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With GLE-Class, Mercedes-Benz Renames, Restyles Its Best-Selling SUV

Last updated Wednesday, May 6, 2015 09:00 ET

M-Class Replacement Debuts at the New York International Auto Show

HAVERHILL, 05/06/2015 / SubmitMyPR /

While the Mercedes-Benz M-Class is already the luxury automaker's best-selling SUV, greater expectations have now been set for the future of the vehicle. Renamed the Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class for the 2016 model year, the latest iteration of the popular SUV debuted at the New York International Auto Show earlier this year, boasting sleeker front and rear styling, a new high-powered plug-in hybrid option and updated interior features and materials.

Up front, the 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class takes its styling cues from the GLA-Class compact SUV, donning flared fenders, restyled bumper openings and swept-back headlights that will be available in full LED form. In the back, modernized LED taillights round out the revamped SUV's new look. Like the M-Class, the 2016 GLE-Class will offer a wide range of highly responsive powertrains, but the most notable one is an advanced plug-in hybrid system in the new 2016 GLE550e. Pairing the 3.0-liter V6 engine found in the 2016 GLE400 with an electric motor, the GLE550e is expected to produce a total output of 436 horsepower while featuring an all-electric driving range of up to 18.6 miles.

"The new GLE-Class incorporates many of the same elements that buyers love about the M-Class and then enhances them with bolder styling and the latest drivetrain technology," said James Buckley, general manager of Smith Motor Sales, a Mercedes-Benz dealer in Haverhill, Mass. "The GLE-Class will seamlessly take the reigns as Mercedes-Benz's top SUV, but we also expect it to attract conquest buyers who were previously considering competitors of the M-Class."

Fans of the M-Class will still find the highest-quality materials inside the GLE-Class, including new trim accents in aluminum, carbon fiber, piano black or wood. A larger, repositioned display screen sits above the updated center stack and is part of the latest-generation COMAND infotainment system, which can be controlled by a touchpad interface. When it goes on sale this August, the new GLE-Class SUV will also come with a longer list of standard features, including auto-dimming mirrors, Keyless-Start, a memory power driver's seat and a power tilt/telescoping steering column.

About Smith Motor Sales:

For more than 75 years, Smith Motor Sales has brought Mercedes-Benz ownership to customers in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Smith Motor Sales has remained an elite Mercedes-Benz dealer throughout the years through its commitment to customer service and its wide selection of new and used Mercedes-Benz vehicles, as well as its expert service and parts staff. Browse their inventory online at www.smithmercedesdealer.com, stop by their showroom at 420 River Street in Haverhill, Massachusetts, like them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SmithMercedes, or reach them by phone at 978-372-2552.