Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class 2016 News

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has announced its latest round of safety recalls, with models from Subaru, Mercedes-Benz, Hyundai, Mazda, Toyota and Ford affected.

Ford has recalled 8878 examples of its Kuga mid-size SUV over a potential fire risk.

Mercedes-Benz has announced the price of its GLE 500e SUV plug-in hybrid ahead of its official Australian launch later this month.

Another week, another high-powered V8 joins a highway patrol unit, ostensibly to help keep our roads safer.

Victoria Police have taken delivery of the fastest and most expensive police car to earn its stripes. And it's not just for show.

Mercedes has announced Australian pricing and specifications for the new GLE SUV range that will replace the current ML-Class.Rather than a whole new car, the GLE is a facelifted version of the ML which has adopted the German brand’s new SUV naming strategy.Under the new system all Mercedes SUVs will be named GL with the third letter corresponding to the model’s size in relation to the ordinary passenger range.Hence GLA corresponds to the compact A-Class, GLE the mid-size E-Class and the upcoming GL-replacing GLS will reference the S-Class flagship sedan.The visual changes between the existing ML and new GLE are subtle but include new front and rear bumpers, revised head and tail lights and a new steering wheel.The GLE range kicks off with the $86,900 GLE 250d 4Matic, which is powered by a 150kW 2.0-litre turbodiesel four-cylinder connected to a new nine-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive system. Combined fuel consumption for the entry-level model is 6.0L/100km, down from 6.4L/100km on the outgoing model.While the base price has swollen by $3000 compared to the current ML range, the 250d now includes the Driver Assistance Plus package which adds active cruise control which maintains a safe distance from the car in front, auto emergency brake, blind spot monitor and lane-keep assist.Other standard features include LED headlights, proximity keys and keyless start, satnav, auto tailgate and 19-inch alloys.While the base price has swollen by $3000 compared to the current ML range, the GLE 250d now includes the Driver Assistance Plus packageStepping up to the $104,900 GLE 350d 4Matic brings the more powerful 3.0-litre turbodiesel V6 engine producing 190kW/620Nm.Combined fuel consumption in the 350d is 6.6L/100km, down from 7.3L/100km.On top of the 250’s standard features, the 350 adds 360-degree camera system, leather upholstery, heated front seats and 20-inch alloys. Next up is the $109,900 GLE 400 which packs a 3.0-litre twin-turbo petrol V6 which pumps out 245kW/480Nm and consumes 9.3L/100km combined.The GLE 400 also includes an electric glass sunroof and 14 Speaker Harman Kardon surround-sound system as standard.The standard GLE passenger range is topped off by the $127,900 V8 GLE 500 whose 4.7-litre petrol unit develops 320kW and 700Nm.Standard features on the range-topper include air suspension with adaptive damping and automatic body leveling, heated and ventilated front seats, and 21-inch alloys. Naturally, there is also a AMG performance version of the new GLE which is powered by the big 5.5-litre twin-turbo Affalterbach V8.Developing 430kW, the $189,900 GLE 63 S has enough grunt to hit 100km/h in 4.2 seconds.AMG says that while the power has been upped from 386kW to 430kW, the chassis has also received a great deal of attention to improve agility and cornering dynamics.The new GLE 63 S also includes a panoramic sunroof, Nappa leather upholstery, and the AMG Driver’s package which raises the top speed to 280km/h from the standard 250km/h.The new GLE range is available to order now, but the first Australian deliveries are not expected until September. 

While mainstream brands Ford and Honda wowed the crowds with fire-breathing supercars, the top end of town was more about whetting appetites of buyers in the huge and lucrative US market with production-ready models.The Alfa Romeo 4C is already a sellout in Australia, with 180 hands up for just 120 coupes.Now the demand is certain to jump even higher with the unveiling of a 4C Spider.The open-air 4C is more of a targa car than a full-on convertible, because the mid-engined layout puts the powerplant where the roof would normally fold away.The 4C is already the most charismatic car of the current Alfa generation, with a carbon-fibre chassis, gorgeous shrink-wrapped body, and turbocharged 1.8-litre petrol engine that makes 177kW and 350Nm of torque.The Spider keeps with the lightweight promise of the coupe, weighing in at less than 900 kilograms.The car is expected to arrive in Australia in the first quarter of next year.The new Q7 was the focus of the Audi stand and it was a technological tour-de-force.The show car had a new 10-inch computer tablet that can be used by back-seat passengers to control the radio and to watch their trip progress on the navigation system, much like a passenger jet.There's also an advanced radar and camera system that enables the Audi Q7 to accelerate, brake and steer itself automatically in stop-start traffic up to 60km/h.And the technical wizardry doesn't end there. The new Q7 can reverse a trailer into position using cameras and radar via a touch pad in the centre console.The new Audi Q7 is due in Australian showrooms later this year priced at about $100,000.There are no details on the engine and no concrete plans for production, but the Buick Avenir — French for "the future" —turned heads both in Detroit and Melbourne.A joint effort between Holden's styling studios in Port Melbourne and General Motors' design centres in Detroit, the car was built here and shipped to the US just before Christmas.It was unveiled by former Holden boss, and the current president of GM North America, Mark Reuss.For now, the Buick Avenir is just motor show tease, but Holden insiders say the striking limousine will likely be made in China and sold globally.It may also come to Australia as the eventual replacement for the Holden Caprice.The German sports car maker unveiled new versions of the 911 Targa and Cayenne SUV.To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Targa (half coupe, half convertible) model, Porsche has launched an all-wheel drive GTS version. Power is boosted by 22kW over the Targa 4S to 316kW, enabling a 0-100km/h sprint of 4.3 seconds.The Cayenne Turbo S betters that time by 0.2 of a second.Both models will go on sale in Australia in the second quarter of this year. The 911 Targa GTS will start at $305,300 and the Cayenne Turbo S will sell from $284,700.Toyota's luxury brand Lexus whipped the covers off the long awaited high-performance version of its mid-size limousine, the GS. Called the GS F it is powered by a high-revving 5.0-litre V8.The only problem is, while the peak power of 348kW is reasonably impressive, that only kicks in at close to 7300rpm and torque — the grunt that gets you moving — is a more modest 527Nm. A $45,000 Holden Commodore SS has more (530Nm). Expect it in Australian showrooms late in 2015 or early 2016 priced beyond your pay grade.A concept with more curves and contours than Kim Kardashian previews Infiniti's take on a 2+2 sports coupe.The Q60 concept will morph into the production car by 2016, powered by a twin-turbo 3.0-litre V6 engine.The steer-by wire system already seen on the Q50 is also used here, along with Infiniti's Intuition system, which can store details on audio, airconditioning and seat position preferences for up to four drivers.When it finally arrives in Australia the road-going car will be expected to compete with Audi's swoopy A5 and the BMW 4 Series.There's no news on prices but the current Q60 starts at $63,990.A new heavyweight contender has joined the ranks of crossover coupes.The GLE Coupe is a curvy high-riding four-door SUV that will compete with BMW's X6.Two versions were at the Detroit show this week, the full-on 63 AMG and the (slightly) less aggressive GLE 450 Sport, with a diesel-powered 350d and GLE 400 to follow.The X6 was originally the answer to a question that no-one had asked, but has become a big global sales success.The newcomers are part of a wholesale overhaul of Mercedes-Benz's wagon range in 2015 that includes the replacement for the mid-sized GLK SUV and the new GLA Shooting Brake.There is no talk yet of prices, but the GLE Coupe is certain to have a starting price beyond $100,000 when it arrives here in the third quarter of this year.A new group of 6 Series "halo" cars took the spotlight for BMW in Detroit as the German company celebrated its fourth straight year of sales growth with more than two million deliveries in 2014.There are only minor changes to the M6, 650i coupe and Gran Coupe but global marketing boss Ian Roberston says the trio will be part of a global focus on growth."These are clearly the sportiest and most luxurious 6-Series vehicle we have ever built. We are launching a lot of new products again," he says.