This year’s festive period has brought some much sought-after relief for automakers in India. One of them is Mercedes-Benz. On Dusshera and Navratri, it sold over 200 cars in Mumbai and Gujarat. Then, on the auspicious day of Dhanteras, the German brand racked-up sales of over 600 units across Mumbai, Delhi-NCR, Pune, Gujarat, Punjab and Kolkata. Amongst the models sold was the GLE SUV which, as per Mercedes-Benz India’s head honcho Martin Schwenk, sold out three months ahead of the original plan.

Are you amongst the many who want to land a GLE? Well, here’s some good news. Bookings for the next-gen GLE, which made a global debut in September last year, are now open in India. If that development alone doesn’t float your boat, then get this – Mercedes-Benz will launch the new GLE in India before next year’s Auto Expo. For the uninitiated, the automotive exhibition will open its door on February 7, 2020.

In all probability, the all-new GLE will commence its Indian innings in two guises – 300 d and 450. The former will come with a 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder turbo-diesel engine which produces 242bhp/500Nm, whereas the latter will house a 3.0-litre, 6-cylinder turbo-petrol mill with 362bhp/500Nm on offer. A 9-speed automatic transmission and Mercedes’ 4MATIC all-wheel-drive system will accompany both those power-plants. As far as acceleration from nothing to 100kmph is concerned, the diesel-fed model will take a minimum of 7.2 seconds, and the petrol-powered one will do so in 5.7 seconds. The petrol motor will get some help from a 48-volt mild-hybrid system which can offer an additional 22bhp/250Nm.

The fourth-gen SUV is larger and more feature-rich than its predecessor. The list of creature-comforts will include Mercedes’ latest MBUX infotainment system with two 12.3-inch displays, a multifunction steering wheel as seen on recently introduced Mercedes-Benz products, electrically adjustable seats with memory function, an electric sunroof, multi-zone climate control and a plethora of safety features.

From the start, the new GLE will comply with BS6 (Bharat Stage 6) levels of emission norms. Depending on the response, Mercedes-Benz could introduce the GLE in 350 d at a later stage. It will get the same engine-transmission setup that does duty in the E-Class 350 d. Once launched, the GLE will revive its rivalry with the BMW X5, Audi Q7, Volvo XC90 and the Land Rover Discovery.