The Brand New 2021 Mercedes-AMG GLE63 S

Mercedes practically invented the factory-built high-performance luxury SUV in 1999 when it stuffed a 5.4-liter V-8 into its ML-class ute and christened the ML55 AMG. That vehicle's stats and figures—342 horsepower, 376 pound-feet of torque, 100 kmh in the mid-sixes—seem quaint two decades later. But at the time, the company was able to call it the fastest ute in the world. With more than half of Mercedes-AMG's sales today being utility vehicles, it makes sense for the performance sub-brand to keep pushing its SUV bar ever higher. The redesigned 2021 GLE63 S is among the latest to faithfully adhere to that mega-horsepower tradition.

Swallowing up to 18.9 psi of boost, the GLE63 S's twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8 produces 603 horsepower at 6500 rpm, 627 pound-feet at 2500 rpm, and the deep, snarling roar that we expect from a hand-assembled AMG V-8. That's 26 more horses and 66 more pound-feet than the previous version's twin-turbo 5.5-liter V-8. The GLE63's 4.0-liter is also the first AMG V-8 to get Benz's 48-volt EQ Boost hybrid system that mounts a motor-generator between the engine and the standard nine-speed automatic transmission.

Along with powering the V-8's accessories, including the electric air-conditioning compressor and electric water pump, the motor-generator can briefly kick in up to 21 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque to reduce the engine's lag and, in theory, improve its fuel economy. That extra power is administered with silky refinement just off idle, during gear changes, and in a handful of other situations when the V-8 might pause while its turbos spool up. The additional electrons also make for one of the quickest and seamless engine stop-start systems we've experienced. But, let's be clear: It does not increase the engine's output. Although the system's torque does occasionally overlap with the V-8's, the motor's boost never exceeds the engine's max output.

Specifications.

VEHICLE TYPE
front-engine, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door wagon

ENGINE TYPE
twin-turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 32-valve V-8, aluminum block and heads, direct fuel injection
Displacement
243 in3, 3982 cm3
Power
603 hp @ 6500 rpm
Torque
627 lb-ft @ 2500 rpm

TRANSMISSION
9-speed automatic

CHASSIS
Suspension (F/R): control arms/multilink
Brakes (F/R): 16.0-in vented, cross-drilled, grooved disc/14.6-in vented, cross-drilled, grooved disc
Tires: Yokohama Advan Sport V107, F: 285/40R-22 110Y MO1 R: 325/35R-22 114Y MO1

DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 117.9 in
Length: 195.0 in
Width: 79.4 in
Height: 70.2 in
Passenger volume: 111 ft3
Cargo volume: 33 ft3
Curb weight: 5568 lb

C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 3.4 sec
100 mph: 8.5 sec
130 mph: 15.0 sec
150 mph: 22.1 sec
Rolling start, 5–60 mph: 4.7 sec
Top gear, 30–50 mph: 2.9 sec
Top gear, 50–70 mph: 3.0 sec
1/4 mile: 11.9 sec @ 117 mph
Top speed (mfr's claim): 174 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 161 ft
Braking, 100–0 mph: 321 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.91 g
Standing-start accel times omit 1-ft rollout of 0.2 sec.

C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 15 mpg
75-mph highway driving: 22 mpg
Highway range: 490 miles

EPA FUEL ECONOMY (C/D EST)
Combined/city/highway: 17/15/20 mpg

If you need more information about this beautiful SUV you can contact @alex_lekas at 514 341 8725. @sh.leasing

Address: 5470 Pare St, Montréal, Quebec, H4P 2M1

@passionmotorsca

Music by Karl Casey @WhiteBatAudio