Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 2020 revealed: Sport-fettled SUV to arrive late 2019

The GLE SUV has been given the AMG go-fast treatment, with the German brand today unveiling the fire-breathing Mercedes-AMG GLE 53.

And those wavers of Mercedes' performance wands are promising the brand's popular SUV will live up to the hotted-up hype, with AMG boss Tobias Moers promising the GLE 53 will be a "fully fledged member of the AMG family", while dropping the not-so-subtle hint that an even hotter version is on the way, too.

"As the inventors of the performance SUV, it is important to us to continue to be at the top with the new generation of the GLE when it comes to innovations, driving dynamics, individuality and design," he says.

"The first step here is the new Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 4MATIC+, with which we offer our customers more power than its predecessor as well as our fully variable all-wheel technology."

Given we're talking new AMG product, best we start with what you'll find lurking under that bulbous bonnet; namely the brand's twin-turbocharged six-cylinder engine, combined with an EQ Boost 48-volt mild-hybrid system.

And that means you can expect power outputs of 320kW and 520Nm, but the EQ Boost system can deliver an extra 16kW and 250Nm for short spells, like for overtaking manoeuvres or impromptu traffic-light derbies.

The twin-turbocharged six-cylinder engine makes 320kW/520Nm, and the EQ Boost system adds an extra 16kW/250Nm for short spells.

That power is fed through a nine-speed automatic transmission as standard, before being shuffled on to all four wheels (though the GLE 53 defaults to rear-wheel drive, only calling the front tyres into action when required). Flatten your right foot, then, and you'll dispatch the sprint 100km/h in 5.3 seconds, and you'll push on to a limited top speed of 250km/h.

Away from the red mist, though, that 48-volt system doubles as a light-duties hybrid powertrain, powering key car functions but also reducing fuel use, with Mercedes claiming a combined figure of 9.3 litres per hundred kilometres.

AMG's adaptive air suspension arrives as standard, but with a new "active roll stabilisation" function that the company says uses an electro-mechanic actuator on each axle that pairs with the brand's variable torque distribution function to reduce the cornering body roll that curses some high-riding SUVs.

The air suspension lowers the ride height by 15mm in the car's sportiest settings (or if you're travelling at more than 120km/h in Comfort mode), but can also be raised by 55mm if you're off-road or, presumably, if you need to climb over some lesser hatchback in traffic.

Looks wise, expect a new AMG grille (complete with the 15 vertical strips that make up that Luna Park smile), and 20-inch alloys arrive as standard. The cabin gets a tech overhaul, too, adopting the MBUX infotainment system that appears in the rest of the GLE range, consisting of two massive 12.3-inch screens that form Mercedes' Digital Widescreen Cockpit (that will display everything from your smartphone screen to the incline and decline angles if you're heading off-road) and the brand's "Hey Mercedes" voice control.

Inside, the cabin gains he MBUX infotainment system that appears in the rest of the GLE range.

Look for the Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 to touch down in Q4 this year, with full pricing and specification to be revealed closer to launch.

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