there is extra room in the back, enough for an optional third row of seats.

There are new engines, plentiful new gadgets, the latest widescreen dashboard, an expanded version of the “Hey Mercedes” operating system that previewed recently in the new A-class, and an E-Active body control set-up, run by 48-volt electrics, that dictates spring and damper rates at each wheel for flatter cornering; it can even make this large and heavy machine lean into bends like a motorbike.

Mercedes says the E-Active system also has benefits when the Tarmac runs out, such as being able automatically to “bounce” the vehicle out of ruts and sand instead of relying on six burly blokes to help, which is normally what’s required. Mercedes is in fact taking off-road ability seriously with the new GLE. An optional off-road package includes  a transfer case for low-range gears and new fully variable (0-100 per cent torque at each axle) torque-on-demand 4Matic all-wheel-drive system.

The first model at launch is the GLE 450 4Matic. It fits the zeitgeist by being petrol rather than diesel fuelled with a mild hybrid side. This is provided courtesy of those 48-volt electrics which power a combined starter/generator for what Mercedes calls EQ Boost (its pure electric models are known as just EQ). The new inline six provides 362bhp and 369lb ft of puling power while the EQ Boost adds another 22bhp and 184 lb ft of torque for short periods. The electric starter/generator recovers otherwise lost energy but doesn’t power the car by itself. Even so fuel economy is said to benefit: combined consumption is  29-34mpg for a machine that obviously won’t be slow – though no performance figures so far.

A spacious and versatile luxury seven-seater with potent mild-hybrid performance that’s capable off-road? This could be the toughest test yet for the Land Rover Discovery…

 Seven things you never knew an SUV could do*…

1. Set up the driver’s seat to the correct position automatically after you enter your dimensions
2. Use music, lighting and “energizing comfort control” to lift your mood if the car detects you are a bit stressy or didn’t get a good night’s sleep
3. Display the car’s angle of inclination and torque distribution in off-road driving on a head-up display projected on to the inside of the windscreen
4. Bring a little light to getting in and out thanks to illuminated running boards
5. Provide rear passengers with six-way electric adjustment for the second row seating
6. Brake to a standstill once the car spots the end of a motorway tailback ahead, automatically steering to one side of its lane in order to allow access for emergency vehicles in a “rescue lane”
7. The ability to switch on a seat massage by giving the dashboard a V sign (honest, we are not making this up)

*Some features optional at extra cost