Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 arrives with turbo six

The all-new Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 4MATIC+ has just rolled into showrooms around Australia, priced from $166,700 plus on-road costs -- a substantial increase from the $135K pricetag of the previous-generation GLE 43 V6 it replaces.

Marking the arrival of AMG's new twin-turbo straight-six in an SUV, at the heart of the big Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 is a 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder engine that delivers 320kW and 520Nm via an AMG 'Speedshift' TCT nine-speed conventional automatic transmission.

It's said the all-wheel-drive Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 will sprint to 100km/h in 5.3 seconds, yet unlike AMG V8s will still deliver reasonable fuel economy – 9.4L/100km is the claim.

Nevertheless, the circa-$220,000 Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 will arrive in Australia later in 2020 with a sought-after twin-turbo V8 that belts out an earth-shaking 450kW/850Nm.

The six-cylinder engine of the AMG GLE 53 features turbocharging and a mild-hybrid 'EQ Boost' system that employs a 48-volt electric starter-generator that can provide an extra 16kW and 250Nm, increasing performance and efficiency.

Exterior upgrades for the seven-seat luxury SUV include five-spoke 21-inch AMG light-alloy wheels and fully automatic multi-beam LED headlights.

The usual AMG sports body kit extras are fitted, such as a more aggressive front apron with bigger air intakes, updated side skirts and a chunkier rear apron. The Night Package also adds contrasting high-gloss black accents.

Inside the Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 customers will be greeted with Nappa leather trim for the seats and steering wheel, and other big-ticket items include a high-end Burmester sound system, panoramic glass sunroof, wireless phone charging, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto that are beamed through a large 12.3-inch touch-screen display.

A head-up display, ambient interior LED lighting with 64 colours and illuminated AMG lettering on the door scuff plates are standard equipment too.

The AMG GLE 53 also gets an active exhaust system with a pair of dual exhaust outlets that, according to the Benz press-statement, "…allows occupants to enjoy muted output during daily driving, while the experience of spirited driving can be enhanced at a press of a button to generate more characterful responses."

In other words, it's got quiet and loud exhaust modes.

Chassis upgrades are part of the package too, with bigger brakes (400mm front discs, 345mm rear discs) filling out the giant alloy wheels and the adoption of AMG Ride Control+ air suspension with adaptive dampers as standard equipment. There are three drive modes: comfort, sport and sport+, along with trail and sand modes for "off-road use" says Mercedes.

Potential buyers can take the suspension on step further with the optional AMG 'Active' Ride Control that delivers "higher levels of agility, neutral cornering behaviour and optimal traction" says the German car-maker.

It uses two 48-volt electro-mechanical actuators with AMG-specific tuning that automatically adjust roll stabilisation on the front and rear axles. In layman's terms, it means passengers won't feel crook when the driver blasts the car through corners at warp speed.

The Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 is only available in wagon form for now (the AMG GLE 53 Coupe is coming) and joins the rest of the Mercedes-Benz GLE range, which includes four-cylinder GLE 300d and six-cylinder 400d diesel models, along with the six-cylinder petrol GLE 450.

Mercedes-AMG's big cheese, Tobias Moers, said the Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 will offer drivers "…more power than the predecessor model as well as our fully variable all-wheel technology. Not least of all, its striking radiator grille shows our new GLE 53 as a fully-fledged member of the AMG family."