First there was the SUV, the
ubiquitous utility vehicle that roamed the various suburbs satisfying families
and individuals alike. But as the saying goes "familiarity breeds
contempt" and as is typically human, once something becomes popular, it loses
its 'coolness' and off we go in search of the next new 'cool' thing .
But the thing is. We never really got enough of the
SUV to condemn it to the abyss of Car afterlife, instead innovation sought to
re-invent and re-introduce the SUV to us albeit in a special form, and hence
the 'Crossover coupe' was born. Bringing about compromises in size and relative
capacity. It was an imperfect compromise, but a compromise that works
effectively!
Originally a concept car , segment leader BMW
brought the crossover coupe dream to life in the X6 released for sale to
much scorn and skepticism (depending on whose account you're reading) of motor
enthusiasts the world over in April 2008. But hey ... The X6 has grown in leap
and bounds ever since (over 240,000 units have being sold since then) steadily
racking in profit for the Bavaria company and has even undergone a facelift. Of
course not to be outdone in the crossover gig. Mercedes Benz introduced a
'x6-killer' in the Mercedes Benz GLE.
which has motor enthusiasts saying 'what took them so long'.
This article isn't about the what took one long to
get to the market, or why one has dominated the market for so long. No, this
article is about comparing two luxury crossover coupes to see who wins
this edition of the eternal battle between the Bimmer and the Merc.
So what do we know ...
BMW X6:
Engine: TwinPower Turbo Inline 6
Transmission: 8-Speed Automatic w/ paddle shifters
Base price- $60,795
0-60- 5.7 secs
TopSpeed-127mph
Power rating- 300 HP / 300 lb-ft Torque
A 300-hp 3.0-liter turbo inline-six with an
eight-speed automatic which comes with either rear- or all-wheel drive. An
audacious 445-hp 4.4-liter turbo V-8 is optional and comes only with all-wheel
drive. The standard Driving Dynamics Control system allows for five distinct
driving modes and an available air suspension provides even more fine-tuning.
What more can I say... The statistics speak for themselves. And if by now you still
think the X6 is a flash in the pan, well think again. Because some 240,000
people would beg to differ. And you really can't blame them. BMW has a
winning formula in the x6 and it looks like it's here for the long run.
Mercedes
Benz GLE Coupe:
Engine: Bi-Turbo V6
Transmission: 9-Speed Automatic w/ paddle shifters
Estimated base price: $66,025
Estimated 0-60- 4.2 secs
TopSpeed- 155mph
Power rating: 362hp / 384 lb-ft Torque
Not to be outdone, the good people at Mercedes Benz
have finally yielded to calls to provide their own version of the crossover
coupe. The GLE brings about a refreshing view from what we've come to
expect. Officially dubbed the GLE 450 AMG 4MATIC Coupe it features a 362
horsepower V6 bi-turbo engine that produces 362hp
and 384
lb-ft of torque mated to a 9-speed automatic transmission. The power is
delivered via Mercedes’ patented 4MATIC all-wheel drive system. The GLE is
available with all of Mercedes-Benz safety systems including Pre-Safe braking
with pedestrian detection, cross traffic assist, and their parktronic park
assist viewable through an 8-inch TFT display on the console.
A very serious car has landed our roads soon and it
will be unwise to ignore these statistics that point to a very serious sports
crossover coupe.
At long last we have a worthy competitor for the
X6.
But going by price, the GLE offers a little bit
more (faster 0-60, higher TopSpeed etc) for a $6k plus premium.
The arrival of this car no doubt has given even the
staunchest of loyalist a little bit of dilemma which is what we need .....
After all variety they say, is the spice of life!
So
are you a Merc lover or you prefer to roll with the bimmers, share with us
where you belong on the comment section below.
Maduka Nonso
Maduka Nonso
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