More stories

  • in

    Mercedes-Benz Set to Kill Most Coupes and Wagons in Its Lineup

    In the coming years, Mercedes-Benz will drastically reshape its portfolio.A number of two-door coupes, wagons, and SUV coupes are destined for discontinuation.Going forward, expect a greater focus on top-end variants from AMG and Maybach, as well as super-exclusive Mythos models.In May 2022, Mercedes-Benz outlined its latest long-term strategic plan, which involves drastically resizing and reshaping its massive product portfolio to move even further upmarket and become even more profitable. At the time, the automaker did not give a full explanation of how it plans to do so, but now we have a much clearer idea of what’s destined for the guillotine and what new models we can expect. Only 14 of 33 Body Styles Will SurviveWe talked to several top managers in Untertürkheim and Sindelfingen to find out exactly why they believe that wagons, coupes, and convertibles have an uncertain future—or no future at all. Apparently, it has to do with the brand’s new understanding of luxury. Mercedes intends to tailor its future products to prepare them for extended personalized mobility services, ease the pressure on the driver, and redefine creature comfort as a key brand value. The new model mix may boost profits, but it contains fewer emotional products. Based on what we’ve seen, of the 33 body styles Mercedes currently offers between Europe and the U.S., only 14 will survive.Car and Driver”At the end of the day, we simply don’t need estate cars [wagons] or underperforming two-door offerings to boost volumes,” a senior member of Mercedes-Benz’s strategy team told Car and Driver. “The most essential elements of sustainable contemporary luxury cars are space and time . . . That’s our number one priority—not another fancy body style, a model that only works in Europe, or one last stab at a dying segment.” The C-class and E-class coupes and convertibles will cease to exist sometime between 2023 and 2024, to be replaced by a pair of two-door CLE-class models. Current coupe-like SUVs and sedans aren’t long for this world, either. The CLS-class will depart in 2024, and the sharper AMG GT 4 Door will follow along in 2024 or 2025. New generations of GLE and GLC Coupes will debut in the coming years, but after that, their lineages will also end.Related StoriesGoodbye to the Shooting Brake Things are more dire for fans of wagons and shooting brakes in Europe. The Europe-market C-class wagon will be gone after 2028. Later this year, we’ll see the next-generation E-class, which will spawn the automaker’s last wagon, bidding farewell at the end of its production run in 2030. The next-gen CLA-class, which will ride on the MMA electric platform and is due to debut in 2025, will be the brand’s last shooting brake (in Europe).There are still some interesting vehicles on the horizon, though. Later this year, Mercedes-AMG will launch the new GT coupe; it will be based on the current SL roadster, which will also expand its lineup with a new Maybach offering. In 2026, we will see a new four-door coupe, as well as a next-generation SL with more cargo and rear-seat space, and a new AMG GT coupe, all of which will be electric. And speaking of EVs, the MMA platform will also serve as the backbone for a chunky GLG-class SUV in 2026.Car and DriverAs this new group steps into the spotlight, we can expect to see more capacious batteries (up to 150.0 kWh), power outputs approaching quadruple digits, and maximum ranges pushing toward the 500-mile mark on the European WLTP cycle. Maximum charging speeds should expand to 270 kilowatts, too, thanks to a greater reliance on 800-volt electrical systems.AMG Getting More AttentionSince Mercedes-Benz’s more exclusive corners will be prioritized going forward, we can expect to see a greater focus on AMG models, as well as Maybach—in fact, there is even talk of an ultra-ritzy V-class van. The wildest creations, though, will come from the OEM’s new Mythos series of hyper-expensive collectibles. There are some very intriguing propositions here, including a Gullwing reincarnation, a four-door G-class pickup truck, and a racy speedster based on the SL. More

  • in

    Lamborghini Eyes Daytona Victory as It Begins Transition into Hybrids

    Since the start of the Super Trofeo series in 2009, Lamborghini has become increasingly involved in motorsports, and next year will enter the top class of endurance racing.That hybrid LMDh (which stands for Le Mans Daytona hybrid) car will pair a twin-turbo V-8 with an electric powertrain, with development occurring alongside the company’s upcoming roadgoing hybrid supercars.Racing has also been key for Lamborghini when tuning the handling of its lineup, and it has helped expand the reach of the brand and solidify its reputation for honed track machines.Among the 61 race cars rocketing past the green flag to start the 2023 24 Hours of Daytona last Saturday were five Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo 2 cars. Over the day-long competition, six Lamborghini factory drivers slotted behind the wheel, with the automaker’s Squadra Corse motorsport division providing trackside support. Racing wasn’t always Lamborghini’s realm. When Ferruccio Lamborghini founded his namesake company in 1963, he focused solely on road cars. He had found Ferraris of the era rough and unrefined, labeling them glorified track cars, and he vowed to build the best roadgoing sports cars. So while Ferrari’s journey started with motorsports—with Enzo Ferrari only developing road cars to fund his racing efforts—Lamborghini eschewed the track in his pursuit of on-road driving manners and interior quality.The ensuing decades saw Lamborghini occasionally dabble in racing; there was a failed venture as a Formula 1 engine supplier in the early ’90s and limited involvement in GT racing with the Diablo and Murciélago. But since launching the one-make Super Trofeo series in 2009, Lamborghini has caught the racing bug, and next year the company will join the top class of endurance racing with an LMDh prototype designed to conquer both Daytona and Le Mans. At a media roundtable at this year’s 24 Hours of Daytona, we spoke with CEO Stephan Winkelmann and chief technical officer Rouven Mohr about Lamborghini’s increased passion for motorsports and how it benefits the brand. A teaser for the 2024 Lamborghini LMDh racer.LamborghiniPlug-In Hybrid Coming”We think that times have changed,” explained Winkelmann, when asked about the expansion into prototype endurance racing. “For us, [LDMh] is the best opportunity to test materials, and the fact that it’s a hybrid is fitting perfectly in our strategy.”Lamborghini is set to reveal its first plug-in hybrid this year as a successor to the Aventador. The new supercar will retain a V-12 engine, with Mohr emphatically declaring, “We are not following the downsizing trend.” A plug-in follow-up to the Huracán and an electrified Urus are also expected in the near future. Meanwhile, the LMDh race car that will take on the World Endurance Championship (WEC) and IMSA SportsCar Championship in 2024 will pair a twin-turbo V-8 with an electric powertrain. While the LMDh setup is designed specifically for competition, knowledge from running the hybrid race car will eventually transfer back into roadgoing Lamborghinis. “But at the moment, it’s the opposite way around,” revealed Mohr. “We learned already a lot about the energy management for the street cars; we are not starting from zero in the LMDh.” Regardless of which direction the technology is flowing, the timing of the LMDh entry and Lamborghini’s push towards electrification is no coincidence and demonstrates the brand’s commitment to a transition to hybrids.Caleb Miller|Car and DriverAlong with developing emerging tech, racing has been crucial for tuning the suspension and steering of the road-legal supercars. “If you want to improve the handling and the behavior of the car, motorsport is the perfect field to train,” Mohr said. He also explained that the motorsport department, Squadra Corse, and the company’s R&D division are closely linked, with employees switching between the two branches. This influence has led to more track-focused street cars, like the Huracán STO, basically a GT3 race car for the road, with wings and fins sprouting from its chiseled carbon-fiber bodywork. More track editions will evolve out of the upcoming hybrids, but Winkelmann wouldn’t divulge any details just yet.Brand BuildingRacing is about more than just boosting the performance of the Lamborghini lineup. As indicated by the hundreds of logos plastered across every race car on the Daytona grid, motorsport is just as much about marketing as it is about competition, and Lamborghini’s motorsports push has helped shift the brand’s image over the past decade.”We started officially in motorsport with Super Trofeo because we thought we have to build a connection between us and our customers,” said Winkelmann. Super Trofeo, like the Ferrari Challenge series, is for so-called “gentleman drivers”—basically the ultra-wealthy who have some extra pocket change and want to live out their racing dreams. The series allows Lamborghini owners to experience the Huracán, and before it the Gallardo, in an environment where they could push the supercar to its limits and experience the extremes of its performance capability.Caleb Miller|Car and DriverIn a way, the series serves as a way of training the company’s customers. “We use this also as a boost for the capability of our drivers,” Winkelmann said. Teaching Lamborghini owners how to handle such powerful machines through Super Trofeo extends beyond the track. “Most of them use Lamborghini cars every day.” More Lamborghini NewsSuper Trofeo has also increased awareness for the brand, expanding Lamborghini’s reputation beyond the company’s historically flashy design to solidify it as a maker of highly capable corner carvers. “We have so many followers, not only for the brand Lamborghini but also for Squadra Corse,” Winkelmann said. The Super Trofeo program also led Lamborghini to enter GT3 racing, the FIA-homologated class that races in WEC and IMSA. The Evo 2s taking part in the 2023 24 Hours of Daytona are the third generation of GT3 race cars that share a silhouette with license-plate-wearing Lamborghinis, furthering establishing the link between the brand’s products and track performance. While some purists may be put off by the idea of Lamborghini shifting into hybrids, Lamborghini promises that the electrified supercars—and eventually the brand’s full EVs—will still bring the emotional connection that’s expected from a Lamborghini, the charisma that has been encapsulated by their designs and engines for decades. And we have a strong feeling that the automaker’s continued passion for motorsports and its new entry into LMDh will help ensure that the soul of Lamborghini remains alive and well in the electric age. More

  • in

    Range Rover Gives the 2024 Velar Updated Looks and a Big Screen

    Range Rover is updating the Velar for 2024 with new headlights and taillights and a revised interior.The dashboard is now dominated by an 11.4-inch touchscreen that replaces the previous two-screen setup.The 2024 Velar starts at $62,775 and ranges up to $79,675 for the Dynamic HSE P400 model.Land Rover’s compact Range Rover Velar SUV is getting a little long in the tooth, having been around since the 2018 model year, but you wouldn’t know by looking at it. Range Rover has updated this model numerous times over the years and is keeping its styling fresh for 2024 with new headlights and taillights and a comprehensive interior redesign.Land RoverThe exterior changes aren’t immediately obvious but include new lights front and rear, a restyled grille, and a new rear bumper. There are also two new color options called Metallic Varesine Blue and Premium Metallic Zadar Gray.More on the VelarYou’ll notice more of a difference inside, where the previous two-screen setup gives way to a new “floating” 11.4-inch curved glass touchscreen display in the middle of the dash. This screen runs the latest version of Land Rover’s Pivi Pro software and gives the cabin a cleaner look. There are three new leather colors available, including Cloud, Raven Blue, and Deep Garnet, and you’ll see additional chrome trim on the steering wheel, air vents, and center console.Land RoverThere aren’t any changes to the two available powertrains, a 247-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four in the P250 models and a 395-hp turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six with a 48-volt hybrid system in the P400. Prices are up across the board, with the S P250 starting at $62,775, the Dynamic SE P250 at $64,875, the Dynamic SE P400 at $71,875, and the Dynamic HSE P400 at $79,675. Land Rover says the 2024 model is available to order now. More

  • in

    1993 GMC Typhoon on C4 Corvette Wheels Is Our Bring a Trailer Pick of the Day

    Car and DriverBack before performance-oriented SUVs were even a thing, General Motors busted out its crystal ball in the early ’90s with the original hi-po ute, the GMC Typhoon. There’s currently a 1993 model listed on the Bring a Trailer auction site—which, like Car and Driver, is part of Hearst Autos. While the Typhoon in question is not museum quality, it is a piece of history I could thrash without feeling guilty.The first thing I noticed about the ’93 Typhoon on BaT was its 16-inch C4 Corvette wheels. Personally, I love the look of the turbine-style wheels, which are also known as “salad shooters” by some. Call it blasphemous, but the SUV’s stock 16-inchers never really appealed to me. Plus, I like that the Vette-sourced setup is period correct.The GMC Typhoon’s performance magic comes from its turbocharged 4.3-liter V-6 and traction-optimizing all-wheel-drive system. From the factory, the engine was good for 280 horsepower and a substantial 350 pound-feet of torque. In 1993, the Typhoon’s force-fed V-6 was mightier than the Chevy Camaro’s naturally aspirated LT1 V-8. Think of GMC’s SUV as a forebear to the Hellcat-powered Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk.Anyone familiar with the souped-up two-door S-15 Jimmy surely recognizes its cargo-bed-toting twin, the mechanically identical GMC Syclone. The latter’s claim to fame came when we pitted a 1991 example against a ’91 Ferrari 348ts—the pickup truck blew the Italian exotic’s side-straked doors off. Not only did the Syclone’s 5.3-second zero-to-60-mph time beat the Ferrari’s by seven-tenths, but it also won the drag race. The GMC went 1320 feet in 14.1 seconds at 93 mph, while the 348ts took 14.5 ticks at 99 mph. The transitive property suggests the Typhoon would’ve done the same, as the one we tested in 1992 had virtually identical results (its trap speed was actually 2 mph faster).Even by today’s standards, the GMC Typhoon’s test numbers hold up. In fact, its 30-to-50-mph time of 2.9 seconds is a mere 0.2 behind a 2022 Porsche Macan S. For comparison, the Porsche SUV has a 375-hp twin-turbo V-6 (it’s also 500 pounds heavier). The only test results that haven’t aged well for the Typhoon are its lowly cornering grip (0.79 g) and longish 70-mph-to-zero stopping distance (185 feet). However, both those figures would likely improve if it were tested on modern-day summer tires versus the original Firestone Firehawk SVX rubber that’s long been obsolete.Typhoon Tested!It’s hard to say how well the Typhoon that’s up for auction would hold up to track testing. As I mentioned earlier, it’s a little rough around the edges. Although it shows a reasonable 85,000 miles on the clock, it also has some cracked and loose-fitting body cladding, and there appear to be some rust spots underneath. Still, its leather seats aren’t ripped or terribly worn, and, unlike the Syclone, the Typhoon has a back seat so I’d be able to take three friends on the obligatory hell ride.The ’93 Typhoon on Bring a Trailer has a high bid of $11,750, as of this writing, with the no-reserve auction set to end on Thursday. If I had the disposable income (I don’t) and the final bid doesn’t go much higher, I’d be happy to add GMC’s cult classic on C4 Corvette wheels to my collection.This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. More

  • in

    Results from Our 16th Lightning Lap Are Almost Here

    The 16th running of our annual Lightning Lap is coming to an internet near you on February 7.This year we ran 17 different vehicles, including one convertible, one minivan, plus even one of our fleet-footed editors. Want to set your own times? Join us as we host a Lightning Lap–inspired track event on May 10 at Virginia International Raceway.For 16 years, we’ve used Virginia International Raceway’s demanding 4.1-mile Grand Course loop as a rubric for measuring the overall performance of cars. In that time we’ve tested more than 300 vehicles; some of the highlights include the third Lexus LFA ever built, a chart-topping Mosler MT900S, and even a handful of police cruisers. This year’s group answers some important questions. Curious how the new 670-hp Chevy Corvette Z06 or Honda Civic Type R fared? We’ve got answers. For those wondering how fast “regular” vehicles can lap, we ran our long-term Kia Carnival minivan. We even sent out one of our former track-star editors to see how long it takes to lap VIR on foot. There are plenty more questions answered—and video footage—when we post the full Lightning Lap package on February 7. If you got here via a QR-code link from the print issue, we’re sorry that we’re a little tardy getting the videos up, but those links will be restored when everything publishes on the 7th.Like Thunder, Like Lightning:Your patience will be rewarded with onboard videos of the fastest lap times from each of this year’s 17 entrants. Those videos will also be made available on the Car and Driver YouTube channel and will include commentary by the editors who wrestled at the wheel to achieve the fastest laps. If you think you can do better, we suggest joining us on May 10 at VIR to compete for your own Lightning Lap glory. Without giving away too much, we will say there were a few surprises. A compact performance SUV beat the times of some of our favorite hot hatches of the past. A new EV contender beat the last Tesla time by a landslide. Plus, the Z06 ended up in company with the quickest McLarens and Porsches we’ve ever run. And, uh, were you paying attention earlier when we mentioned we set a time in a minivan? Michael Simari and Marc Urbano|Car and DriverFor the sake of drama, we’ve included a list of every car at this year’s running. If you follow us on Instagram, you’ve likely already spied on what we strapped the Racelogic timing gear onto back in October.2022 Volkswagen GTI2022 Subaru WRX2023 Hyundai Kona N2023 BMW i42023 Audi RS32022 Hyundai Elantra N2023 Honda Civic Type R2022 BMW M240i2023 Toyota GR Supra2023 Toyota GR Corolla2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z062022 Kia Carnival2023 BMW M4 CSL2023 Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing2022 Mercedes-AMG SL632023 Lamborghini Huracan Tecnica2022 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RSMeanwhile, last year’s Lightning Lap is worth checking out. The five classes (sorted by vehicles’ prices with options) have made for especially good banter among weekend warriors and professional armchair analysts alike. This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. More

  • in

    1971 Alfa Romeo GTV 1750 Trans-Am Racer Is Today's BaT Auction Pick

    Car and Driver• This Alfa Romeo is one of Trans-Am racing’s greatest heroes.• Repainted in its original 1971 livery, this GTV won its final race, only to be disqualified later.• The Bring a Trailer auction ends on February 3.Great racing stories are built on rivalries: Ford versus Ferrari, Hunt versus Lauda, Smokey Yunick versus the NASCAR rulebook. Up for sale right now on Bring a Trailer—which, like Car and Driver, is part of Hearst Autos—is one half of a duel that defined compact-car racing in the early 1970s. The 1971 Alfa Romeo GTV 1750 battled against the Brock Racing Enterprises Datsun 510 to the bitter end, achieving a short-lived victory after a fuel capacity technicality reversed the Alfa’s fortune.The Sports Car Club of America’s 2.5 Challenge Series was exciting if you were a racer on a budget, unable to stretch to the likes of a V-8–powered Chevy Camaro, Ford Mustang, or AMC Javelin. The 2.5 Challenge cars were small and boxy–510s, Alfas, and BMWs–but the competition was just as fierce as in the ponycar field. If you liked small, lightweight road cars, the 2.5 Challenge was the place to be.Bring a TrailerBring a TrailerStaring down a factory-backed Alfa Romeo team, you might imagine Datsun as the scrappy underdog, but the BRE 510s had the development money behind them. With famed Nissan president Yutaka Katayama (a.k.a. Mr. K) cheering from the sidelines, and with Peter Brock’s team preparing the chassis and engines, the BRE 510s were difficult to beat.This Alfa Romeo GTV 1750 was the racing machine that Horst Kwech campaigned in the 1971 season. At the time, its 2.0-liter inline-four produced 205 horsepower. Series regulations meant the Alfa received a 200-pound penalty to bring it closer to the BRE 510, but Alfa’s team placed the ballast to achieve a nearly ideal 48/52 weight distribution.Bring a TrailerWearing 15-inch Minilite wheels wrapped in fat Hoosier tires, this classic little Alfa is immediately appealing. The cockpit is simple: three pedals, the necessary instrumentation, a five-speed manual transmission, and a well-worn leather-wrapped steering wheel.While it may be light on amenities, this car is full of stories. In 1971, Horst and his Alfa went back and forth with John Morton and his BRE 510, swapping wins like featherweight boxers exchange blows. The final race was held at Laguna Seca, with the national title on the line. The live-axle Alfa delivered a handful of oversteer followed by understeer, while the 510 was temperamental unless it was driven with reckless abandon. Despite rules trying to even the playing field, the vehicles couldn’t have driven more differently.Bring a TrailerBring a TrailerIn that final round, Horst’s Alfa emerged triumphant. However, suspicions were raised when the Datsun hit the pits while the Alfa stayed out. Scrutineers descended and found that the GTV’s fuel system held two gallons more than was legal, and the trophy was handed to the Datsun team.That season remains contentious with race fans even now, but more than that, it remains memorable. A car with this level of racing pedigree comes along very seldom. By itself, this Alfa is an interesting and valuable vintage racing machine. The story–and the rivalry–just add to the appeal. More

  • in

    Lightyear’s Operating Company Enters Bankruptcy

    The Dutch EV startup Lightyear’s operating company, Atlas Technologies BV, enters bankruptcy days after production of its first EV was halted.The company initially announced suspended production of the Lightyear 0 to focus all energies on bringing the Lightyear 2 to market, starting in 2025.The EV startup’s first EV had a starting price of around $260,000 while offering a range of 388 miles, and was produced under contract by Valmet Automotive in Finland. Just days after Lightyear indicated it was halting production of its innovative and partially solar-powered Lightyear 0 sedan to focus on its next model, the company has entered bankruptcy. The Dutch startup, which was present at CES less than a month after production of its first model began, has now stopped payments to its operating company, Atlas Technologies BV, which contracted Valmet Automotive in Finland to produce the high-tech—and high-priced—electric sedan.To Infinity?The fate of the company’s second model, the Lightyear 2, is now uncertain as the company navigates bankruptcy. Lightyear aimed for a production start in 2025 for the Lightyear 2, as well as a starting price just below the $40,000 mark, promising a range of 500 miles between recharges thanks to solar panels and other technologies.”As announced on January 23, we had to submit the request for the opening of suspension of payment proceedings with respect to Atlas Technologies BV, our operating company responsible for the production of Lightyear,” the company said in a statement.The company’s request has been granted by a court in the Netherlands, which declared bankruptcy for Atlas Technologies BV. However, the bankruptcy only concerns the manufacturing arm of the company, even though the prospects of the whole venture, and the jobs of more than 500 employees, are now in doubt.The company revealed just a couple of months ago that it had raised $80 million ahead of the start of Lightyear 0 production in Finland. Earlier this month the company had opened a waiting list for the Lightyear 2, which would have incorporated many technologies from the company’s first model, just a few of which are believed to have been produced since early December.”In the coming period the trustee will focus on the position of the employees and creditors as well as assessing how the Lightyear concept can be continued,” the company added.Lightyear saw solar technology as the key to overcoming range anxiety as well as charging expenses, engineering its first model over the course of six years, to generate up to 43 miles of range per day. The sleek sedan, with a drag coefficient of 0.175 Cd, featured a relatively modest 61.2-kWh battery, though promised an overall range of 388 miles in the WLTP cycle.It remains to be seen whether the company, which had raised quite a bit of cash just before the production start of the $260,000 sedan, will be able to reorganize and attract more investment for its second model, or if another automaker will be willing to come to the rescue.Cloudy Horizon More

  • in

    2024 Mercedes GLE Receives Tweaked Looks and New Hybrid Options

    The 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLE-class gets updated with fresh looks and a 48-volt hybrid system.A new plug-in-hybrid GLE400e also joins the lineup; it makes a combined 381 hp and 479 pound-feet of torque.The 2024 Mercedes-AMG GLE-class sees similar changes, including updated styling and newly available features.For 2024, the Mercedes-Benz GLE-class and AMG GLE lineups gear up for a mid-cycle update, with significant revisions to the powertrain and a new hybrid member of the family. Mercedes also updates their interior and exterior styling, plus adds new standard features and options for the AMG-tuned versions.The whole lineup is now electrified, with most models gaining a 48-volt hybrid system and integrated starter-generator. Peak output remains unchanged, with the V-8 AMG GLE63 S producing the highest output at 603 horsepower, and the four-cylinder GLE350 making the least, at 255. The AMG GLE53 also benefits from a larger turbocharger and updated software that increases peak torque from the previous 384 to 413 pound-feet, which is said to shave a few tenths off of its 60-mph time (a ’21 GLE53 coupe we tested hit that mark in 4.7 seconds). The standard GLE-class adds the GLE400e 4Matic plug-in hybrid, which incorporates a 134-hp electric motor that pairs with the standard turbo-four gas engine to produce a combined 381 horses. The all-wheel-drive GLE400e has a standard 11.0-kW onboard charger and a 60.0-kW fast-charger is optional.More Mercedes NewsVisual changes are kept to a minimum for the new model. Chrome inserts were added in a few places up front to try and increase road presence, while both the headlights and taillights were restyled. The front fascia on the AMG GLE53 is redesigned with shaplier side air intakes with a “jet-wing design,” according to Mercedes. The AMG badge is displayed in place of the standard Benz logo that normally adorns the hood. Paint options expand to include Twilight Blue metallic and Manufaktur Alpine Grey, with the AMG lineup adding new upholstery options too. The GLE63 S also comes with newly designed 22-inch forged wheels; they’re standard on the coupe and optional on the squareback body style.The AMG variants also receive updated standard features. The AMG Performance exhaust system, MBUX Augmented Reality for Navigation, memory package, parking assistance package, heated and ventilated front seats, and AMG Performance Steering wheel are all newly standard for 2024.In an attempt to lean in to the off-road capability of the GLE, the GLE580 is getting a new off-road package. The kit includes protection for the underbelly of the SUV and adds 1.2 inches of ground clearance over the standard model. A new “Off-Road” mode is added to the interface, giving access to a virtual view under the front of the vehicle, including the front wheels and steering position. New trailer technology is also being added, allowing drivers to input and save trailer dimensions to the system. A new trailer assistant regulates steering angle and speed to help drivers reverse up to 90 degrees with a trailer attached. While Mercedes hasn’t yet announced pricing, we expect those details to come out before 2024 versions of the Benz-branded GLE-class and its AMG counterparts reach dealerships sometime in 2023. This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. More