M-Class (W166/C292) [Official] Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupé (C292)

[Wolfgang]

MB Passion

 

[Wolfgang]

The GLE 450 AMG Coupe and GLE 63 S Coupe expert talk just concluded. Michael explained the tech stuff and Achim Badstübner the design. Focus was to create a sporty SUV emphasizing the coupe roof line, long window graphic and strong wheel orientation. Interior retains the popular M-Class ergonomics with a bigger display, very practical since it's always available and new upper dashboard. Supposed to be compact and dynamic, with a powerful front end, respecting its strong AMG heritage. Those were just a few of the highlights summarized from memory. The interview was held in English and the video should become available on Daimler's youtube channel in a week or so.

 

[Amat46]

I think this is the first time we are seeing Achim Badstübner in an expert talk

 

[Wolfgang]

Just noticed a little detail: the height of the GLE Coupe beltline on the front fender seems to follow the CLS Coupe's, as it's higher than the in the M, just like the CLS has a higher front beltline than the E. Might be better resolved on the GLE Coupe than on the CLS.

 

[Sunny]

strong wheel orientation

What is "strong wheel orientation"?

 

[Wolfgang]

Probably alludes to the largest wheels/tires available on a Mercedes.

So development manager Andreas Zygan demanded of his team for the new Mercedes SUV-coupe excellent longitudinal and transverse dynamics skills and precision and comfort, of course - it's still a Mercedes. The rock crawling abilites stand in the background. The agility of the Mercedes GLE remains surprising, even if you have just been still amazed at the handling of the X6.

Mercedes GLE varies dynamics at your fingertips

"We take this car up to 22-inch wheels of 325er-dimension and the largest tires available as standard for a Mercedes. We have a completely new steering installed", Zygan provides the first technical teaser for the driving dynamics. "Regardless of our usual cost-saving steering kit we wanted a more direct steering. The GLE coupe should feel really athletic and independent."

http://www.germancarforum.com/threads/2016-mercedes-benz-gle-coupe.47992/page-20

 

[HighestOfHigh]

Starting to grow on me. In the right trim, this could be a winner.

 

[Wolfgang]

Some impressions from day 2, with slight rearrangements of the exhibit.

MB Passion

 

[Wolfgang]

The classic ML 320 from "Lost World" compared.

Mercedes-Benz ML 320.

http://fly-wheel.com/mercedes-benz-gle-coupe-launches-in-universal-pictures-jurassic-world/

 

[Wolfgang]

VW chief Martin Winterkorn inspects the GLE Coupe.

Mercedes-Fans.de

PS. Last spring he checked out the S-Class Coupe as well. Remember?

MB Passion

 

[Merc1]

I wish we knew what they were saying!

M

 

[PHYBENZ]

I thought he also inspected C and was quite impressed/concerned with the interior...

 

[Wolfgang]

True. Not sure what they are saying. Might do his "rattle testing" and so on.

Autoevolution

 

[Wolfgang]

He also checked out the F 015 Luxury in Motion.

MB Passion

 

[Wolfgang]

Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupé – Erste Sitzprobe

 

[Rolf]

I wish we knew what they were saying!

M

I can imagine him examining the C-Class interior with some gauge to see how hard the top of the dash is and a light meter that is used to check the shininess of the plastics! Haha! His comments " Das C-class has Das very good voood und Das airvent und Das speaker ist pragtig (pretty) ich bin lib (I love) Das C-class inner (interior)" haha

 

[Amat46]

Expert talk with Achim Badstübner, unfortunately in German

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[Amat46]

Since he joined MB recently I dont think he was involved in the GLE coupe design work. Is he Wolf?

 

[Wolfgang]

^ True, as he joined on January 01, 2014 as exterior design lead. MB designers allegedly submitted quite a number of sketches for this popular project and more than half a dozen may have been chosen to be built as 1:4 scale models. From those about three continued to 1:1 models. So quite a number of different designers were involved in the overall process, with M-Class designer Mark Fetherstone and Concept Coupe SUV's Teck probably among them. Achim Badstübner says it's a Coupe first, and then a SUV, thus elegance combined with rough rigid appeal. A Coupe with SUV genes.

https://www.facebook.com/MarkFetherstonFans

 

[Amat46]

Would be interesting to see an MB sketched by him. I quite like some of his works at Audi. Oh if Badstübner is the exterior design lead what is Robert Lesnik's role now?