New Cars
Mercedes Unleashes New GLE Coupe To Take On The BMW X6
There has been a bit of confusion surrounding the all-new 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe, and much of the uncertainty surrounds the name of the crossover. The German automaker first unveiled the upcoming crossover in Detroit today, and although it features a name that hasn’t yet been seen in the lineup, the GLE is not actually a brand-new model. As you may have noticed, the GLE looks oddly familiar.
It shares a number of styling cues with the M-Class, and that is in fact because the GLE Coupe is the M-Class. Well, almost. With the new Mercedes-Benz vehicle naming structure, the M designation has been shed entirely, leaving the more common A, B, C, E and S families to serve as the base for the entire line of luxury vehicles.
Since the M is no longer a thing, and because the GLE is positioned in the middle of the SUV model range, the E has been attached to the name. It makes sense seeing as the E-Class inhabits a similar position smack dab in the middle of the sedan lineup. For once Mercedes is pushing for actual structure in their naming scheme, the changes just happened to take place at the same time that the M-Class was ready for an update.
The upcoming diesel variant of the new GLE Coupe.
That is not to say that the M-Class and the GLE Coupe are one of the same, however. Although the new model is based on the M-Class, it’s difficult to distinguish their similarities visually. On the outside, the roofline has been cut back, justifying the addition of “Coupe” to the name—it does, however, have four doors.
The fresh look provides the GLE with a look that closely mirrors the BMW X6, and that comes as no surprise as the reasoning behind the crossover’s facelift has quite a bit to do with more successfully rivaling the Bavarian manufacturer’s offering in the segment.
Another one of the big changes is that none of the M-Class models will transition into the renamed line. They have all been scrapped and replaced by a pair of AMG-tuned offerings to start. Serving as the base model will be the GLE450 AMG Coupe, which takes on a twin-turbocharged V6 that will produce as much as 362 horse, putting it well above the 300-horsepower V6 found in the BMW X6.
Those brave enough to step up to the GLE63S Coupe will be able to take advantage of 577 horsepower, which comes courtesy of the turbocharged 5.5-liter V8. As with all other AMG products, the engines will come built by hand.
Mercedes has also announced that a diesel, hybrid and plug-in hybrid version of the GLE will be making their way to market around the same time that the couple of AMG variants go on sale.
Seeing as they initial gas-powered models are products of the automaker’s in-house tuning division they are likely to come with some hefty price tags, and if they hope to compete with the X6 price-wise, they will have to keep the base model down to about $60,000, which is roughly how much a new X6 goes for.
We will likely know more about the actual price as we move closer to the official release date of the 2016 GLE Coupe, which Mercedes has already confirmed will arrive later this summer. Around that time we will have a better idea of just how viciously the automaker plans to nip at the heels of their competitor.
If this is the future of electric pony cars, I’m on board.
We’ve heard rumors of the next iteration of the Dodge Charger. We’ve seen the concept pictures. But after seeing it in person at the 2023 Chicago Auto Show, I can say, the electric future is pretty bright at Stellantis (aside from the Ram overkill).
From a design perspective, nobody beats the designers of Dodge cars, in my opinion. The lines on this car pay tribute to Chargers of the past, while also being very modern. Even the triangle-shaped logo, known as a Fratzog, harkens to its Mopar past.
Where the design gets more modern, without losing us in the new wave is the unique aero hood that is undetectable looking at the front of the car. But a look from around the windshield clearly shows a full scoop at the front of the hood that is unlike anything in the class.
The concept is also a two-door, which is a deviation from the modern-day Chargers that only came in four-door. Whether the company will release a four-door version still remains to be seen.
2024 Dodge Charger Engine Specs
While the design is catching many eyes, it’s still Dodge we’re talking about here. People are going to want to know about the power. After all, Dodge making an electric vehicle seems like a clear departure from the gas-guzzling, tire-burning Dodges of the past.
However, the company put out a teaser video with clear messaging that performance will not be lost. With the capability of electric powertrain torque, they are likely leaning on takeoff power, and I’m confident the car will be fast. That being said, there’s no replacing the sound of a traditional hemi engine. But, with the electric revolution, some concessions will need to be made.
Right now, all we know about is three engine options under the hood for the 2024 Dodge Charger Electric. They are:
- 340 with 440 horsepower
- 440 with 590 horsepower
- SRT 800 with horsepower not yet released
2024 Dodge Charger Electric Price
While pricing hasn’t been released, since the 2024 Dodge Charger Electric is still listed as a concept, we have a rough idea of where things could land – within an accepted range of error.
Our estimates of price of the 2024 Dodge Charger Electric are:
- Dodge Charger Electric 340, $55-65,000
- Dodge Charger Electric 440, $65-75,000
- Dodge Charger SRT, $90-100,000
No matter how you feel about electric vehicles – especially with Dodge – the world is heading that direction. But with the 2024 Dodge Charger Electric, there is hope.
The 2020 Corvette is here – and it’s the one we’ve been waiting for.
Having seen and sat in the car in person, I can confidently say that Chevrolet nailed it with the G8 Corvette that only shares a single part with its predecessor.
The biggest change is clearly the engine of the car moving from the front to a mid-engine. This has become a high-end performance car staple, but not something Chevrolet has entertained until the release of the newest version for 2020. The mid-engine gives the Corvette better balance and handling dynamics, while it is slightly heavier than the last edition.
The new Corvette will be available in three trim levels, the 1LT, 2LT and 3LT. There will be a single engine offered initially – the 6.2-liter V8 that produces 495 horsepower paired to an 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The 2020 Corvette Stingray 0-60 time, according to Chevrolet, is 2.8 seconds and it can conquer the quarter-mile in 11.2 seconds, reaching 122 mph.
The overall appearance of the Corvette has changed a bit, but it’s still very recognizable as a Corvette, which is key to an evolution that still harkens back to the car’s rich history that began in 1953. The door handles have been hidden and the car has an incredibly sleek and clean look. It retains its convertible option, but has a first-ever production retractable hardtop. It can activate at speeds up to 30 mph.
Inside, the car feels amazingly natural to sit in. You almost become part of the car, which is how you want to feel when navigating a sports car – especially if you are lucky enough to be able to pilot the car around a real track.
There are three seat combinations to choose from, so everyone can find the Corvette that best suits them. There’s even a trunk behind the mid-engine, which the professionals at the Chicago Auto Show were quick to point out “can hold two sets of golf clubs.” While the actual golf bags would have to be pretty small, funnier to me was the assumption that I like golf.
Arriving for sale now, the 2020 Chevy Corvette is sure to impress. It’s already been named the 2020 Motor Trend Car of the Year – and I have a feeling the awards will keep coming.
2020 Chevy Corvette Key Stats
| Horsepower | 495 |
| Torque | 470 lb-ft |
| Top Speed | 194 mph |
| 0-60 Time | 2.9 seconds |
| Quarter-Mile | 11.2 seconds |
Kia promised the new 2021 Seltos to start under $22,000. And thanks to some leaked Kia Seltos pricing information, the brand appears to have made good on it. Barely.
The base Seltos LX (and S) from the information that’s out there, appears to be sneaking just under the bar at $21,990. Yes, $10 MSRP does equal a promise fulfilled.
Yes, we are going to wait until Kia officially gives out the pricing to fully speculate. But for now, it’s up to you to decide if a Kia SUV is in your future.
2021 Kia Seltos Pricing
| Model | Price |
|---|---|
| LX AWD | $21,990 |
| S FWD | $21,990 |
| S AWD | $23,490 |
| EX AWD | $25,290 |
| S 1.6L Turbo | $25,490 |
| SX 1.6L Turbo | $27,890 |
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