Just as geese fly south in the winter, metal conducts electricity, and tides rise and fall at the will of the moon, a luxury-laden SUV that rivals yachts for sticker price is guaranteed by all of science to become a premium brand’s best-seller.
After seeing the stunning success of the once-unthinkable Bentley Bentayga, what other conclusion could the folks at Mercedes-Benz draw? Carving out a stratospheric utility vehicle niche well above a brand’s high water mark means money falling from the sky. Period.
Naturally, Stuttgart wants in on the action. Like any rational competitor, the company now plans to tart up an existing SUV, slap on a Mercedes-Maybach badge, and sit back to await the arrival of the money train.
According to Autocar, the canvas for the sub-brand’s newest ultra-luxury offering is the full-size Mercedes-Benz GLS. The seven-passenger beast, which should sport fewer seats after its transformation, is expected to bow in 2019 — just in time to battle Rolls-Royce’s Cullinan SUV and the aforementioned Bentayga. Finally, the Mercedes-Maybach S600 gains a partner.
At this point, unknowns abound. Sources claim the model could see its wheelbase stretched to top its rivals in spaciousness. No one wants leg cramps on the way to Cannes, after all. As well, the anticipated powerplant — a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 — might prove too pedestrian for this prestigious vehicle. An alternative engine with dignity and untouchable panache exists, but the company reportedly hasn’t made a decision regarding its twin-turbo 6.0-liter V12.
Because any Maybach-badged vehicle demands its own design cues, expect a host of cosmetic changes to the GLS’s appearance. The model’s grille, headlamps and taillamps are obvious candidates for change. According to Autocar, some of those cues could draw from the ridiculous Maybach 6 concept vehicle — a swoopy, block-long teardrop of a coupe. Good luck with that.
Pricing remains hazy, but the new model should command a sticker of at least $185,000. That’s nearly $120,000 more than the base GLS 450, and about $60,000 higher than the top-tier GLS S63.
Ultra-lux models like the Bentayga and Range Rover SV Autobiography, as well as lesser models like the Porsche Cayenne and Jaguar F-Pace, prove — at least for now — that mondo profits await any automaker willing to break with tradition.
[Image: Daimler AG]
Another likely competitor will be Jaguar’s J-Pace which will arrive at about the same time.
When I first saw the picture of this Maybach SUV I thought I was looking at the new Jeep Grand Wagoneer, something in the range of $80K – $140K per copy, depending on trim.
And while there is no substitute for the Suburban-size vehicle, these “new, improved, better than ever” offerings will blow the Escalade-trim pimp-mobile right out of the water.
IT would be helpful if TTAC were to label its pictures, especially when the article is about a completely different vehicle.
I realize that anyone who actually read the article would see that, Mark, but TTAC should honor the level of reading comprehension of its audience.
Don’t think the J-Pace is going to compete at this price-point (against the likes of the GLS and the upcoming X7 – yes).
Totally derivative, unimaginative, undistinguished, and a really, really sad return to non-effort in design or style.
It’s almost as if the manufacturers are taking consumer $$$ absolutely for granted when designing and styling the four-square CUV box, whether that box cost $25,000 or $200,000.
In fact, a $22,000 Mazda CX-5 looks waaaay better than this $180,000 non-effort.
They take “an existing SUV, slap on a Mercedes-Maybach badge on it…the new model should command a sticker of at least $185,000. That’s nearly $120,000 more than the base GLS 450, and about $60,000 higher than the top-tier GLS S63.”
Sad!
Where’s the passion? What’s the point?
Will anyone remember this box 20 or 30 hears from now? Does it have a single, memorable, redeeming, unique aspect or characteristic to show that for $80,000, let alone $180,000, they even tried?
Did they just totally phone it in?
New malaise era (different than last, but Malaise and MaLazy nonetheless)?
DW,
The picture is of a typical GLS, not the vehicle described in the article.
They’re basically just veblen goods at this point. It seems like most of the AMG badged cars I see at this point are bought by people who just want everyone to know that it’s the most expensive model, they don’t care/use any of the features/performance. I’m sure this will be the same way.
That’s the whole idea behind Maybach as a sub-brand. These AMG customers would then complain about poor ride quality, brake noise, excessive engine noise, etc.. Now they can still buy the most expensive model, and let everyone else know it. However, they will get the quite cushy car they actually want.
If it has the V12, then I think it’s fine as described.
I think the “conservative” look is really a plus for this segment, right? I mean at this pricepoint you either want some sort of conservative, stately vehicle or a supercar pretty much, no?
AMG has just become the top trim level in a lot of people’s minds rather than a performance division. Where I live, AMGs are not uncommon and most of the time they are driven at the speed of traffic by older gentlemen.
“conservative?” oh hell yes. do a Build & Price on the S-class sometime, and look at the palette of available colors. 5 blacks, 2 grays/silvers, two whites, a light blue which is almost silver, and two each blues and greens which are so dark they may as well be black.
The X164 GL-Class, its predecessor, looks sharp. This looks cheap, as do all of the current Mercedes.
It was hard to pass up my father-in-law’s 2012 GL450, but reasoned that I didn’t have a need for an SUV and the potential for expensive repairs (like $3000 suspension repairs) shied me away. It was close to being an impulse buy. If my wife didn’t buy her 2015 Outback, I think I would have bought it.
I wouldn’t want anything Mercedes has out on the market now. Might as well slap a Hyundai logo on the whole lineup.
Mercedes & Hyundai design language is INCREDIBLY similar (at least exterior design) at the moment.
It’s bizarre.
I have a soft spot for the Range Rover as it is the ‘original’ but I do understand the derision.
I was at my local mechanics and he has a Macan and Cayenne in and besides the nose, these things just do look like a Mazda CX5 in various sausage lengths.
I do get the DW style hate towards the Bentayga and other gross size, gross design panzer wagens. They do not serve a point besides being the gross rides of the 1%.
@Deadweight What do you like?
I wonder how much those rims could be downsized because this would look marvelous with big, fat tires and resto MB hubcaps.
Good eye, I agree.
Hold the phone! You like big old hubcaps?!
I appear to have misjudged you, Sir.
I have several grilles and hubcaps hanging on the wall, mostly stuff I personally salvaged from junkyards over the years. When I get a bigger property I want to hang them just underneath the ceiling all around the basement/man room.
You are of the Chosen.
Thank you, oh great Lord Kek.
My favorite is a an SEL560 grille I salvaged about six years ago, just needed some polish to look great. That particular car had a Manheim sticker in the upper right of the windshield which stated MY, Make/Model, Mileage, Row, Lot, and a barcode. I seem to recall the mileage at 180 something. When I look at it I try to imagine the places it went in the 30 or so years it was on the road. Ditto the 1970s Cadillac hubcap laying underneath it.
There are hidden depths to this one.
Perhaps I’ll spare his village.
Eh, why not?
It’ll make the company money, and it’ll be a dead giveaway for people not trying to go anywhere in a hurry.
Should I make an effort to get in front of that person? Yes, based on their vehicle they’ll be likely to drive 5 under and stop before turning, for fear of capsizing the SS Mercedes. Someone I don’t want to be stuck behind as they ponder the meaning of life.
i’m looking forward to a future where Luxury cars look more like pre-war luxury cars, and not just oversized Taxis and flashy work-trucks.
Just a few years left until Bugatti makes another try at the Royale maybe?
I don’t like it’s poor ramp over, approach and departure angles. It will perform poorly off road, unless the ride height adjusts.
Looking at the photo it really doesn’t appear to be huge in size. Maybe the twin turbo 4 litre V8 might be enough.
i agree, but on what planet will the target Maybach buyer be concerned with break over angle and other off-road stuff. Hell the target buyer will probably never drive it, let alone run it down a trail. I’d pay good money to see one try though.
@Big Al From ‘Murica: on what planet will the target Maybach buyer be concerned with break over angle
What if they encounter traffic and need to get around it by climbing the curb and driving on the sidewalk? #makebeingrichgreatagain
Or driving over PETA protesters?
I don’t know about world wide but all W166 GL(S)’s in the US come with airmatic. There’s an optional off road package that let’s you raise the suspension higher than the standard airmatic. It also includes metal skid plates and a heavy duty transfer case, but it’s a rare option in my area. In the 2 years I worked with vehicle prep we only sold 1, a 2013 GL550 that was a CPO. Now if I told you all the rear entertainment systems and illuminated stars I’ve put in GL’s it’d paint a better picture of the people buying them.
This garbage only exists because there are actually some tasteless idiots who managed to become very rich and want to show it off by driving a tarted up GLS. Heck they should charge $300,000-$500,000 for it, then these idiots will REALLY have to have it to keep up with the Joneses.
Mercedes should stop disgracing the Maybach name and badge. As much as I like Mercedes, the original Maybachs from back in the day (which the average buyer of this abomination know nothing about) were head and shoulders above anything Mercedes ever produced.
Europe is going through a SUV surge at the moment. Pickups are dead,but SUV’s are the ” Big” thing
Were pickups a thing? When I lived over there they were rare, but yeah, in my recent trips they are everywhere. Dacia Dusters were all over Romania.
SUV’s. not pickups
Or more accurately, crossovers.
I”m waiting for the Bugatti Veyronesse . Fastest SUV on the planet.
Steph, you forgot about the Volvo XC90 T8 Excellence. Four bucket seats, full center console, folding trays, refrigerator, two crystal Orrefors glasses, and a partition behind the rear seats.
This and the Range Rover Autobiography are the only two SUVs like this on the market.