Bentley has an SUV. Rolls-Royce has an SUV. Now the Maybach brand will have one too, the Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 4Matic, the company revealed at the Los Angeles Auto Show.
The company describes the line-up’s first-ever SUV as “an expressive and luxurious SUV design with Maybach-exclusive features that provide the highest level of luxury and extraordinary comfort in the front and rear.” It will make its world premiere at Auto Guangzhou in China later this month.
High-end brands like the aforementioned as well as others such as Lamborghini, Ferrari and most recently Aston Martin have been adding utes to their line-ups in growing numbers in recent years. The utes end up being the brand’s biggest seller.
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The need for adding one to the Maybach portfolio is pretty clear, and Martin Hülder, head of Product Management Mercedes-Maybach, laid out the luxury marque’s need and plans for the new sport-utility as well as why they’re so popular.
“The SUV vehicle concept has a major advantage for the luxury segment: the high seating position,” he said in a statement. “In combination with the running boards, this makes access and egress outstandingly easy and convenient. Furthermore, the raised position gives the occupants a different perspective of the surroundings, and many Mercedes-Maybach customers greatly appreciate this.
“Incidentally, a raised seating position is nothing new in the luxury segment: the grand luxury sedans of the 1930s, such as the Maybach Zeppelin, had a similar seating height for the driver and passengers, and very similar proportions.”
Staying inside the vehicle, which will be available as a five-seater or a four-seater with individual executive rear seats, the SUV is swathed in Maybach-exclusive leather, complemented with roof-mounted ambient lighting and a wooden parcel shelf that separates the interior cabin from the luggage compartment.
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The seats are electrically adjustable, heated, ventilated and equipped with massage units. Also, it comes with the Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) infotainment system, plus the standard Burmester High-End 3D Surround Sound System. The rear cabin can also enjoy the Executive Climate System and Rear Seat Entertainment with two 11.6-inch touchscreens, along with wireless headphones and a 7-inch MBUX tablet.
Under the hood is a 4.0-liter V8 biturbo engine producing 550 horsepower and 538 pound-feet of torque. It will sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.8 seconds on its way to a top speed of 130 mph. Impressive results for a such a large vehicle.
The vehicle is equipped with a 48-volt onboard electrical system EQ Boost, which adds another 21 hp, and E-Active Body Control combined with the newly developed AirMatic air suspension. Additionally, a special Maybach Dynamic Select drive program is available for the first time that offers passengers the ultimate ride quality and comfort.
On the outside, the front of the new GLS gets the Maybach-exclusive grille with vertical louvres, a standing Mercedes-Benz star on the hood (a first for a Mercedes SUV), projected Maybach logos, chrome trim elements, fully retracting Maybach running boards, Maybach emblems and lettering and 22-inch Maybach-exclusive multi-spoke light alloy wheels – 23-inch wheels are available. Also owners enjoy eight available two-tone Maybach-exclusive paint combinations.
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The 2021 Mercedes-Maybach GLS will go on sale in the U.S. in the second half of 2020. Pricing details were not released.
