Mercedes-Benz recently revealed the new GLE SUV, which is a massive improvement over the aging previous generation. At launch, the GLE will be available with two engine options. The GLE 350 is expected to utilize a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder with 255 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque while the GLE 450 uses a six-cylinder with a 48-volt mild hybrid system producing 362 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. Like the last GLE, this new model will also be available with a plug-in hybrid variant and Automotive News has some important details regarding its rumored range.

"We are now in the generation where we're switching over from our 30 km hybrids to 50 km. The GLE will be the first car with a 100-km (62 miles) range on a plug-in hybrid in the WLTP cycle," said Ola Kallenius, head of Daimler group research and Mercedes-Benz cars development.

This is a big improvement over the current generation of plug-in hybrid models. For comparison, the old GLE plug-in could only go around 12-miles on a charge and even the mighty Chevy Volt can only muster 53 miles without resorting to its gas engine.

Crucially, the GLE will also have a better range than the recently announced BMW X5 xDrive45e. BMW says its plug-in hybrid SUV will be able to travel around 50 miles on an electric range, which was among the most impressive in the industry before this GLE news. Of course, Mercedes has based this claim on Europe's WLTP cycle, so we'll have to wait for the US release before we can say for sure whether the GLE will be better than the X5.

Check out all about Mercedes-Benz hybrid SUV.