Brabus has taken an interest into the Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 de, offering visual enhancements for the plug-in hybrid SUV inside and out, as well as a boost in power. The 2.0-liter four-cylinder diesel and electric motor powertrain that develops a combined 315 HP and 700 Nm of torque is now good for 349 HP and 820 Nm thanks to the PowerXtra Electric D35E performance upgrade.
As a result, the 0 to 100 km/h sprint time has dropped from 6.8 to 6.5 seconds, and top speed has increased
from 210 km/h to 215 km/h. The plug-in hybrid GLE proudly
wears the Brabus logo in the middle of the grille and sports several visual
enhancements at both ends, such as the redesigned side air intakes with
incorporated LED DRLs, tailgate-mounted spoiler and redesigned rear bumper with
a new diffuser and quad exhaust pipes.
A selection of wheels are available, with
the pictured example riding on the Monoblock F Platinum Edition forged 23-inch
ones, shod in 295/35 Continental SportContact tires. These fill the arches
quite nicely with the 1-inch (25 mm) lowered ground clearance.
The interior of the GLE 350 de has also
been upgraded with special entry sills, aluminum pedals, footrest and door-lock
pins, and Brabus-branded floor mats. A generous selection of fine leather and
Alcantara, and wood and carbon fiber trim is also available.
Besides the plug-in hybrid model, Brabus
is offering power upgrades for other versions of the GLE. The 300 d model, for
one, boasts 271 HP and 560 Nm, up from 241 and 500 Nm,
while the 350 d’s output and torque have increased by 47 HP and 60
Nm, to 315 HP and 660 Nm. The 400 d has 365 HP and 750
Nm, and the AMG GLE 53 puts out 494 HP and 590 Nm; performance upgrades
for the AMG GLE 63 are in development.
