Mercedes-Benz continues the rollout of its redesigned GLE-Class SUVs with the sportier fastback “coupe” variant, unveiling the 2021 Mercedes-AMG GLE53 featuring the company’s new turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system.
The new coupe-SUV mashup model picks up much of the front-end look of the coming AMG 53 version of the redone 2020 GLE conventional SUV. The coupe, however, rides on a 2.4-inch-shorter wheelbase, and the roof and rear styling are all its own. The fastback roofline seems more sloped than the current GLE Coupe, and the rear is a softer and relatively more graceful design.
The new powertrain, which made its debut in AMG 53 versions of the current E-Class models and the 2019 CLS, features a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six-cylinder paired with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system, with a starter-generator motor sandwiched between the engine and the nine-speed AMG automatic transmission. AMG performance all-wheel drive is standard.