The market for ultra-luxury SUVs is booming and we will soon have models from brands like Bentley, Maserati and possibly Rolls-Royce and Lamborghini.

In this context, the Mercedes-Benz GL-Class may not be perceived as “noble” enough to fight the Bentley Bentayga or Maserati Levante, which is why the German automaker will slap a Mercedes-Maybach badge on it.

Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche said the luxury sub-brand will “most likely” sell an SUV, and the prime candidate appears to be Mercedes’ largest SUV – the GL-Class. Still, it won’t happen right away, but after the GL’s facelift, which will also bring a new name.

Under Mercedes’ new naming strategy, the GL-Class will become GLS-Class to better underline its relationship with the S-Class. Only after that Mercedes-Maybach will get to pump even more luxury into the SUV. A rough idea of what the Mercedes-Maybach GLS may look like is offered by Remco Meulendijk from RM Design. What do you think?

Rendering via RM Design

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