The Mercedes-Benz GLE will soon get a plug-in hybrid version. The plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) should have an electric range of at least 100 km.
The information was given in an interview with Ola Kallenius, Head of Daimler Group Research and Mercedes-Benz Passenger Car Development Automotive News. He claimed that if they could hit the 62-mile number, the GLE would be the first PHEV to achieve such an achievement in the WLTP cycle.
It should be noted that the 2018 GLE 550e plug-in hybrid can only drive 10 miles of electric drive. So the upgrade will definitely be a big leap for the GLE range.
Mercedes said the GLE PHEV is due in the second half of 2019. Further models from the S-Class to the A-Class will follow. The company stated that every car in its range will get partial electrification and a 48-volt mild hybrid powertrain is the minimum for that.
It is not yet clear whether the plug-in hybrid GLE will also be offered in the USA or not. However, given that this is an SUV crazy country and the 100km range is a tremendous convenience for consumers, there is a great chance it will get there.
With the project still in its infancy, Mercedes declined to discuss the main specifications of the GLE PHEV. However, it is very likely that the electric motor will be paired with the automaker’s four-cylinder gasoline engine. Kallenius indicated that there could also be a diesel hybrid version.
