What's all this about?

The Mercedes-Benz ML is dead - long live the Mercedes GLE!

Eh? Talk sense, please.

Remember we told you that Mercedes was changing its badging policy range-wide? Well, those changes are coming into effect now and - in homage to the Geländewagen - all Merc SUVs must have a G somewhere in their names. Thus, the ML could no longer survive and it has been facelifted into the GLE.

It doesn't look that different...

That's because it is, as we've just said, a facelift. Please pay attention. The GLE has a tidied-up front end with a new grille, fresh headlights, the twin silver horizontal bars in the nose, revised wings and a twin power dome-sporting bonnet. At the back, LED lights are drafted in, the exhausts are integrated into the bumper and chrome underbody protection is visible. New alloy wheels are also fitted.

How about the interior?

New colours and trims, a larger, seven-inch screen for the infotainment (an eight-inch item is an optional upgrade) and any amount of electronic driver aids/comforts are the key points. It has basically been tarted up a bit, which is no bad thing as the ML's cabin was pretty nice as it was.

What are the choices for motive power?

Here's where it gets interesting. There are a few diesel models using two engines, the 2.1-litre four-cylinder in the GLE 250 d (204hp, 500Nm, 49.5-52.3mpg - depending on whether you fit 4Matic all-wheel drive or not, two-wheel drive to be confirmed for the UK market - and CO₂ of 140-149g/km) and a 3.0-litre V6 in the GLE 350 d (258hp, 620Nm, 44.1mpg and 169g/km). All are equipped with the nine-speed 9G-Tronic automatic transmission.

I sense these are not the exciting models.

Correct, the interest in the GLE range is provided by the petrol engines. First up, for the unhinged, the Mercedes-Benz ML 63 AMG has been replaced with the Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S 4Matic. This brute has a 5.5-litre, twin-turbocharged V8 developing 585hp and a silly 760Nm, meaning 0-62mph in 4.2 scorching seconds and a top speed of 155mph (limited). An AMG Driver's Package lifts this to 174mph, although the GLE 63's speedo reads to 200mph...

What could be more interesting than a 585hp SUV?

There's a plug-in hybrid model, Mercedes' first in an SUV body. It uses a 333hp/480Nm V6 petrol engine up front while there's an electric motor integrated into the 7G-Tronic Plus autobox. This develops 116hp and 340Nm, although the combined system maximums quoted are 442hp and 650Nm. Mercedes quotes 85.6mpg and 78g/km CO₂ for this, with the ability to travel 19 miles at speeds of up to 80mph on electric power alone. The lithium-ion battery can be charged while on the move, of course, but Mercedes says to replenish it using a home wallbox or public charging point takes around two hours.

Any word on pricing or release date?

Not as yet, but as ever we'll bring you the news as soon as we can - and also first driving impressions.