On September 16th, Mercedes-Benz officially unveiled the new long-wheelbase GLE SUV. Capitalizing on the mid-cycle refresh, Beijing Benz introduced this long-wheelbase variant to the domestic market, marking a significant stride for Mercedes-Benz in China.

Mercedes-Benz announced that the new-generation long-wheelbase GLE SUV is the brand's first locally-produced luxury large SUV in China. It is also the first large luxury SUV from Mercedes-Benz that is "tailored for China, crafted with intelligence in China, and co-created with China's tech ecosystem."

More significantly, the new long-wheelbase GLE SUV is the inaugural model from Mercedes-Benz where the product definition is spearheaded by a Chinese R&D team, with development driven by a chief engineer based in China. It is specifically designed for Chinese customers and exclusive to the Chinese market.

Indeed, the new long-wheelbase GLE SUV has left no stone unturned in its preparation.

A Well-Prepared Entrance

In terms of design, the new long-wheelbase GLE SUV embraces the latest design language of the Mercedes-Benz family, featuring a shield-shaped star emblem grille that unmistakably identifies it as a Mercedes-Benz. Simultaneously, the overall design maintains the classic styling of the Mercedes-Benz GLE series, preserving the iconic yacht-style C-pillar triangular window while presenting a more elongated side profile.

A standout feature of the new long-wheelbase GLE SUV is its dimensions: 5051mm in length, 2018mm in width, and 1784mm in height, with the wheelbase extended to 3115mm—120mm longer than the imported standard version. Although classified as a mid-to-large SUV, the wheelbase of the new long-wheelbase GLE SUV ventures into the realm of large SUVs.

More notably, the new long-wheelbase GLE SUV boasts a five-screen interaction solution, featuring a 12.3-inch instrument cluster and a 14-inch central control screen in the front row. High-end versions are further equipped with two 12.9-inch entertainment screens. Additionally, the China-exclusive dual 12.9-inch rear-seat high-definition entertainment screens are powered by a sophisticated rear-seat entertainment system developed by the Chinese team. This system incorporates an on-device multimodal VLM large model that can proactively identify passenger status and recommend personalized content.

Furthermore, the new long-wheelbase GLE SUV is outfitted with the urban and highway navigation-assisted driving system, co-developed by Mercedes-Benz and Momenta. Initially preloaded with the R6 large model for urban and highway navigation, it will later be upgraded to the R7 world model via OTA, ultimately delivering a seamless assisted driving experience from parking spot to parking spot.

The powertrain of the new long-wheelbase GLE SUV is another major highlight. The GLE 350 L is powered by the M254 2.0T engine, delivering a maximum power of 190kW and a maximum torque of 400Nm, with a 0-100km/h acceleration time of 7.4 seconds. The GLE 450 L version, on the other hand, is equipped with the M256 3.0T inline-six engine, producing a maximum power of 280kW and a peak torque of 560Nm, achieving a 0-100km/h acceleration time of just 5.5 seconds.

Remarkably, both engines are fitted with an eZV electric auxiliary supercharger, significantly reducing turbo lag. Additionally, the 48V mild hybrid system provides an extra 17kW and 205Nm of instantaneous boost, further enhancing power output.

In essence, while upholding the classic luxury DNA of the GLE, the new long-wheelbase GLE SUV has completely revamped the space, intelligence, and functional experiences to meet the demands of Chinese customers. Some commentators have even described the new long-wheelbase GLE SUV as Mercedes-Benz's most "ambitious" move in 140 years.

All these efforts are aimed at achieving better market performance.

Facing Numerous Challenges

Since the domestic launch of the long-wheelbase version, the BMW X5 has demonstrated remarkable market performance. Public data reveals that in 2022, despite only being fully delivered for 8 months, the BMW X5 sold 58,000 units. In 2023, its annual sales soared to an astonishing 93,000 units, with an average monthly sales volume of 7,767 units.

Insurance data indicates that in the first half of this year, the Mercedes-Benz GLE sold a cumulative total of only 14,654 units, with an average monthly sales volume of 2,442 units. During the same period, the BMW X5 sold a cumulative total of 29,470 units, with an average monthly sales volume of 4,911 units—twice that of the Mercedes-Benz GLE.

It is clear that the new long-wheelbase GLE SUV aims to follow in the footsteps of the domestically produced BMW X5.

In recent years, a plethora of high-end mid-to-large and large SUVs have flooded the market. With the entry of various "8-series" and "9-series" models, the competition in the high-end SUV market has intensified significantly compared to when the domestically produced BMW long-wheelbase version was initially launched. Consequently, every market participant faces substantial competitive pressure.

Public data from third-party platforms shows that in August, among mid-to-large SUVs priced above 400,000 yuan, the top-ranked Li Auto L8 sold only 6,297 units; the second-ranked BMW X5 sold 3,479 units; the Zeekr 8X sold 2,376 units; and other models generally sold below 1,500 units. Among large SUVs priced above 400,000 yuan in August, only two models sold over 10,000 units; the sixth-ranked model sold just over a thousand units.

Moreover, from a market performance perspective, among high-end SUVs priced above 500,000 yuan, Chinese domestic models offering superior intelligent experiences are currently more favored by consumers. A host of domestic "9-series" and "8-series" models, such as the NIO ES8, Seres M9, NIO ES9, Li Auto L8, Zeekr 9X, and Seres M8, have become popular choices.

In other words, the current competitors of the new long-wheelbase GLE SUV extend far beyond the domestically produced BMW X5 and may not even be the BMW X5 itself. This poses the greatest challenge for the new long-wheelbase GLE SUV.

Only time will tell how far the new long-wheelbase GLE SUV can go on the path taken by the domestically produced BMW X5 four years ago.

(Images sourced from the internet, removed if infringing)