Mercedes-Maybach GLS Concept Rumored To Debut At Beijing Auto Show

It looks like Mercedes wants to rival the likes of the Bentley Bentayga, Range Rover SVAutobiography and upcoming BMW X7 with the new GLS.

And to do so, they have turned to Maybach for the ultimate luxury variant. Autocar reports that the Mercedes-Maybach GLS will be previewed by a concept model at the 2018 Beijing Auto Show, next month.

The final production version isn’t that far away either, as it might arrive as early as November, at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show, with ordering books probably opening in the first quarter of 2019.

So, what should the world expect from Maybach’s first-ever SUV? According to the British publication, the Maybach GLS could get series of styling upgrades over the regular model including a Vision 6 Concept-like grille found on the refreshed Maybach S-Class and Pullman along with similar-styled wheels.

It’s unknown whether the Maybach-pimped Mercedes GLS will have a longer wheelbase to further differentiate it from the rest of the models. Still, expect heated and ventilated individual rear seats with massage function, in addition to other equipment such as ambient lighting, entertainment screens and lots of leather, wood and metal trim.

Believed to be underpinned by the MHA platform, shared with the upcoming GLE and GLE Coupe, the new Mercedes GLS, along with its Maybach and AMG derivatives, will be lighter than the current GLS.

An assortment of mild hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains are expected to power it, in addition to the twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 engine in the AMG models. In its most powerful form, the new Mercedes-AMG GLS 63 S might develop as much as 612PS (604hp) and 850Nm (627lb-ft) of torque.

Note: 2019/2020 Mercedes-AMG GLS 63 prototype pictured