HOFELE has been in the customization business for almost four decades now. Based out of Donzdorf, Germany, the aftermarket company specializes in Mercedes-Benz models and has been doing so for a very long time. Right from the C-Class Coupe to the G-Wagon, the company has worked on all of them. This time, it has laid its hands on the GLE SUV. This model will be a part of Hofele’s ‘Ultimate’ Range and comes with noticeable changes on the outside as well as inside.

What Makes the Hofele HGLE Different?

Called the “Ultimate HGLE”, this SUV is finished in a two-tone exterior shade. Hofele has gone the Mansory way and selected some really out of the box colors for the SUV. This ‘Ultimate’ design GLE has an Obsidian Black base with a Tiffany Gold over it. This Gold color is painted on the upper torso of the SUV, excluding the roof. It covers the hood, wing mirrors, window sills, spoiler, and the area below the rear windshield.

Up front, the Hofele-exclusive vertical slat grille features a huge ‘H’ logo in the middle for Hofele. At the tip of the hood, there’s a small emblem, which could’ve been for Mercedes-Benz, but is also Hofele. A contrasting strip stretches from this emblem to the top of the hood. The honeycomb mesh inserts on the bumper have a generous dosage of chrome surrounds. All-in-all, this blingy face won’t go unnoticed even in a herd of GLEs.

The side profile will surely draw polarizing opinions, thanks to the new wheels that Hofele has added. The aftermarket company calls these 23-inch wheels ‘Hofele 23 Turbine forged alloy wheels’. As if the turbine wheels weren’t enough to put us off, Hofele also thought it would be a good idea to paint them in a delicate light gold shade with a polished front surface. The C-pillar receives an ‘H’ badge as well. The rear doesn’t receive a whole lot of changes. Other than the dual-tone paint, the highlights include a gloss black finish to the rear valance with matching black twin exhaust tips.

How Plush Is It On The Inside?

The cabin receives quite a few changes to differentiate it from the standard Mercedes GLE. The rear-seat passengers even receive their own infotainment screens. The company has reupholstered the standard seats with a blend of Napa leather and Alcantara. The seats are stitched in light gold piping to complement that exterior shade. It’s not just the seats; the company has even used this material in nooks and crannies where people don’t generally tend to look. These include the plastic panes and panels as well. Apart from this, even the lower and upper dashboards are finished this fine leather and Alcantara.

There Are No Changes Under The Hood

Hofele has not made any tweaks to the drivetrain. It is also equipped with the 4Matic all-wheel-drive system. Power is sent to the wheels via a nine-speed 9G-Tronic automatic transmission. It takes 5.5 seconds to sprint to 60 mph from a standstill. As for the towing capacity, the GLE 450 can tow up to 7,700 pounds.

Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 specifications

Final Thoughts

This example shown here is based on the GLE45, but Hofele says you can have the ultimate package on the full range of the GLE SUVs; right from the 300d to the GLE 63 AMG. There is no word on the pricing yet. In the standard form, the GLE 450 costs € 76,100.50 in Germany, which is approximately $85,450. Expect the pricing of the Ultimate HGLE to go north of the $100,000 figure with the Hofele treatment.

Mercedes has the luxurious version of the GLS series in the form of the Mercedes-Maybach GLS, but there’s no Maybach GLE series. So, people who want a grandiose GLE, they can opt for this treatment by Hofele on any of the GLE models.

How did you like this plush SUV? Let us know in the comments section below.