The all-new 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class is here! It has actually been out for a few months but supply has been very limited. We are just starting to get vehicles in stock for more than a day at a time! With this new supply we are also seeing colors and options that have not been available. I'm still waiting for my first E-ACTIVE Body Control vehicle! I can't wait to see it dance! One option that I have yet to see in person is D11 - Roof Spoiler. I do have one on order for a client so I went in search of good pictures. After scouring dealer websites for inventory pictures and not finding the angles I wanted, the accessories department at MBUSA was kind enough to supply me with these images. Notice - the top image also features the Black Side Cladding - D24. I think the featured vehicle is Mojave Silver but that could be a lighting trick. It could also be Selenite Grey. The Accessory Roof Spoiler adds some additional length to the roof line and a sporty, perforated look. It will always be painted to match the body color of the GLE. Technically these are European images but compared to the pictures I have seen of US spec cars they are an accurate representation. It is installed at the Vehicle Prep Center if you order it with the vehicle and the cost is $600. It can be added to the vehicle any time before it reaches the prep center. Or, it could be added at the dealer but there would be additional cost because we have to paint them when they arrive. This is true of most spoilers by the way. It is a common add-on with the sedans or coupes. Generally they are $600 for the parts and then it costs us about $300 more to paint it. D11 - Rear Spoiler for the GLE-Class - $600 when ordered with the vehicle  

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class is a complete redesign and is due to arrive in the showroom this week! This has been a highly anticipated redesign for us. I was lucky to get to go to a pre-release training in Jacksonville last week and this video is from that training. I spent the day with our trainers learning the new MBUX technology as well as an hour driving the GLE450 on the road. It is quieter, more luxurious and very advanced technologically! My first impressions are that it is an evolution, not a revolution on the outside. The headlights and taillights are modern, mirroring the new A-Class and CLS-Class. The vehicle is 4.5" longer, including 3" on the wheelbase. This give the second row passengers quite a bit of leg room. The interior is where the major upgrades have occurred. The new dashboard layout is beautiful and gives it an entirely fresh appearance. The MBUX system (which is Mercedes speak for the nav/radio/Bluetooth/voice systems) in intuitive and very cool! There are two models for the 2020 Model Year. The GLE350 4matic with a 4-cylinder engine and a GLE450 4matic with the inline-6 will both be available at launch. A 2WD GLE350 will be available later. There will be no AMG variants for the 2020 model year but I am sure they will turn up for 2021. No word on 43/53/63 availability. Pricing will be similar to GLEs from previous model years. We have been playing around with different combinations and I am getting GLE350s in the $59-$62,000 range and GLE450s in the $68-$75,000 range. Of course there are outliers! Wait until you see my $95,000 GLE450 with every option! This GLE is also a very good preview for the redesigned GLS-Class that we expect to see before the end of 2019. Having a third row option in the GLE will be nice but it will not replace the utility of the full size GLS and the additional space that allows. The video is just a quick sneak peak with more coming soon!

It is a beautiful day for a test drive! We have had an influx of Mercedes-AMG vehicles with the new 43 designation and I needed to get a few miles under my belt so I can adequately explain the feel. Also, did I mention how nice it is outside? One of my colleagues joined me in a GLE63 AMG for comparison. The 63 is a familiar engine to AMG enthusiast and carries the "One Man, One Engine" tradition. The 43 is something else. It started life as the V6 bi-turbo from models like the E400 or 2016 C450. Then the vehicle was given to AMG to be enhanced. Suspension, Transmission, body work, and exhaust were all modified and the final result is an AMG vehicle with most of the feel and growl...without all of the price! I drove the Mercedes-AMG SLC43 around Duluth on both city streets and the highway. In town, the SLC remains the best go-kart! I felt like I should be wearing a helmet! It is much faster than I need it to be, accelerating from a stop with giggle inducing speed. It feels powerful but light and very nimble. The brakes are equally impressive. I was able to shake the GLE63 as we went through some tight turns (but it did come roaring back on the straights). The handling on an SLC is as fun as it ever was in the SLK55 but it feels a little smoother and much cushier. Accelerating onto the highway was a joy! It is fast, of course, but it is also stable and predictable. You can tell that it was built for the autobahn! The steering is speed sensitive so you don't get any twitchiness at high speeds. You could easily cruise a couple of hundred miles at highway speed without any fear of the bigger vehicles. I think the SLC43 AMG is exactly what we need it to be! Come test drive yourself! There are more 43 video reviews on my YouTube channel if you would like to see it in action!

We just got a 2017 GLE43AMG SUV in stock and I had to take it for a spin!

Went for a test drive yesterday. Recorded it for you. Please join me! Subscribe to my YouTube channel for more videos!

This is the result of my previous Cargo Area Experiment in the GLE-Class! A happy Lab is the best reward!

I was trying these out for a customer today in a GLE-Class and thought someone else might be interested.

1 - Wire Mesh Divider Part Number A1668600042

This is a super heavy duty divider! It took two people to get it positioned in the car and is a bear to screw in. However, if you plan to leave it in full time it is very clean looking and would certainly keep everything in the cargo area contained! Approximate cost: $500

2 - Old Dog Net from 2013 or so

I am guessing everyone who had an ML in 2013 has one of these kicking around the garage because it came standard back then. It is out of production now but I am sure you could find one on Ebay or Craig's list. It is cloth mesh on the top and straps on the bottom, folds in half for easy storage and would allow objects to pass under with the seats folded flat.

There you go! Two containment options!

Apple CarPlay® is designed to allow the same clean, simple interface that users enjoy on their iPhone® to be also shown on their vehicle’s display.

Functionality of Apple CarPlay® includes:

• Making and receiving calls (Phone)
• Reading and dictating text messages (Messages)
• Navigation to and from locations (Maps)
• Music streaming (Beats 1, Pandora, iHeartRadio, Spotify, Sticher, Rdio)
• Podcast and audio book streaming (Audiobooks.com, Audible, MLB At Bat, CBS Radio News)
• Use of Siri voice-control across the CarPlay® platform

CLA, GLA, B-Class from December 1 Production: Smartphone Integration Package $350 or Included with Multimedia Package

E-Class, CLS-Class from December 1 Production: Included with premium 1 Package

GLE-Class from January 8 Production: Included with premium 1 Package

I happened to have a GLE63 AMG and a GLE450 AMG Sport coupe on the lot at the same time so I ran right out and made a video!