2020 MERCEDES-BENZ GLE PACKS MILD-HYBRID TECH AND SEATING FOR SEVEN
new suspension technologies and mbux infotainment should make mercedes' new gle easier to live with and better to drive

Mercedes

Who could've predicted the absolute runaway success of luxury SUVs when Mercedes-Benz introduced the first M-Class two decades ago? What started as a testing-the-waters foray into midsize SUV territory, the M-Class -- renamed GLE-Class in 2015 -- is now a cornerstone of premium SUVs as we know them today. For the 2020 model year, Mercedes looks to firmly solidify its place as a benchmark of luxury midsize offerings.

Meet the brand-new GLE-Class, which Mercedes-Benz officially revealed this week ahead of the SUV's Paris Motor Show public debut. When it goes on sale in the US, it'll be offered in GLE350, GLE350 4Matic and GLE450 4Matic models -- with subsequent AMG variants to follow, natch.

The GLE350 uses a 2.0-liter turbocharged I4 engine, good for 255 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. Both rear- and all-wheel drive versions will use Mercedes' 9G-Tronic 9-speed automatic transmission, and should sprint from a standstill to 60 miles per hour in 7.0 and 7.1 seconds, respectively.

2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class 61

2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE gets mild-hybrid boost, MBUX tech

Move up to the GLE450 4Matic and you'll get a 3.0-liter turbocharged I6 engine with Mercedes' mild-hybrid EQ Boost technology. This is essentially the same engine as what's used in the new CLS450, with 362 horsepower, 369 pound-feet of torque and an additional 21 horsepower of assist from the EQ Boost starter-generator. The added power pays dividends on performance, Mercedes estimating a 5.5-second 0 to 60 sprint for the GLE450.

The GLE introduces a new 48-volt air suspension called E-Active Body Control, which allows individual control of the spring and damping forces at each wheel. In its official press release, Mercedes says this technology "generate[s] dynamic forces that overlay the air suspension forces and actively support and dampen the vehicle during linear and lateral acceleration or when driving on uneven roads." In other words, the new GLE ought to be a smooth, stable operator. We'll let you know for sure after we get our first sampling of the 2020 GLE models later this year.

Furthermore, the GLE comes equipped with what Mercedes calls a "free-driving mode," which aids in off-roading. Should the GLE get stuck in sand, or perhaps in snow, "the suspension level is quickly and automatically raised and lowered several times, which changes the ground pressure of the tires and therefore improves traction -- the GLE then rocks itself free," the automaker says in its press information.

Mercedes will offer the GLE with a full suite of advanced driver assistance systems, including its latest Distronic adaptive cruise control, active brake assist, active steering assist, blind-spot monitoring and more. The GLE's new party trick is Active Stop-and-Go Assist, which allows the vehicle to take over steering, acceleration and braking duties at speeds up to 37 mph -- kind of like Nissan's ProPilot Assist feature.

2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class

A pair of 12.3-inch screens are standard on every GLE and run Mercedes' latest MBUX infotainment system.

Mercedes-Benz

The tech onslaught continues inside, where Mercedes' new MBUX interface handles infotainment duties, housed in a pair of 12.3-inch displays. MBUX can be controlled via voice control as well as touch, and commands can be dictated with natural speech, simply by starting a request with, "Hey Mercedes."

We've tested MBUX a couple of times already and find it to be a beautifully high-resolution, easy-to-navigate interface. The "Hey Mercedes" command functionality proved less than perfect during our test of the 2019 Sprinter van earlier this year, but Mercedes said the kinks should be worked out before MBUX hits the US-market primetime later this year.

That MBUX interface is housed in a completely redesigned cabin, with elegant dashboard surfacing and lots of ambient lighting. The new center console has a pair of grab handles on either side of the gear selector (do these remind anyone else of the first-generation Porsche Cayenne?) and the new steering wheel uses the same thumb-bad controls as Mercedes other new models, which control the gauge cluster and infotainment displays.

The GLE grows a bit for 2020, with a 3.1-inch increase in wheelbase. That directly results in a 2.7-inch improvement in rear legroom, and helps make space for an optional third row of seats. The second row also gets optional six-way power adjustability for the two outboard positions, and the middle portion of the 40/20/40 bench can be folded flat while the other two sections remain upright.

2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class

The GLE is a decidedly handsome thing, and nicely hides its increased size.

Mercedes-Benz

Happily, the 2020 GLE doesn't appear gargantuan, despite this increase in size. It's quite handsome, actually, with slim taillamps reminiscent of the new CLS, and wheel sizes ranging from 17 to 22 inches, depending on model and trim.

Official pricing and EPA data won't be available until the GLE launches next year, but expect it to start in the low-to-mid $50,000 range. (A 2018 GLE350, for reference, starts at $52,200.) Expect to see the first round of GLEs hitting US Mercedes showrooms next spring.

VINFAST SHOWS OFF FIRST SEDAN, SUV AHEAD OF OFFICIAL PARIS DEBUT
vietnam came out the gate swinging, that's for sure

Vietnam's first automaker, VinFast, teased two debuts for the Paris Motor Show, a sedan and an SUV. Now we finally get to see what they look like -- and they're actually pretty great.

You might not expect an automaker's first efforts to look as fully baked as VinFast's sedan and SUV, but these cars look like they could have come from any number of longstanding automakers. VinFast has Italian design house Pininfarina to thank for that, since the two collaborated on these vehicles. The designs you see here actually came from a nationwide poll, where Vietnamese citizens were asked to choose from 20 different design sketches.

VinFast Cars 8

Check out the cars from Vietnam's first automaker, VinFast

Both cars carry quite a bit of style. With its thin headlights and high-beltline emphasis, VinFast's SUV comes off like a more mature version of the Hyundai Kona. It's not too far from the design sketch that previewed it, and I especially like the way the grille's "wings" stretch from the emblem to the headlights. Sadly, we haven't seen a shot of the interior yet.

The sedan is pretty cool, too. With those "wings" showing up both in the grille and the rear end, it seems that will be the design staple that VinFast will use to separate its cars from the crowd. The sedan packs a fastback-ish silhouette with quite the long hood. VinFast and Pininfarina really put in effort on these cars, and it shows.

"In conjunction with Pininfarina, we have carefully sculptured each body line to express the natural beauty of Vietnam and the warm-hearted and dynamic characteristics of its people through a modern and world-class design language," said David Lyon, VinFast's design director, in a statement.

When the cars make their debut at the Paris Motor Show on Oct. 2, VinFast will become the first Vietnamese automaker to have an unveiling as part of a major motor show. Here's hoping that they're as pretty in person as they are in these pictures. Keep your eyes peeled to Roadshow, because we'll be on the ground in Paris to get up close and personal with this new automotive duo.

vinfast-cars-promo

There's a whole lot of European influence in VinFast's first SUV.