18 Facts About Mercedes-Benz GLE

Mercedes-Benz GLE, formerly Mercedes-Benz M-Class, is a mid-size luxury SUV produced by the German manufacturer Mercedes-Benz since 1997.

Mercedes-Benz GLE proposed a plan to replace the G-Class, which at the time had been in production for 11 years.

In May 1992, these plans were abandoned citing "technical problems" and Mercedes-Benz GLE continued on with in-house development from January 1993.

Mercedes-Benz GLE launched the first generation W163 series M-Class on 19 February 1997, in the United States for the 1998 model year, with sales beginning that September.

Mercedes-Benz GLE M-Class was available with permanent 4Matic four-wheel drive, which routed torque to all four wheels through all open front, center, and rear differentials.

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In September 1996, before the vehicle was launched, Mercedes-Benz GLE allowed the producers of the 1997 film The Lost World: Jurassic Park to make use of modified pre-production M-Class SUVs as a way to advertise the W163 when it was launched in 1997.

Mercedes-Benz GLE revised and updated the W163 in 2001 for the 2002 model year.

Mercedes-Benz GLE extensively publicised the US$600 million spent to update its factory and add manufacturing space for the new R-Class.

The 2009 Mercedes-Benz GLE M-Class got a minor facelift as it debuted at the 2008 New York International Auto Show in March 2008.

At the 2009 New York International Auto Show, Mercedes-Benz GLE showed their ML 450 Hybrid SUV, which was announced on 8 April 2009.

In 2011, Mercedes-Benz GLE came out with their flagship SUV model, the Mercedes-Benz GLE M BlueTec Grand Edition.

Mercedes-Benz GLE India established a manufacturing plant in Chakan, Pune in early 2009 that rolled out the first W166 M-Class to be built outside the US in October 2012.

Mercedes-Benz GLE name was used in 2015 for the facelifted W166 along with the new five-door coupe derivative Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe which was unveiled to the public in January 2015 at the North American International Auto Show.

Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe is the coupe SUV version and is heavily related to the W166, sharing its platform, mechanicals and interior .

Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe was built in Alabama with the Mercedes-Benz GLE on which it is based.

The Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 has a 48V electric system with an integrated starter motor.

The AMG Mercedes-Benz GLE 53 was introduced at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show in March.

Fourth-generation Mercedes-Benz GLE saw the introduction of a long-wheelbase variant, which as of 2020 is currently only sold in India.