Mercedes-Benz GLS Officially Unveiled as Flagship SUV
The Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class has been officially unveiled, serving as a seven-seater flagship SUV for the German automaker.
Replacing the Mercedes-Benz GL-Class, the GLS continues the company’s new nomenclature acting as the “S-Class among SUVs.” It will also be the only full-fledged seven-seater offered in the European premium SUV segment measuring 202 inches in length and 84.3 inches wide. The GLS-Class will ride on a 121-inch wheelbase and sit 72.8 inches tall, offering plenty of space while combining luxury with impressive levels of comfort, agile dynamics and best-in-class safety.
At launch, the GLS550 4MATIC will feature a V8 biturbo engine churning 449 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque, 20 hp more than the outgoing model. The “base” GLS450 4MATIC will be powered by a 3.0-liter V6 biturbo engine with 362 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. At the top of the range will be a GLS63 packing 577 hp, 27 hp more than its predecessor with peak torque of 561 lb-ft available from just 1,750 rpm. Mercedes will also offer a diesel model, the GLS350d 4MATIC sporting a V6 diesel powerplant with 255 hp and 455 lb-ft of torque.
All versions except for the AMG GLS63 will come standard with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The range-topping GLS63 gets a revised AMG Speedshift Plus seven-speed unit.
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Compared to the GL-Class it replaces, the GLS has received a significant update with the front end getting a bolder appearance, flowing in line with the rest of Mercedes-Benz’s recent styling updates across its entire lineup. In the rear are full LED tail lights while highlights in the interior include a newly designed instrument panel with Media Display, new three-spoke multifunction steering wheel, modified center console with touchpad and new trim options.
The 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLS will be available to order starting from December 2015 and deliveries will begin in the U.S. market late-March 2016.
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Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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Looks like a jacked up minivan to me.