A 23-horsepower increase over the 2017 model year.
The Mercedes AMG GLE43 was reviewed by us at the start of the year. Its biturbo 3.0-liter V6 motor produces 362 horsepower. Jake Holmes, Motor1 Senior Editor found the six-cylinder engine to be impressive considering the vehicle’s mere 5,000-pound weight. GLE now embraces the 2018 model year, bringing 23 more horsepower to the sporty “43”, thereby matching its European counterpart.
The output is sent to the 4Matic all wheel-drive system via the same nine-speed manual transmission, whereas other GLE models have a seven speed ‘box. Mercedes USA doesn’t say much about the GLE43’s performance, but the 2017MY was capable of covering the 0-60mph (0-96 km/h) in 5.6 seconds. The maximum speed reached an electronically limited 130 mph (209 km/h).
This increase in output comes with a price. The 2018MY GLE43’s starting price is $67750 MSRP, which is $600 more than the previous model. The flagship GLE63, which produces 550 horsepower, is available starting at $102,550, and the GLE63S, which produces 577 horsepower, starts at $109,000.
Mercedes upgrades the mbrace Connect package in the GLE family and makes the SUV one among the many models in the 2018MY lineup that will benefit from remote start.
An all-new GLE will be available in the near future. It will then be followed by a “63” model that our spy captured on camera just a few weeks ago. The biturbo V8 engine of 5.5-liter will be replaced by a 4.0-liter. It is expected to arrive in 2020. Prototypes show an increase in size but the next-gen GLE is likely to be lighter than the current model due to switching over the MRA platform.