Mercedes Test Day: MB GLE Coupe and MB Class S 500 Plug-in Hybrid, first contact

Mercedes-Benz organises a Test Day at the end of the year where its latest novelties and launches can be tested, and – as could not be otherwise – the chosen venue was again Lalín, where several of the brand’s latest launches awaited us on a freezing day. We decided to focus our first contact on a very recent and eye-catching launch, the Mercedes GLE Coupe, and the majestic Mercedes Class S 500 Plug-in Hybrid.

Mercedes-Benz news

Before moving on to the practical part, it is worth reviewing the various novelties the star brand presents with launches such as the dual-clutch gearbox for the Smart or the new Mercedes-AMG C 63, although let us go in order. The first novelty is the restyling of the MB Class A , which debuts a new front end with full-LED headlights and redesigned rear lights, as well as some interior changes such as the new 8-inch screen, and mechanically a running gear with adjustable suspension is available.

Another significant novelty is the arrival of the Mercedes-AMG C 63 , which offers 476 hp or 510 hp depending on the version. The first change is in the name: it is no longer a model with an AMG trim, but is now a full AMG model. Under the bonnet it hides a powerful 4-litre BiTurbo V8 engine delivering 476 hp or 510 hp depending on the version chosen. In this new generation, consumption has been reduced by 32% compared with the previous C 63 AMG, reaching 8.2 litres per 100 km (homologated combined cycle).

This year also saw changes to the names within Mercedes: the former GLK and ML have disappeared, welcoming the new Mercedes GLC (completely new) and the Mercedes GLE (restyled). What is genuinely new is the GLE Coupe, which arrives to compete in the peculiar segment of coupé SUVs, a segment until now populated only by the BMW X6 (and until it was discontinued, the SsangYong Actyon).

Finally, Smart introduces the new DCT dual-clutch gearbox with seven ratios, available on the Smart fortwo with 90 hp and the Smart forfour with 71 hp or 90 hp, all with a final price increase of 980 euros over the manual version on the ForTwo and 1,175 euros for the ForFour.

Behind the wheel of the Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe 350d 4Matic (258 hp)

The unit we tested leaves nobody indifferent: the new Mercedes Coupe SUV has a robust design, large dimensions and enormous 21-inch wheels (20-inch wheels as standard). Behind the wheel it is a spacious car, with a high driving position (identical to that of the GLE), and in the rear seats, despite the design, there is enough room for feet and head (if you are up to 1.75 metres tall). The boot has a fairly high loading lip, with a capacity of 650 litres.

When we set off the first thing we notice is the smoothness of the V6 diesel powertrain, which is also very performance-oriented, as shown by its powerful torque of 620 Nm at just 1,600 rpm. It accelerates forcefully, has a selector that lets us adjust the driving style, and in Sport mode it responds correctly on the road, although our route was not very long. The soundproofing remains a strong point of the GLE and despite its low-profile 21-inch wheels, regardless of the type of asphalt, it always maintains a high level of interior comfort.

Behind the wheel of the Mercedes-Benz Class S 500 Plug-in Hybrid

Another novelty we were able to try is the Mercedes Class S 500 Plug-in Hybrid, that is, a hybrid and plug-in Class S with a range of 33 km in fully electric mode. Under the bonnet it has a petrol V6 engine delivering 333 hp, combined with the 109 hp of the electric motor (for a total of 442 hp). It offers several driving modes, one of the most useful being a battery charging mode (ideal when approaching a city and wanting to drive in electric mode), and it can be charged from a standard socket in two and a half hours.

Among its performance figures the hybrid system’s torque stands out, a total of 650 Nm, which allows it to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 5.2 seconds. Behind the wheel, it is a true Class S with every luxury finish, comfort and an exceptional ride quality (enhanced by the complete absence of noise in electric mode). We were struck by the “haptic” accelerator pedal, which alerts the driver with a pulse when they should lift off the accelerator to activate the coasting mode or to recover energy.

More news for 2016

Among the brand’s first novelties are the new Mercedes GLS (formerly the GL), although the most anticipated will be the new generation of the Mercedes Class E, arriving in March, and it is expected that its interior will move closer to what the Class S offers (the first images of the model suggest a major change in design). In April the Class S Cabrio will arrive (already presented at Frankfurt 2015), and for the summer a star launch: Mercedes Class C Cabrio.