What is it?
Yet another demonically fast, politically incorrect SUV for extroverts. This all-new GLE Coupe – which isn't really a coupe but a four-door with a rakish fastback roofline – has been given the AMG go-fast treatment. Consider it Mercedes' competitor to the BMW X6 M, Range Rover Sport SVR or Porsche Cayenne GTS.
Signature feature
Mercedes has never made a fastback SUV before. It's based on the new GLE, which is itself a revised and renamed version of the popular M-Class. The GLE Coupe looks best with the full AMG body kit as seen here, but its looks are still best described as "challenging."
What else is new
If you don't like the look of the Coupe, fear not. This is but one of eight new variants in the GLE mid-size SUV lineup from Mercedes-Benz. In Canada, there will be five powertrain options for the boxy GLE and three for the Coupe. The pick of the range is the 500 e plug-in hybrid, or if your budget can't stretch that far, we also like the 350d diesel for its mix of fuel economy, refinement and utility.
Under the hood
Does this SUV really need a twin-turbo V-8? No. Is it an environmentally responsible purchase? Not at all. Does 577 horsepower sound nice as it echoes forth from those shiny exhaust pipes? Yes. All-wheel drive is standard, as is a height-adjustable sport suspension and an AMG-tuned seven-speed automatic gearbox. It's crammed with predictive safety features, too.
When can we buy it, and for how much?
Mercedes says it will arrive in the third quarter of 2015, with official pricing to be announced closer to that date. We'd estimate you'll pay around $110,000.
Cool quotient
2.5 stars (out of five)
Like its rivals, defines overkill.
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