Welcome to the Dark Side. Mansory adds much width and much power to GLS

A wider version of an SUV that’s already quite wide. Right.

Indeed. Mansory, answering a question we’re not sure that many people posed in the first place, has nevertheless unveiled a version of Mercedes-AMG’s GLS 63 with an ever wider, more aggressive stance.
Consider, that the ‘standard’ GLS 63 clocks in at 1,982mm in width. Mansory’s bodykit adds 25mm wider front arches and 40mm wider rear wheel arches.
So it’s like, really wide.

What else have they done?

There are larger front air intakes in a new front spoiler, a carbon front lip, a lighter bonnet, new side skirts – Something Something Airflow – and what Mansory calls an ‘elegant’ rear spoiler to the boot, combined with a diffuser. Again, Something Something Downforce.

The wheels look pretty enormous.

Correct. They are enormous. The ‘recommended’ (by Mansory, obvs) wheel size for this Vader-spec GLS 63 is an all new 23in multispoke forged rim.
Consider that it is used in conjunction with a lowering module for the air suspension, lowering the car by 30mm. This “significantly improves the handling during fast cornering”. Only the brave need test this maxim.

Fast cornering eh? Does it come with more power then?

What do you think? The standard GLS’s 5.5-litre V8 pushes out 577bhp. Mansory’s additions to this fine engine include a sports silencer and air filter, and a remapped ECU. As a result, you can fast corner to your hearts content with 830bhp on tap, and a whopping 848lb ft of torque.
Though a 0-62mph time hasn’t been specified (the normal car runs it in 4.6s), the top speed of this Mansory version has been increased by 28mph for a top speed of 183mph.

Is it fancy inside?

You can plot your Death Star in ultimate comfort inside here, thanks to a new sports steering wheel with visible carbon, and a heck of a lot of leather and Alcantara everywhere else.
Price? On application. Start practising your best dark side choke holds now…

Mercedes-Maybach GLS could become the most expensive car made in America

Due for reveal in China next month, made in Alabama for sale next year

Mercedes-Benz International, the German automaker's manufacturing facility near Vance and Tuscaloosa, Ala., already builds the GLS SUV. Autonews reports that the coming ultra-luxe version of the large crossover, the Mercedes-Maybach GLS, will be built in Alabama as well for global markets. The most recent timelines mark the reveal in production or near-production form in China, with sales to commence next year.

The next-gen series-production GLS goes on sale later this year. The gilded sub-brand previewed a wild concept last year in China called the Vision Mercedes-Maybach Ultimate Luxury, which blended the tall profile of an SUV with the truck of a sedan on donk wheels. Based on spy shots, none of that fancy will make it to production. Both the Maybach and AMG versions of the GLS ride on fat rubber but look thoroughly traditional.

The treasure will be inside. Autonews said China accounts for roughly 75 percent of Maybach S-Class sedan sales. That suggests the GLS in baroque trim will emphasize chauffeured luxury touches like rear captain's chairs and lots of rear legroom. Pricing estimates figure $200,000 to get in the door. That would put the SUV right in line with the Lamborghini Urus and a couple stacks of Benjamins above the Bentley Bentayga, with much the same likely audience. One analyst said, "The ultra-high-net-worth kids want something different, and these ultraluxury SUVs certainly fit that," while another opined on its "appeal to the Kardashians and hip-hoppers, if they want something slightly different to the G-Wagen."

A $200K MSRP would also comfortably make the Maybach GLS the most expensive new car built in America, taking the title from the Acura NSX. With a great price comes great power, said to be a twin-turbo V8 with more than 560 horsepower. The coming GLS 450 will make do with somewhere around 360 hp.

The Alabama plant, which also builds the GLE, GLE Coupe, and C-Class, is also undergoing a $1 billion upgrade to more than double the size of the facility, making lines for battery production and EQ-series vehicle assembly,

The redesigned 2020 Mercedes GLS is going to make its official debut at the NY Auto Show next week. Mercedes confirmed the news in a press release today and gave us a few morsels of information to chew on until then.

It's going to ride on Mercedes' MHA (Modular High Architecture) platform used on the GLE crossover — Mercedes says this results in a 2.36-inch stretch of the current SUV's wheelbase. Additionally, the new GLS will use a 48-volt network that supports the E-Active Body Control suspension used on the GLE. No engine details were provided, but we can assume a couple different options will ultimately be available here. The base engine could be Mercedes' 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six combined with the 48-volt mild hybrid system. Then a possible AMG upgrade will likely be the 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8, but AMG variants will probably be revealed some time after the base vehicle.

We have a pretty good idea of what the GLS will look like from the spy photos shown above. It's still huge — Mercedes calls it the S-Class of SUVs. The front and rear are still covered in camouflage, but a big grille with thick bars sits front and center. Then a rather shapely rear end looks like it's going to greatly improve upon the relatively boring and simple design Mercedes employs now. That extra wheelbase will open up more room in the cabin — Mercedes says the second row reaps the advantages of it the most. All three rows will feature electrically powered seats, too. All the high-tech driver assistance systems found on plenty of other Mercedes vehicles will also be integrated into the giant SUV, but we wouldn't expect anything short of that.

Other Mercedes news at the NY Auto Show will include the debut of the EQC Edition 1886, which is a limited-edition version of the soon-to-come electric SUV. It will reportedly include "extensive items of optional equipment." We can't be sure, but expect it to be an EQC loaded to the gills with a unique look inside and out. Wondering why 1886? That's the year Carl Benz officially patented his "gas-powered vehicle."

One more debut will include updated performance variants of the GLC and GLC Coupe recently announced. A photo of the GLC Coupe with a very AMG-like look was provided to tease the reveal of these performance crossovers. Mercedes didn't explicitly say that these would be AMG models, but did promise "enhanced driving dynamics." We'll know on April 17, when all these vehicles are expected to make their debuts in the Big Apple.

Since its debut as the 2007 GL—later renamed GLS—Mercedes-Benz's flagship SUV has been our favorite in the three-row large-SUV class, continuing to defeat all comers even in this year's 10Best Trucks and SUVs awards in its final year before this major redesign. That the GLS retained not just competitiveness but supremacy throughout its extended life cycle speaks to just how fundamentally excellent it was to start, and maybe a little bit that, until the recent arrival of the BMW X7, most of its competitors were based on underpinnings donated from pickup trucks. But its winning blend of luxurious and sophisticated comportment and three rows of generous passenger space caused it to nibble away at the stranglehold that the General Motors brutes—the Cadillac Escalade, Chevy Tahoe and Suburban, and GMC Yukon—had on the segment.

The 2020 model leans in even further to the idea that the GLS is the S-class of SUVs—and if sedan sales keep on their downward trajectory, it might actually need to become the S-class—with a number of upmarket additions that pave the way to the coming Maybach version, which will be pushing $200,000.

Initial models available are the GLS450, powered by the excellent 362-hp turbo 3.0-liter inline-six with 21 horsepower of electric assist that is spreading across Mercedes-Benz's lineup, and the GLS580, which is powered by a new, 483-hp version of the twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8, this one now also boosted with the same 21-hp / 184-lb-ft electric-assist system and 48-volt electrical architecture.

Available as a seven-seater with a three-across second row or, for the first time, as a six-seater with middle bucket seats, the GLS now offers an S-class-like executive rear-seat package that adds a foldable center console, a tablet to control the infotainment, plus multi-adjustable heated and ventilated seats. The sunroof is 50 percent larger, and five-zone climate control is available. A set of 23-inch wheels is available on the GLS580, with 19s standard on the GLS450 and 21s on the GLS580. There's an easy-entry function that powers the second row forward to enable better access to the third row, and all seats can be folded down simultaneously by the push of a button.

Mercedes hasn't yet provided interior dimensions, so it's not clear how the GLS's three-inch stretch in overall length, 2.3-inch-longer wheelbase, and nearly an inch of additional width (although its roofline is an inch lower) will translate into increased occupant and cargo space. But one thing that we've always appreciated about the GL/GLS is its adult-habitable third row packaged in a footprint smaller than a Tahoe's, and this time around, Mercedes promises more second-row room and comfortable accommodations in the third row for passengers up to six foot five.

Front and rear lamps morph toward the shapes seen on the GLE. From either the front or rear, the new GLS looks more GLE-like than before to our eyes. But it stays on the path of stately elegance, leaving ostentation to others in the segment.

Considering that the GLS is underpinned by the same architecture as the smaller GLE (which gained a third-row option in its recent redesign), it's no surprise that the interior looks identical. As in the GLE and others, dual 12.3-inch screens that function as the gauge cluster and center infotainment interface dominate the dash. It's powered by Mercedes's now familiar MBUX system, which can be controlled by voice, touchscreen, or touchpad, in addition to dash and steering-wheel controls.

Of course, it has the expected panoply of driver-assist systems, including adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping, and automated emergency braking. The steering will assist if it detects intended swerves around obstacles, and the GLS also includes car-to-X communication that can actively anticipate potential hazards by communicating the car's happenings while receiving information from surrounding vehicles. But to be useful, this requires having all the vehicles around it also to be equipped with this feature.

As before, air suspension is standard. But, as with the GLE, the GLS has E-Active Body Control, a system that enables active and preemptive control of each wheel, which when combined with road-scanning input promises exemplary ride comfort. And it comes with the GLE's same, bizarre bouncing function that purports to help it get unstuck from soft surfaces. All GLSs come with all-wheel drive, but a two-speed transfer case is available on the GLS580.

Pricing hasn't been announced, but it will no doubt be an increase over the current GLS450's $71,145 and the GLS550's $96,745 when the new GLS reaches dealers by the end of 2019.

Because pulling in isn't always easy, and you deserve it, the new top-end SUV will make all the adjustments for you.

Navigating a carwash in today's complex, feature-laden vehicles can be tricky. Parking-assist systems sense what they think is impending doom and blare warnings, automatic wipers swoosh into action, and if you're trying not to ride along, electronically controlled shifters often like to shift automatically to park when the vehicle is stopped and a door is opened.Mercedes has you covered with a new carwash mode on the just-introduced 2020 GLS. The big SUV has been completely redesigned to be slightly larger and more accommodating, and it gains a whole lot more luxury features—including this carwash mode, which comes standard. Simply select it and the exterior mirrors fold in, the windows and sunroof slide closed (in case you forget!), the climate control switches to recirculation mode, the automatic wipers are kept from activating, and the front camera view pops up. It also raises the air suspension to its highest setting, which Mercedes says allows easier removal of gunk from your last off-road adventure.

When the GLS emerges, shimmering once again, it exits carwash mode automatically once the vehicle's speed exceeds 12 mph. How convenient for those too busy to wash their own cars.

It will become the most expensive vehicle built in the United States.

Daimler is fashionably late to the ultra-luxury SUV party, but as the saying goes, it’s perhaps better late than never. According to a new report from Autocar, the GLS will put on a swanky tuxedo in the weeks or months to come as the Maybach version of Mercedes’ largest SUV will be revealed before the end of the year. Citing undisclosed sources they talked to at the Frankfurt Motor Show, the British magazine says the Maybach GLS has been developed to offer the same level of luxury and performance as the flagship Maybach S-Class.

To set it apart from the regular second-generation GLS (third if you’re counting the old GL it replaced), it is believed the designers have come up with a new look inspired by the spectacular Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 concept that stunned the crowds gathered at Pebble Beach three years ago. It will be interesting to see how the coupe’s gorgeous lines will be adapted for a high-riding luxobarge, but rumor has it there will be quite a few changes to set the Maybach GLS apart from the regular model.


Aside from the updated Maybach grille we saw on the facelifted extra-long S-Class, the lavish GLS will allegedly feature different graphics for the headlights and taillights. Bespoke wheel designs and a more generous use of chrome on the bodywork will round off the changes on the outside, according to the same report.

As for the interior, the Mercedes-Maybach GLS is expected to come exclusively in two-row form, with a choice between four or five seats. There might be a bit more legroom for rear passengers to enjoy as a stretch of the wheelbase is possible, much like the Maybach variant of the S-Class has been elongated between the axles furthermore compared to the long-wheelbase Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

The cabin itself is set to take things up a notch in terms of perceived quality compared to current products of the three-pointed star and double M. There will be some Maybach-only features in a bid to justify what will be a hefty premium over the normal GLS and its $76,195 sticker for the base GLS 450 model after destination and handling charges

The Bentley Bentayga rival from Germany will be offered with a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 hooked up to an all-wheel-drive system through a nine-speed automatic transmission. While the company’s V12 engine is being gradually retired, AMG has said the powerhouse might still have a life in Maybach versions. Autocar understands the twin-turbo 6.0-liter unit could find its way underneath the SUV’s hood.

Set to be built in Alabama, the Mercedes-Maybach GLS will become the most expensive car manufactured in the United States. It’s rumored to cost somewhere in the region of $200,000, which would be considerably more than the current priciest U.S.-built car, the $159,495 2020 Acura NSX.

With North America being one of the main reasons why Mercedes is prepping a Maybach GLS, maybe the official reveal will take place in the latter half of November at the 2019 Los Angeles Auto Show. Keep in mind it won’t be the first Maybach-branded SUV as that role was attributed to the opulent G650 Landaulet launched in 2017.

The Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 4MATIC represents a new form of luxury in the SUV segment. It extends the portfolio of the Mercedes-Maybach brand by combining the body design and technical basis of the GLS with the luxury of a top-class sedan. Its spacious interior with the highest-grade materials and extremely effective noise insulation creates a stylish and luxurious atmosphere. From their pleasantly elevated seating position, thanks to electronically operated roller sun blinds on the two rear side windows, the passengers can decide for themselves how much of their surroundings they want to see. The AIRMATIC suspension included with the fully-active E-ACTIVE BODY CONTROL system effectively keeps the road bumps at bay. For the first time there is a dedicated Maybach drive program that ensures even more comfort. Access and egress are also highly convenient: when the doors are opened, the vehicle is lowered slightly, and an illuminated running board made of anodized aluminum quickly and silently emerges on the respective side of the vehicle. The V8 engine with a displacement of four liters, which can develop 550 hp and 538 lb-ft of torque, is an engine variant developed exclusively for Maybach and moves the car discreetly and powerfully. The engine is combined with the 48-volt system EQ Boost. The Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 4MATIC will enter the market in the second half of 2020.

The Mercedes-Benz star surmounts the hood in the classic way, while the fine, vertical chrome struts of the Maybach radiator grille create a pinstripe effect. Effective chrome highlights around the side windows, and the chrome inserts in the side sill panels, lend dignity and elegance to the profile. The 22 or 23-inch wheels were developed exclusively for this model, with the 23-inch version echoing the pinstripe theme. The tailpipe trim elements with a small cross rib emphasize the model's identity as a Mercedes-Maybach. The same applies to the brand emblem, which is positioned at various points such as on the D-pillar. As a special, Maybach-specific feature, two-tone paintwork is available in eight different, elegant color combinations

Another eye-catching feature of the Mercedes-Maybach GLS is the electronically extending running boards. They make accessing and leaving the high seating position both convenient and safe. With surfaces of anodized aluminum laced with black rubber strips, illuminated in the dark and particularly wide in the area of the rear doors, they ensure a very special visual appeal. When in their retracted state, the running boards are concealed behind the side sill panels. If a rear door is opened, the running board on the side concerned automatically swings into position in around one second. This default setting can be changed using a special menu in the MBUX infotainment system.

The origin story of Mercedes-Benz's biggest SUV goes like this: Mercedes executives were tired of hearing about Americans whose Benzes shared garages with Chevy Suburbans. So Mercedes made a Suburban of its own and introduced it to the U.S. market for 2007 as the GL-class. Now called the GLS-class, this behemoth begins its third generation and remains in many ways a German Suburban, albeit a very, very nice one.Even though Mercedes has been touting its new hybrid-assisted inline-six lately, Benz's big three-row SUV has always offered a V-8, and a V-8 is what you really want in this or any Suburban. The twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8 makes for a quicker GLS. Its 4.7-second 60-mph sprint beats the six's by 0.8 second. But what's more important than that small advantage is that the V-8 just feels right in terms of sound, character, and power delivery.

It comes at a price, though: The GLS580 guzzled a gallon every 13 miles during our two-week loan and managed only 18 mpg in our 75-mph highway fuel-economy test. The latter is a dismal result and a whopping 6 mpg behind the V-8-powered BMW X7 xDrive50i and 5 mpg worse than an actual Chevy Suburban. We should also mention that the BMW is a few ticks quicker than the Benz to 60 mph and through the quarter-mile.

This GLS580 was equipped with the absurdly large 23-inch AMG five-spoke wheels, a $2750 option. The smaller sidewall used on these massive rollers may improve steering response, but these giants are primarily for looks. Remarkably, they don't radically degrade ride quality. Other options included extra-plush second-row accommodations, a panoramic sunroof, nappa leather, and driver-assist features that pushed the as-tested price above $120,000.

Evaluating the GLS580's ride and handling is tricky since there's an insane range of adjustability afforded by the $6500 E-Active Body Control suspension system. It can drastically reduce body roll or help the GLS lean into corners or bounce the ute up and down like a pogo stick to get it unstuck from sand. The suspension magic yields a secure feel, but at 5973 pounds, the GLS will not be mistaken for anything other than a German Suburban.

First unveiled back in November, we're finally getting details of the first-ever Mercedes-Maybach SUV, the 2021 GLS 600 4Matic. When the uber-luxurious, high-riding Mercedes hits dealerships later this year, it'll start at $161,550 including destination.

That's more than double the regular Benz GLS's base price of $76,000 but, believe it or not, around $40,000 shy of its previously-expected $200,000 valuation. Despite that, the Tuscaloosa, Alabama-built Maybach GLS will still become the most expensive mass-produced vehicle assembled in the U.S.—bar ultra-limited run unobtanium like the record-breaking, 331-mph SSC Tuatara—one-upping the Ohio-built, $159,495 Acura NSX by just a couple grand.

To recap, the Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 4Matic will be powered by a 4.0-liter bi-turbo V8 assisted by a 48-volt EQ Boost mild hybrid system. Grand in every sense of the word, Maybach's first SUV will also mark the first time Mercedes has granted an SUV with its hood-mounted, three-pointed star. Occupants will waft their way through life in two sumptuous-looking reclinable rear seats and ride on air suspension with E-Active Body Control while surrounded by dark wood trim that's been aged for at least 10 years.

All seats are heated and ventilated while entertainment is can be controlled by a backseat MBUX seven-inch tablet and delivered through a Burmester High-End 3D surround sound system. A built-in refrigerator with custom champagne flutes is also a thing that can be had. On the outside, the Maybach GLS sets itself apart from the regular GLS with two-tone paint, 23-inch wheels, a different grille, and a whole lotta chrome.

Despite their varying price points, the Maybach GLS competes with other ultra-luxury SUVs like the Bentley Bentayga, Rolls-Royce Cullinan, BMW Alpina XB7 and all-new Cadillac Escalade.

Hot on the heels of the facelift of the GLE and GLE Coupé, the Mercedes-Benz GLS, Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 4MATIC and Mercedes-AMG GLS 63 4MATIC+ are now also appearing in updated form. A number of design, technology and equipment changes take the comfort, connectivity and ambience of the large SUV model series to the next level.

With their generous exterior dimensions, the SUV models offer interior space for up to seven occupants in three seat rows. The upgraded Mercedes-Benz GLS will arrive in the European dealerships from the end of October 2023; in the USA, the market launch will start in mid-September 2023.

Mercedes-Benz GLS: visual enhancement and functional off-road features

The latest Mercedes-Benz GLS models can be recognised by the even more striking radiator grille. The four louvres are galvanised in high-quality Silver Shadow. The bumper is also visually more prominent. It features integrated air inlet grilles, combined with a surround in high-gloss black. The large simulated underguard (standard equipment) has also been redesigned. The eye-catcher at the rear is the interior of the lights with three horizontal blocks. A new 20-inch multi-spoke light-alloy wheel in Himalayas grey with a high-sheen finish has been added to the range of wheels.

As before, the Mercedes-Benz GLS is a seven-seater as standard. With Catalana beige and Bahia brown, two new leather colours are available. The range of interior trim finishes has also been revised. Glossy brown lime wood is now standard. The trim element MANUFAKTUR glossy black flowing lines piano lacquer, previously reserved for the Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 4MATIC, is now also available for the GLS family from Mercedes-Benz.

The louvres of the centre and side air vents are galvanised in Silver Shadow - another detail that will be familiar from the Mercedes-Maybach GLS.

Most drivers of a GLS only travel on paved roads or in easy to moderately difficult off-road terrain. Mercedes-Benz has therefore recompiled the scope of the Off-Road Engineering package. Components include an underride guard and 30 millimetres more ground clearance.

The updated generation of the infotainment system MBUX brings with it a new look for the displays. The displays can be individualised with the help of three different styles (classic, sporty, discreet) and three modes (Navigation, Assistance, Service). With "classic" the driver is opting for the tried and test two-tube design with all the familiar content between the two round displays. "Sporty" is dominated by the colour red, with a dynamic design for the central rev counter. In "discreet" style, the content is reduced to what is essential. In addition, both displays can be shown in seven colour schemes in conjunction with the ambient lighting. The result is an impressive colour experience in the interior. The central display offers all the same content as hitherto and can be operated directly and conveniently as a touchscreen.

The "Off-Road Mode" in the current MBUX generation turns special content such as gradient, lateral inclination, compass and steering angle into a visual experience. Thanks to the standard Parking Package with 360-degree camera, it offers the "transparent bonnet" function. When the Offroad mode is active, the central display shows a virtual view under the front of the vehicle. The view is composed of the images from the 360°camera. With the "transparent bonnet", obstacles such as large stones or deep potholes on the route ahead can be better recognised.

All-wheel drive and a gear ratio designed for pulling power allow a high trailer load of up to 3.5 tonnes and a tongue weight of up to 140 kg. The trailer coupling has two additional bolts on the ball neck on which a suitable bicycle carrier can be supported. Its load capacity is 100 kg - this means that e-bikes can also be transported.

Helpful additional features for use when towing include Trailer Manoeuvring Assist, the updated Trailer menu in the central display and the Trailer route planner. This can be used to find optimised routes when travelling with a trailer.

Mercedes-Maybach GLS: extraordinary luxury refined even further

Vertical chrome bars and the "Maybach" lettering are the distinguishing features of the top model's high-quality radiator grille. The air inlet grilles feature a Maybach pattern and have a chrome surround. A 23-inch forged wheel in typical Maybach design with forged wheel bolt cover is new to the options list.

Another new standard feature is ambient lighting with animated projection of the Mercedes-Maybach pattern. In the interior, a new design for the seat covers emphasises the particularly luxurious character of the Mercedes-Maybach. The centre sections of the seat surfaces and backrests now feature high-quality diamond-pattern quilting with specific perforations. Exclusively for the Mercedes-Maybach, the colour combinations MANUFAKTUR crystal white/silver grey pearl and MANUFAKTUR mahogany brown/macchiato beige are offered for the interior.

Further new features of the Mercedes-Benz GLS and Mercedes-Maybach GLS

• New paint finishes sodalite blue metallic and MANUFAKTUR alpine grey non-metallic
• Latest steering wheel generation with touch controls on the spokes
• The voice assistant can also be activated without the keyword "Hey Mercedes"
• With the optional MBUX Multi-Seat Entertainment system, rear-seat occupants experience the same comprehensive range of infotainment and comfort features as those in the front. They have the use of up to three touchscreens, and a variety of intuitive control options such as the "Hey Mercedes" voice assistant.
• Two USB ports (optional equipment) with 100 W output in the rear of the centre console
• ENERGIZING AIR CONTROL (optional in Western Europe) with two-stage filter concept against fine dust and other pollutants

Mercedes-AMG is upgrading the GLS63 4MATIC+ and adding to the standard equipment. The exclusive equipment and further improved on-road driving dynamics make the GLS63 the head of the AMG SUV family.

The new model is visually distinguishable by the newly designed LED rear light signature. Two new colours have been added to the range of paint finishes: MANUFAKTUR alpine grey non-metallic and sodalite blue metallic. In addition, the front section now also bears the AMG emblem instead of the Mercedes star - indicating the close brand affinity. Added to this are the red brake callipers, which emphasise sportiness. When the front doors are opened, the vehicle plays an AMG-specific light animation with the help of a new logo projector. Wheels range from the standard 21-inch ten-spoke light-alloy wheel to options in diameters of 22 and 23 inches, including forged wheels.

New highlights in the interior

In the interior, the AMG seats and features such as the instrument panel are upholstered in Exclusive nappa leather. There is also a new colour scheme in Bahia brown/black or macchiato beige/black. For the interior trim, glossy brown lime wood is now also available as an option. In addition, new MANUFAKTUR glossy black piano lacquer with flowing decorative lines is also available on request. The new Mercedes-AMG GLS also benefits from the latest generation of MBUX: the AMG-specific screen design and functions make the brand experience even more tangible.

Significantly more extensive standard equipment

The standard equipment is even more extensive than in the already lavishly equipped predecessor. It includes, among other things, the electric panoramic sliding sunroof, heated and climatised front seats, Adaptive High Beam Assist and Smartphone Integration. Also included are the engageable AMG Performance exhaust system, the Burmester® sound system, the Memory package, the 360-degree Parking Pilot, the KEYLESS-GO package and Blind Spot Assist.

The latest generation of the AMG Performance steering wheel is also always on board. The round AMG steering wheel buttons impress with their brilliant displays and intuitive operating logic. They allow important driving functions and all drive programs to be controlled without the driver's hands leaving the steering wheel. The steering wheel rim can be heated as an option, and is also available in a carbon-fibre look.

Customers can also look forward to special equipment features such as the MBUX Augmented Reality function, MULTIBEAM LED headlamps and the AMG Driver's package. The list continues with the AIR BALANCE package, the multicontour front seats and the head-up display. The MBUX Interior Assistant and temperature-controlled cup holders are also provided as standard.

In the GLS63, the proven AMG 4.0-litre V8 biturbo engine with an output of 450 kW (612 hp) ensures powerful propulsion. The 4.0-litre V8 engine from Mercedes-AMG has been systematically electrified with a 48-volt auxiliary on-board electrical system and the integrated starter alternator (ISG) including Boost function. Explosive power delivery with finely controlled power output truly sets it apart. For this purpose, the twin-scroll turbochargers are located between the cylinder heads for better response. On the other hand, the cylinder shutoff system noticeably reduces consumption when less power is required.

The V8 engine is electrified with an integrated starter alternator (ISG) and a 48-volt on-board electrical system. The ISG combines a starter and alternator in one powerful electric motor. It is installed between the engine and transmission. The ISG also performs hybrid functions. These include boosting, recuperation, load point shifting, gliding and almost imperceptible engine restarting with the start/stop function.

Active roll stabilisation with new configuration

The AMG RIDE CONTROL+ suspension with adaptive adjustable damping is also standard equipment. The active roll stabilisation system AMG ACTIVE RIDE CONTROL works with two electro-mechanical actuators at the front and rear axle. The system reduces body roll when cornering, and allows more precise tuning of load change behaviour and precision when entering bends. It also increases driving comfort when driving straight ahead, as it compensates for one-sided unevenness in the road surface.

As part of the facelift, the roll stabilisation and air suspension also benefit from a software update and a new setup. These measures increase the spread between dynamic handling and comfort. Fine-tuning of the software for the configuration of ESP®, the electronically controlled rear-axle locking differential, the fully variable AMG Performance 4MATIC+ all-wheel drive and the suspension control system delivers a dynamic and superior driving experience.