[7] Bmw X6 Lease Becomes Monthly Topic

After watching the BMW X6 inexplicably rack up sales and profits for nearly seven years, Mercedes-Benz finally is launching its own model into the crossover-coupe niche. Dubbed the GLE-class coupe, it is the first model to reflect the new nomenclature at the German automaker; a more conventionally roofed GLE, which will be the face-lifted and renamed M-class, will debut later.

Underscoring the GLE coupe's sporting pretensions, it will be sold in the U.S. only with AMG trimmings. The entry point will be the Mercedes-Benz GLE450 AMG, which is a member of the AMG Sport lineup intended to bridge the gap between regular Benzes and full-fledged Mercedes-AMG beasts. The GLE coupe will come in the latter guise, as well, badged as the GLE63. (Europe gets two further models: the 329-hp GLE400 and the GLE350d with a 255-hp 3.0-liter diesel V-6.)

Official info on the GLE63 is still pending and will be announced at a later date; we do know it will be powered by a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V-8 pumping out about 500 horsepower. The GLE450 is confirmed to pack a twin-turbocharged V-6 rated at 362 horsepower and 384 lb-ft of torque. All-wheel drive is standard, and the system features a 40/60 front-to-rear torque distribution. Maximum torque is available from 1400 to 4000 rpm, and it will be routed through a nine-speed automatic transmission that ought to keep the engine in that rpm window fairly easily.

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The GLE450 AMG will roll on 21- or 22-inch wheels and rear tires wider than the fronts no matter which wheel diameter is fitted. (The 21s are fitted with 275-section tires up front and 315s out back; the 22-inch wheels wear 285s and 325s.) The suspension is tuned for sportiness and little body roll—Mercedes claims that the vehicle "feels like a true sports coupe," despite its high center of gravity. The standard adjustable chassis can be cycled through preconfigured "Comfort," "Slippery," "Sport," and "Sport+" settings for the steering, suspension, and engine response, while an “Individual” mode allows the driver to dial in their own preferences. Even the engine note, the instrumentation, and the reactions of the swiveling headlamps can be manipulated. Oh, the endless possibilities imparted by lines of code!

The full complement of Mercedes’ latest active and passive safety systems is either standard or available for a fee. The latest COMAND infotainment setup with an 8.0-inch central display is included, while Bang & Olufsen audio, a rear-seat entertainment system, a panoramic sunroof, and several interior leathers and trims are among the options.

Despite its fast roofline, the GLE coupe offers ample room for five occupants; Mercedes-Benz says it provides the widest rear seat and the largest cargo area in its, um, segment. And then there's this: it “happens to hold the world record for luggage compartments in coupes.” Even so, it is less practical than a regular GLE, and you’re going to buy this thing because you love the way it looks and you love the way you look inside it.

Sending only the AMG-fettled versions of the GLE-class coupe to the U.S. underscores its status-symbol mission—and its place as a vehicle for folks who simply want whatever sits at the top of the pecking order. But while there are few automotive exercises that contain less logic than combining a coupe and an SUV, the success of the BMW X6 proves that there is a market for such inanity.

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