Currently reading: Hot Mercedes-AMG GLE63 Coupé revealed at Detroit show

Hot GLE Coupé will arrive in the UK in June, offering as much as 577bhp and aiming to take on BMW's X6 M and the Porsche Cayenne Turbo S

The Mercedes-AMG GLE63 Coupé has been revealed at the Detroit motor show, and will aim to take on the BMW X6 M and Porsche Cayenne Turbo S when it goes on sale in the UK in June.

The GLE63 Coupé is powered by a twin-turbocharged 5.5-litre V8 engine developing 577bhp, and can hit 62mph from rest in a claimed 4.2sec in top-end form.

Following the example of other recent Mercedes-AMG models, the GLE63 Coupé is available with the choice of two differing engine specifications in both standard and a more powerful S model.

Pricing is yet to be announced, although Mercedes-AMG officials suggest the standard GLE63 Coupé will be pitched close to the existing £86,995 second-generation ML63 AMG, with which the new performance SUV shares such of its mechanical package. It will also be produced alongside that model at Mercedes-Benz’s US manufacturing plant in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

Power for the GLE63 Coupé comes from AMG’s familiar twin-turbocharged 5.5-litre V8. As in other recent AMG models, the 90deg unit comes in two differing states of tune depending on the model chosen.

In the standard GLE63 Coupé, it delivers 549bhp at 5750rpm and 516lb ft on a band of revs between 1750 and 5500rpm.

For the range-topping GLE63 S Coupé, the engine musters an additional 28bhp and 44lb ft thanks to increases boost pressure and other internal tweaks to offer a stout 577bhp at 5500rpm and 560lb ft between 1750 and 5250rpm.

By comparison, the new BMW X6 M’s twin-turbocharged 4.4-litre V8 produces 564bhp and 553lb ft, while the twin-turbocharged 4.8-litre V8 used by the new Porsche Cayenne Turbo S provides 562bhp and 590lb ft.

The GLE63 Coupé’s heady reserves are channelled permanently to all four wheels via AMG’s seven-speed 7G-Tronic SpeedShift Plus automatic gearbox and a specially tuned version of Mercedes-Benz’s 4Matic four-wheel drive system that has been set up to provide a nominal 40 per cent front, 60 per cent rear apportioning of drive.

Official performance figures made public at its unveiling suggest the latest AMG model will offer straight-line acceleration consummate with the high-riding performance SUV competition, with the standard GLE63 Coupé possessing a claimed 0-62mph time of 4.3sec and the more powerful GLE63 S Coupé running an even sharper 4.2sec. This compares to the BMW X6 M and Porsche Cayenne Turbo S’s claimed 0-62mph times of 4.2sec and 4.1sec respectively. 

The top speed for both GLE63 Coupé models is limited to 155mph, while their combined fuel consumption is put at 23.7mpg, along with average CO2 emissions of 279g/km.

The GLE63 Coupé rides on a sophisticated chassis adapted from the existing ML63 AMG, itself due to be facelifted and renamed as the GLE63 in line with Mercedes-Benz’s new naming system in 2015.

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It uses a specially tuned version of the German car maker’s AirMatic air suspension sey-up with variable damping control and self-levelling properties, a so-called Active Curve system employing hydraulic motors on the stabiliser bars to provide added body control and greater cornering speeds than regular GLE models.

The GLE63 Coupé comes with 21-inch wheels shod with 285/45 profile front and substantial 325/40 profile rear tyres, while the GLE63 S Coupé receives larger 22-inch rims.

The steering, meanwhile, is a modified version of the standard GLE Coupé’s electro-mechanical Direct Steer system. Tuned specifically by AMG for the GLE63 Coupé, it receives speed-dependent variable-ratio assistance and unique mapping.

The new performance SUV also offers five different driving modes: Comfort, Sport, Sport Plus, Individual and Slippery Transmission, the latter of which has been developed to provide what AMG describes as “optimum traction and maximum driving stability in adverse road conditions”.

Helping to rein in the new AMG model’s substantial performance is an upgraded braking system consisting of vented and cross-drilled 390mm front and 345mm rear steel discs.

The GLE63 Coupé is distinguished from lesser GLE Coupé models by a series of typical AMG exterior styling cues that serve to provide it with an added touch of visual aggression.

Included is a heavily structured front bumper featuring the Mercedes-Benz performance car division’s latest two-tone A-wing design, a twin-blade grille, standard LED headlights, twin-dome bonnet, more substantial cladding within the wheel arches, a lip spoiler attached to the tailing edge of the tailgate and a rear bumper incorporating diffuser fins and twin chromed tailpipes.

Reflecting its added performance potential, the GLE63 S Coupé sports a uniquely coloured front bumper with black elements, along with titanium grey alloy wheels.

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Greenracer 12 January 2015

A totally pointless car. With

A totally pointless car. With all that power they have to give it better brakes etc...... The speed limit in UK is 70mph. If it needs to stop from that speed quicker, then reduce weight, reduce power, in fact just reduce this car. I guess there are enough 'mugs' who will buy it. It's so full of tech which the woman in the street will never use.
androo 12 January 2015

Why can't it look better than this?

You have to wonder what the problem is. There must be some engineering reason why it can't look nice. Or is it that they've profiled the people who are likely to buy it and they just behold beauty in a totally different way to normal people?
Bangbox 12 January 2015

Astonishing

You've got to bow to Mercedes for making something that makes the X6 look well balanced and elegant.