BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. – Mercedes-Benz pulled the wraps off a new luxury SUV flagship and a studio where American buyers can customize the brand’s most exclusive vehicles on an exclusive street in this chic enclave Monday, July 20.
The 2027 Mercedes-Maybach GLS will be the automaker’s most luxurious SUV. Expect prices to start well north of $150,000 when it arrives late this year or in early 2027.
The Mercedes-Benz Studio Los Angeles, a white space that could pass for a gallery if not for the cars — introduces Mercedes’ American customers to the automaker’s Manufaktur customization program, which has allowed top customers in Europe to make their Mercedes vehicles unique for decades. It joins Mercedes Studios in cities including Munich, Singapore, Delhi, Toronto, Seoul and Tokyo. Manufaktur allows customers to order one-of-a-kind colors, interior materials and more for their vehicles.
It’s a level of customization generally associated with hand-built ultra-luxe vehicles from Rolls-Royce or Bentley.
2027 GLS SUV sets new standards
The 2027 Mercedes-Maybach GLX 680 — Maybach is Mercedes’ name for its most luxurious and expensive models — answers American demand for ever more luxurious SUVs, Mercedes-Maybach chief Markus Bauer told me in the airy studio.
The GLS 680 features a twin-turbo hybrid V8 that generates 603 horsepower and 627 pound-feet of torque.
Key new features include a four-passenger layout. The Maybach GLS ditches the regular GLS’s third row of seats in favor of 1.5 inches more rear legroom. The rear seats have standard heating, cooling and climate control — and a massage feature that extends to power footrests to revive tired calf muscles.
Other goodies include two-tone paint schemes — a subtle pairing of gray and green called Verde Silver Metallic and Dark Petrol is featured in the studio. Standard 23-inch wheels feature a floating hub, so the Mercedes star and “Maybach” are always upright. A lighted Mercedes star sits above a very upright grille that repeats Maybach’s pinstripe theme, also seen in metal insets to the interior’s wood trim.
A new level of customization for American buyers
The LA studio is the latest in a network of 18 design spaces on four continents.
“Mercedes-Benz has always stood for combining engineering excellence with emotional experiences,” Bauer said.
Around a corner from understated dining icon Spago, the studio will allow customers to consult with design advisors and see bespoke materials, finishes and design combinations. They can also specify virtually any color for luxurious leather upholstery. Even the headline of the GLS is leather, each one hand-sewn by a single artisan. The widest range of customizations are available on vehicles like the Mercedes-Maybach S-class sedan and SL roadster; and the Mercedes-AMG GT high-performance coupe.
Bauer said as man y as one-third of Mercedes’ U.S. customers could eventually opt for Made to Measure, the highest level of customization Manufaktur offers.
Contact Mark Phelan: mmphelan@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @mark_phelan. Read more on autos and sign up for our autos newsletter. Become a subscriber
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Mercedes reveals ultra-luxe SUV and U.S. studio for custom vehicles
Reporting by Mark Phelan, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Mark Phelan, Detroit Free Press | USA TODAY Network
