Mercedes-Benz confirms Maybach SUV

Bentley went there first, Rolls-Royce and Lamborghini have one each and even Ferrari  and Aston Martin are on their way to SUV-land.

It makes some sense, then, that Daimler would refocus its Maybach energies on an SUV, complete with dripping leather luxury and huge power – as previewed by the 2018 Mercedes-Maybach Vision Ultimate Luxury concept (pictured).

It might surprise some, though, that it will build it in the US and not in Germany.

The company yesterday confirmed it would build its enormous Maybach off-roader in its Alabama plant, though insiders insist Daimler is keeping its options open to duplicate production in China if US president Trump’s trade war continues to bite.

That would be sad for the people of Tuscaloosa, because the Daimler factory there is the second-biggest exporter of vehicles from the US to the world (behind only BMW’s South Carolina plant).

The mega-luxury Maybach SUV will be based on the third-generation Mercedes-Benz GLS seven-seat SUV, which as we reported in January will debut at the New York motor show next month.

It will come only with the GLS’s twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 when it makes its production debut in China later this year and in the US early next year.

The off-roader is the halo part of Daimler’s attempt to rebirth the Maybach brand via luxury flagship versions of different Mercedes-Benz models, following its failed attempt to tackle Rolls-Royce head-on.

After killing off the brand’s bespoke models in 2011 and introducing the S-Class based Maybach S 600 in 2014, Daimler’s plan is to make Mercedes-Maybach the byword for luxury Benz models, just as Mercedes-AMG is for high-performance Mercs.

About three-quarters of the world’s super-luxury SUVs are expected to be sold in the US and China.