logo
Test Driving The Mercedes-Benz GLE 580 4MATIC With 510 HP Bi-Turbo V8

Test Driving The Mercedes-Benz GLE 580 4MATIC With 510 HP Bi-Turbo V8

Forbes5 days ago
Mercedes-Benz GLE 580 is a mild hybrid with a 510-horsepower bi-turbo V8 and all-wheel drive. In ... More most quarters, GLE is among the three or four best-selling Mercedes models.
Gravitational center of every German luxury car maker is SUVs, even for a firm like Mercedes-Benz, with its unrivalled thirteen decades of motorsports glory and fine range of coupes, sedans, GTs and all those wonderful AMG high-performance variants. SUVs are the center of financial success, globally.
Test car finished in Silicon Grey, a special color from Mercedes' branded customization shop, ... More MANUFAKTUR. The color changes dramatically in differing light, from a deep blue in the low light of dawn or sunset, to a strong, rich gray at midday. Well worth the investment.
Right smack in the middle of that is the GLE 580 4MATIC you see here in a complex shade of blue-grey. Sales of GLC, GLE, and GLS allow Mercedes financial leeway to also have AMG high-performance GTs and SLs, beautiful niche models that broaden choice, and an AMG Formula One engine program that is about to secure ever more glory.
Headrest pillows adjust for height and are a fantastic addition, bringing a subtle finer measure of ... More comfort. Carmine Red is also from the MANUFAKTUR menu and is also well worth the added cash. Gray exterior with red leather is a color palette that reaches to luxury and performance cars of the Classic era of the 1920s and '30s through the Vintage Era of the 1950s and early '60s.
GLE 580 4MATIC is a mild hybrid V8, which means a small electric motor helps pulling away from lights around town. But in reality this is a classic punchy V8 powertrain that delivers amazing performance from the stoplight up to triple digits.
Mercedes SUV nomenclature mirrors its sedan hierarchy. GLA, GLC, GLE and GLS. This is the 'E-class' ... More SUV. With a high and classic SUV roofline, it offers excellent leg, knee and foot room front and rear, and excellent headroom, too.
Mercedes product planners made several excellent choices. Much as a comparably punchy V8-powered German SUV might have a top speed of 160 or 170, Mercedes tops off the GLE 580 at 130 mph. Which means the 510 horsepower from the twin-turbo V8 delivers outstanding acceleration, from standstill at the intersection to roll-on for passing on the highway or rushing up an onramp, in the speed range most of us use, below 100 mph.
Rear seats offer ample room for tall adults. Due to SUV tall roofline, door frames are also tall, so ... More it's easy to climb in and out of the vehicle.
Horsepower is a wonderful thing to behold and experience, but it's torque that snaps your head back when throttle is mashed to carpet, and GLE 580 has no shortage: 538 lb. ft. between 2250 and 4500 rpm, right smack in the middle range where you want as much as possible.
And then there's the cargo hold. My infamous satchel adds perspective, a measurable for size. A ... More couple could tour for two weeks easily. A family could also bring along plenty of luggage.
All that power and torque delivers a sprint to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds, enough to dust most lesser mortals at the stoplight, and to catapult this 5368 pounder up the freeway onramp. That's enough to shame some sports cars that weigh a metric ton less.
Big 3-pointed star rides on a broad spear, a design that reaches back to the 1950s. Grill ... More pattern is comprised of dozens of tiny stars. Sensors for the intelligent cruise control are neatly hidden in grill and lower bodywork.
Galloping over open highway at speeds perhaps modestly beyond the posted limit, the 9th speed of the gearbox keeps the engine loafing easily, and the cabin quiet, downright serene. GLE 580 should prove as good an any big-bore sedan, SUV or GT for the classic California highway run, from LA to San Francisco with a stopover at the most civilized point in the Central Valley, Harris Ranch, a perfect place for a late breakfast in a clean, well-lighted place. Traveling four up, everyone will be comfortable for hundreds of miles.
Mercedes offers multiple means of control for secondary and tertiary functions. Here, many of the ... More knurled 'analog' controls. There's also the touch screen, and then many controls located on the steering wheel arms
A big part of that comfort and serenity comes from the air springing of the suspension. Other than perhaps an AMG track day car, I can't imagine any of the larger scale Mercedes that is not improved by airspring suspension. The suspension remains dynamically pleasing, responsive, but also delivers a smooth ride without trending into the wallowy slop of some luxury vehicles. Mercedes has this just about right, even with optional 22-inch AMG wheels shod with sticky high-performance Pirellis, as my test car was. Front double-wishbone and rear multi-link suspension combined with air springs make it easy to manage a wheel-tire package of this immense size.
Mercedes has used variations on these seat adjustment controls for many, many decades, refining and ... More improving. They are excellent, and intuitive. Note the Burmester speaker grille. The Burmester audio comes with the Pinnacle trim level, and is optional elsewhere. Again, well worth the investment. Rich and precise sound field.
If you have kiddies in the rear seat, they have their own HVAC system. And because this is an 'E-class' SUV, there's ample rear leg room for lanky teenagers. With a classic SUV breadvan high roof line, the rear door frames are also tall, so adult males well over six feet tall will have no trouble climbing in and out. No need to duck the head toward the high point of the door frame. Just climb in.
Meaning of the badge. Mercedes SUV nomenclature follows sedan designations. Here, the "E-class" SUV, ... More the GLE 580. Ample room, and a powerful V8 to deliver strong acceleration.
The rear seats also have side-mount airbags, providing another element of safety if you're t-boned by someone too focused on playing with their iPhone rather than paying attention to stop signs at intersections. And of course, you also have sheer mass for safety, and the highest possible crash test ratings.
Optional 22-inch AMG alloy wheels. Front double-wishbone and rear multi-link suspension combined ... More with air springs make it easy to manage a wheel-tire package of this immense size. These wheels really dress up the car, making a bold statement. Check that box on the order sheet.
As with any Mercedes with Pinnacle trim level, the central dash integrates a remarkable touchscreen interface with elegant, subtle yet very clear graphics. And all the cameras, sensors, and robotic parking technologies one could want.
Tidy integration of alloy-finish exhaust outlets.
Mercedes has its ever evolving customization department, MANUFAKTUR, which also is a branding element for upgrade esthetics like paint, trim and leather. My test car wore a rich blue-gray paint, Silicon Grey, that played in changing light. In the photos you might think the car is a shade of darker blue, but in brighter light, it is a gray-blue. If you appreciate such elements, the paint is a worthwhile investment. Same for the carmine red leather. The combination of grey and red is truly Classic and Vintage era, a color combination one finds in German and Italian luxury and luxury-performance cars of the 1920s well into the 1960s. My test car had dark oak trim. All very subtle but making a statement to those who understand. These wonderful esthetic flourishes tie this 21st Century SUV to Mercedes luxury cars of the past 100 years.
Note broad stance, and the massive width of the tires. At the rear, test car had 325/35 22 Pirellis. ... More Up front, 285/40 22. It's a 'staggered' fitment with bigger tires at the rear, providing optimal performance.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Norris takes pole for F1's Belgian Grand Prix after Verstappen wins sprint
Norris takes pole for F1's Belgian Grand Prix after Verstappen wins sprint

Yahoo

time24 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Norris takes pole for F1's Belgian Grand Prix after Verstappen wins sprint

SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium (AP) — Lando Norris took pole position Saturday for Formula 1's Belgian Grand Prix after Max Verstappen won the sprint race earlier in the day. Norris set the fastest time early in the final session. His McLaren teammate and title rival Oscar Piastri couldn't quite beat it on his final run, taking second place, 0.085 of a second off Norris' pace. Charles Leclerc was third for Ferrari, with Verstappen fourth. The likelihood of rain for Sunday's race could shake things up. Verstappen's sprint win Verstappen overtook Oscar Piastri and drove '15 qualifying laps' to win the Formula 1 sprint race at the Belgian GP as Red Bull begins a new era without fired team principal Christian Horner. Verstappen surged past Piastri on the straight on the first lap. The Australian was close behind Verstappen for the rest of the 15-lap sprint race but couldn't find a way past the four-time champion. Lando Norris, in the other McLaren, was third after retaking the place from Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and catching up to Piastri. 'You're keeping faster cars behind, so you have to drive over the limit of what you think is possible,' Verstappen said. 'Tire management is out of the window, so that's what's making it really difficult. I'm just doing 15 qualifying laps to try and keep them behind on a track where tire management is important.' It was Verstappen's first race win of any sort since the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix in May, and his first in a sprint since the United States Grand Prix last October. Piastri extends his lead over Norris in the standings to nine points from eight. Verstappen is third, 68 points off the lead. Leclerc held on to fourth and it was an impressive result for Haas, with Esteban Ocon fifth and Oliver Bearman seventh. Carlos Sainz, Jr. was sixth for Williams and Isack Hadjar took the final point for Racing Bulls in eighth. ___ AP auto racing: The Associated Press

Norris takes Belgian GP pole position
Norris takes Belgian GP pole position

Yahoo

time24 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Norris takes Belgian GP pole position

Belgian Grand Prix Venue: Spa Dates: 25-27 July Race start: 14:00 BST on Sunday Coverage: Live commentary of practice and qualifying on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2 with race on BBC Radio 5 Live; live text updates on BBC Sport website and app Lando Norris pipped McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri to pole position at the Belgian Grand Prix. Norris beat Piastri, the championship leader, by just 0.085 seconds as Red Bull's Max Verstappen slipped down to fourth, beaten by Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, after errors on his final lap. Leclerc's team-mate Lewis Hamilton was knocked out of the first session after having his final lap time deleted for exceeding track limits and will start 16th. Williams driver Alex Albon slipped ahead of his friend George Russell's Mercedes by 0.059secs to take fifth. Yuki Tsunoda had his best performance since joining Red Bull at the third race of the season by taking sixth, 0.381secs off Verstappen. Norris happy with 'decent' lap Norris secured his pole with his first lap in the final session, on which he was 0.189secs quicker than Piastri. The Briton was not able to improve on his second run, which Piastri was, but a mistake at Stavelot for the Australian cost him the chance to take pole for the second day running after his sprint pole on Friday. Norris had been nearly 0.5secs slower than Piastri in Friday's session but he said the margin was not reflective of his true pace. Norris said: "I was confident after yesterday - 0.3secs is just slipstream and not being first out of the pit lane. It was a decent lap, so I'm happy." Piastri said: "A bit disappointing. The second lap was coming together really well but just made a little mistake into 14 and lost a lot of time. The car was really good but it's fine margins out there. "We're a good team-mate pairing, we learn a lot from each other. Felt like I did OK but didn't quite execute when it matters." Norris now faces the same problem Piastri had in the sprint - giving the driver behind him the slipstream on the run up to the Les Combes chicane on the first lap. Losing out to Verstappen in that way in the sprint race cost Piastri that win. Now Norris will have to defend from his championship rival. But rain is expected for Sunday, which changes the picture because of the visibility issues of following another car in the wet. "Most likely some rain and drizzle," Norris said. "Could be in for a chaotic race. Going off the front and hopefully can take advantage of that and go from there." Verstappen had been third fastest after the first runs, but a wheelspin moment out of the La Source hairpin cost him time all the way along the straight through Eau Rouge and up to Les Combes. The four-time champion was able to claw some of the time lost back over the rest of the lap and did improve his time slightly. But he said the lap was "so bad" and it was enough to allow Leclerc, who felt he was able to maximise the Ferrari, to slip ahead. A disappointed Hamilton said to go out in Q1 was "not acceptable" but he would try to "have fun" in the race. Behind Tsunoda, the top 10 was completed by the Racing Bulls drivers Isack Hadjar and Liam Lawson, and Sauber's Gabriel Bortoleto, who made it into the top 10 for a grand prix qualifying session for the first time in his career, repeating the feat he managed in sprint qualifying the day before. Verstappen wins Belgian GP sprint race Full results Radio 1 DJs help preview Belgian Grand Prix

Belgian GP qualifying results: Lando Norris claims pole; Hamilton suffers early-exit shock
Belgian GP qualifying results: Lando Norris claims pole; Hamilton suffers early-exit shock

New York Times

timean hour ago

  • New York Times

Belgian GP qualifying results: Lando Norris claims pole; Hamilton suffers early-exit shock

Lando Norris took his fourth pole position of the 2025 Formula One season on Saturday, besting teammate Oscar Piastri to line up P1 for the Belgian Grand Prix. George Russell put the first lap on the timesheets for Q3, one that was quickly topped by Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen. But Verstappen's time was quickly trumped by Piastri and Norris, the latter of whom held provisional pole by 0.189 seconds ahead of his teammate. Verstappen was half a second back from the Briton after those first laps were done and dusted. Advertisement But Norris' provisional pole position came under threat, the margins even finer between the McLaren drivers. The Briton couldn't improve, and Piastri missed out by 0.085 seconds. Nine points separate the McLaren drivers in the drivers' standings. Norris has come out on top in the last two races, leading consecutive top-two finishes for the papaya. Leclerc and Verstappen make up the second row, just 0.003 seconds separating their times. Alex Albon broke into the top five. The Williams driver will line up alongside Russell on the third row, while former teammates Yuki Tsunoda and Isack Hadjar make up the fourth row. Liam Lawson and Gabriel Bortoleto round out the top 10. Provisional results: To be expected, the margins were fine between the McLaren duo. Piastri held the fastest lap with eight minutes to go in the session, and Norris was 0.089 seconds off of his teammate. Verstappen, meanwhile, was a few tenths of a second off in third at that time. Hülkenberg, Bortoleto, Gasly, Sainz and Bearman, who went off the track at one point, all sat within the drop zone as a majority of the grid set out to do their final flying laps to get into the top 10. Hülkenberg couldn't improve, but teammate Bortoleto did, jumping up to seventh provisionally. Gasly was briefly able to escape, but was knocked back into the drop zone after Lawson made a leap to the top 10. In the end, both Haas drivers, Gasly, Hülkenberg and Sainz were knocked out. Piastri, Norris, Verstappen, Leclerc and Tsunoda made up the top five of Q2, the group covered by 0.619 seconds. Only three teams had both drivers advance in the top 10: McLaren, Red Bull and Racing Bulls. Piastri and Norris were the first two drivers to set times, less than a tenth of a second separating the teammates. But it didn't take long for Verstappen to split the McLarens, and Yuki Tsunoda's first lap was three-tenths of a second off of his teammate. But then came the midfield drivers. The Williams duo sat first (Carlos Sainz) and third (Alex Albon), with Liam Lawson splitting them, with eight minutes to go in the session. But Leclerc soon after went 0.056 seconds quicker than his former teammate. Advertisement The grid shook up with the final laps, with both Aston Martins being knocked out and Bortoleto and the Mercedes drivers breaking into the top 15. Antonelli, though, wasn't safe and was knocked out by Nico Hülkenberg. It was then Hamilton who looked in danger at P15 as Pierre Gasly improved, launching from the drop zone to P11. Hamilton went on to set the seventh-fastest time, but due to a track limit infringement at Turn 4, the stewards deleted his lap time, which knocked him out of Q1. He stood to start 16th in Sunday's race — his worst qualifying result of the 2025 season. It wasn't a shock to see Verstappen win the sprint race— his first of the season, despite Red Bull's recent dip in form. With a skinnier wing, he had strong top speed on the straights, and the chicane sequence at Les Combes was the spot where he could make a run at Piastri. The Dutchman held onto the lead once he passed the championship leader in the opening lap, only making one mistake when he went deep at the final chicane late in the sprint race, securing his 12th sprint win — 10 more than any other driver. The McLaren duo of Piastri and Norris rounded out the top three. Norris had to fight back for P3, though, after Charles Leclerc made a move on the Briton when Verstappen passed Piastri. But it was an easy move for Norris, passing the Ferrari driver with DRS. Outside of the top teams, the race proved to be a critical points opportunity for the midfield teams. Haas secured a double points finish – Esteban Ocon and Ollie Bearman fifth and seventh respectively – and now sit within a point of Aston Martin going into Sunday's grand prix, and Sainz was sixth – Williams' highest sprint race finish. Alpine, though, had a miserable day, after Pierre Gasly had to be pushed back to the pit lane due to a suspected water leak. He was set to start P8 and was classified as DNF. Our #F1Sprint points scorers 👏#F1 #BelgianGP @Gatorade — Formula 1 (@F1) July 26, 2025 Top photo:

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store