Maybach’s SUV is coming

The reborn Maybach badge will have an SUV within two years to stretch Daimler’s SUV family out to seven models.

The GLS-based super-luxury Maybach SUV will be swung into action to fight the strong-selling Bentley Bentayga, Rolls-Royce’s upcoming Cullinan and Range Rover’s range-topping SV Autobiography.

Priced just over the €150,000 barrier, the unnamed Maybach SUV will step up the price point at the end of the Mercedes-Benz-branded range, targeting the deep pockets of the USA, China and Russia.

It will be mechanically similar to the Mercedes-badged GLS, but will step forward in comfort, ride quality, interior features and luxury. It will be to the GLS what the Mercedes-Maybach S600 is to the S-Class family.

It won’t be left along with just a badge change, though, with sources confirming it will take styling cues from elongated the Maybach 6 Coupe electric car, which debuted at last year’s Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.

At the very least, its grille, headlights and tail lights will be different, but the rest will be similar enough to the GLS that Daimler won’t need a new crash-testing program for the established model.

There is a possibility that it could include a longer wheelbase than the GLS to add to the rear-seat legroom, though the GLS is already a huge car with a 5130mm overall length. However, it’s shorter overall than both the Bentayga (by 10mm) and the Autobiography (by 69mm) even though it rides on a 3080mm wheelbase.

Aiming for luxury over practicality, it’s not likely to carry over the second-generation GLS’s third row of seats, instead opting to delivery maximum comfort for just five or even four occupants.

It will transfer the unique Maybach infotainment and instrument-cluster graphics from the S-Class, along with the luxury-dripping Designo interior trim levels.

It will run the same powertrains as the stock Benz giant, too, so expect a variant of the 4.0-litre, biturbo V8 as the range topper, along with a nine-speed automatic transmission and active air suspension. There is an unconfirmed expectation that a 6.0-litre biturbo V12 will also find its way into the Maybach-badged engine bay.