[11] Bmw X6 Cargurus Becomes This Month Issue

Yes, it really is happening. The

Mercedes Concept SUV

we all hoped wouldn't make it past the motor show stage has done just that, it's called the GLE and it will be on sale next year. Anyone who thought the BMW X6 was a cruel one-off will be sadly mistaken.

And this is without the AMG bits!

Probably best begin with the styling. Mercedes describes it as a 'successful design synthesis of coupe and SUV elements'.There are certainly styling features familiar from other Merc models (the rear lights seem straight off an

S-Class Coupe

and the single-louvre grille is used throughout the range) but they arguably don't form a cohesive whole. Obviously feel free to contribute your own thoughts...

There is some hope for PHers though under the GLE's bonnet. No, really. It actually introduces Mercedes' new range of AMG Sport models, the cars that will sit under the full performance flagships much like the BMW M Performance stuff. For the GLE that's the GLE 450AMG which uses a 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 with 367hp and 384lb ft and will be the fastest GLE until a 'proper' AMG arrives. So what's the relevance of another fast petrol SUV? Well, AMG boss Tobias Moers has said new models are following soon, the C-Class already uses a derivative of that engine, the C63 has more power than ever... a C450 AMG would be very nice, wouldn't it? A slightly less crazed sports saloon than the C63 and a nice six-cylinder throwback to the early days of AMG C-Classes.

Well it looks very nice from here

Anyway, the GLE. Not much more, honest. There are two other launch engines, a 3.0-litre diesel in the GLE 350d (don't forget the new

Mercedes naming strategy

) and the lower-powered 3.0-litre biturbo V6 in the GLE 400. All models come with Merc's 9G-Tronic auto and 4Matic permanent all-wheel drive. In the AMG Sport model the torque split is 40:60 front to rear and 50:50 elsewhere.

Like the new C63 and the AMG GT, the GLE 450AMG receives the 'Dynamic Select' controller, networking all the dynamic functions into four presets and an individual mode. So dampers, engine response, transmission, everything down to the interior lighting will be dictated by the rotary dial and the parameters of the chosen mode. The rest of the GLE's interior in any model is as per any other large Mercedes (prominent central screen, Comand controller), only a little higher up.

That's about it on the Mercedes GLE for now. We would expect more models to join the range in due course, probably a lower-powered diesel and a V8 AMG model. See the GLE scaring showgoers at an expo early next year and then doing the same in showrooms soon after. Full prices and specifications to be released nearer the time.