Maybach fans will recall that its hifalutin badge has already been applied to an SUV - the impressively awful G 650 Landaulet in 2017. That car, an elongated G-wagen with a folding fabric roof, was limited to just 99 units, but it was only a matter of time before the luxurious sub brand migrated to the boot lid of a series production SUV. Predictably, it is the range-topping GLS which bears the burden of a Mercedes-Maybach flagship.
The GLS 600 4Matic is described by its maker as a ‘new form of luxury’ - but, of course, it isn’t; not when Bentley and Rolls-Royce are already alive and kicking in the large SUV segment. The Maybach-badged car has some catching up to do, and it’s worth pointing out that, despite the presence of the number ‘600’ in its name, it won’t be chasing down the market leaders with a V12 engine.
In the S650 and G650, Mercedes saw fit to furnish the Maybach with the decidedly epic 6.0-litre twin-turbocharged V12. In the GLS, no such luck: it gets the same EQ Boosted 4.0-litre V8 and nine-speed transmission just introduced to the AMG models. Potent, no doubt, with 558hp and 538lb ft of torque to call on - but inferior to the 630hp AMG-enhanced V12 that powered the only other Maybach SUV.
It’s not all about power, though. Maybach’s are meant for slipping out of cities like a nuclear sub leaving its Scottish moorings; you’re not really supposed to notice. But it will be hard to miss the GLS 600, what with the styling makeover it’s been subjected to. Chrome highlights seem to have been a preoccupation for the designers, not least in the vertical struts of that imposing new grille.
The ‘pinstripe’ effect is echoed in the 23-inch alloy wheels (a 22-inch alternative is available, if you prefer small rims) and, even more ‘eye-catching’, are the electrically retractable running boards, said to make access and egress to the higher seating ‘convenient and safe’. There is also, if you wish, the prospect of two-tone paintwork, a brand-specific offering which is available in 8 different combinations.
The real Maybach effect though is saved for the cabin where the makeover is certainly comprehensive. As you might expect, the GLS’s new interior now comes with two reclining, heated/cooled, massage-capable rear seats; the MBUX entertainment system, and (optionally) a fixed centre console which turns the car into a ‘spacious four-seater’ with tables and refrigerator. Naturally, extra padding, wood veneers and fine nappa leather has been added to virtually every touchpoint.
Also among the additions is said to be a huge amount of noise insulation. Mercedes has installed a rigid partition and fixed parcel shelf behind the rear seats, thereby sealing off the luggage compartment from the car’s occupants. There is also a dedicated ‘Maybach’ drive setting for the Airmatic suspension and powertrain, with the focus very much on the comfort of the rear seat passengers.
Certainly both chassis and engine will have their work cut out: the GLS 600 weighs in at 2,785kg, making it over 100kg heavier than a Rolls-Royce Cullinan. Which is powered by a V12 engine, and not made in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Still, if you own a chain of international hotels and the latest Mercedes-Maybach looks brand-appropriate to your porte-cochère, the GLS 600 is due to enter the market in the second half of 2020.
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