MERC MAKES MOVE
Old-school prestige car maker Mercedes-Benz has joined BMW in producing a niche range of all-wheel-drive coupes
THE world of SUVs moves in mysterious ways. Now the oldest car manufacturer, MercedesBenz has broken ranks to join archrival BMW in the niche segment of high-riding, all-wheel drive coupes.
BMW’s swooping X6 with truncated tail first appeared in 2008; the answer to a question no one asked, said the critics. Yet it’s been successful enough in parts of the world to be followed by hot-rodded X6M versions and the smaller X4 with an even smaller X2 “coupe” rumoured to be on the way: a whole family of these strange creatures set free to roam the highways and byways.
It’s a matter, we’d suggest, of style over substance, for these drop-away rooflines may mean less rear headroom and less cargo room. And, we’d suggest, can still look a tad awkward from many quarters.
The Mercedes-Benz GLE line-up is about to replace that company’s ML range of SUVs; leaving aside the Range Rover, this ML was the first of the premium SUV crossovers.
And a Mercedes GLE Coupe as well as a more traditional GLE wagon will arrive here in September.
This Mercedes-Benz with the liftback rear rather than a tailgate is claimed to offer a decent-sized cabin with room for five and the largest luggage compartment in its class; at 1650 litres Benz reckons that’s a world record for a coupe.
As with its rival the BMW X6, the GLE Coupe’s road stance is a touch weird from this side of the photographs. It’s riding too high for that sports coupe silhouette, some of us might suggest.
But according to Mercedes-Benz board member Professor Dr Thomas Weber: “Our GLE Coupe combines typical coupe attributes, such as sportiness, dynamism and agility, with the confident presence, versatility and robustness of an SUV.
“The GLE Coupe is the new addition to the successful portfolio of Mercedes-Benz coupes.
“Alongside the classic, two-door C, E and S-Class models and the fourdoor CLS and CLA-Class coupes, the new coupe displays a highly individual interpretation of the physiognomy and light-footed approach typical of this family of vehicles.”
The range of GLE Coupes will start at a recommended retail price of $121,900 for the 350d 4Matic with 190kW.
The GLE 450 AMG 4Matic and its twin-turboed six producing 270kW starts at $141,900 and the let-it-rip hero model, the GLE 63 S 4Matic, has 430kW for $198,900.
The first pair use a nine-speed auto, the GLE 63 and its 5.5 litre V8 are mated to a seven-speed auto.
All have all-wheel drive and rideon-air suspension.
VERDICT
THUMBS UP Luxury for rough roads
THUMBS DOWN Coupe coup for SUVs? THE legendary Range Rover has turned 45 years old.
It has been arguably the best roughrider, family estate wagon and luxury machine rolled into one of all time. The legend continues today; as do the prices.
Work began on the first Range Rover back in 1966, the British keen to take on the likes of the American Jeep Wagoneer, which heralded the beginning of a move toward more comfortable, family-friendly 4WD vehicles.
The first-generation Rangie arrived in 1970 as a two-door with lightweight aluminium V8 engine (a design borrowed from Buick), fulltime 4WD and disc brakes for all corners.
It ran for 25 years, with a fourdoor version arriving in 1981 and an automatic gearbox option in 1982.
Two of these – second-hand – once graced our paddocks at different times.
The first was a two-door and much used for pulling over dead trees for firewood, tow-starting tractors and carrying the family with surety, whether down the highway, over a mountain road or through a flooded creek.
The second Range Rover here was a four-door and, while it performed much the same tasks as the first, became a tad temperamental in the engine and electrics departments.
Anyway there’s been the chance to drive all Range Rovers since; none have lost their character or capabilities.
The second generation arrived in 1994, the third in 2001 and the latest in 2012.
Our favourite today would be a diesel Range Rover Sport.