Mercedes to follow Maybach S-Class with super-luxe GL?
Mon, 07 Jul 2014The failed experiment that was Maybach has sent the strategists at Daimler back to the drawing board, and we'll soon see what they come back with: an ultra-luxe version of the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class to slot in between the "standard" model and the upcoming Pullman limousine. But that won't be the end of the story, if a new report from Australia's Motoring is any indication.
Rumor has it that Mercedes-Benz is developing Maybach into a kind of luxury sub-brand in the same way it has with AMG. So while Maybach won't have any exclusive models anymore (or showrooms), it will be applied to existing models to differentiate them from the common Benz.
Following the debut of the S-Class Maybach, word on the street is that Maybach will work up its own version of the GL-Class sport utility to a more luxurious specification, giving Mercedes a quick response to the upcoming Bentley SUV as well as the Land Rover Range Rover Autobiography. After that, a Maybach-ified S-Class Coupe could be in the works, and maybe even a version of the upcoming MLC, Benz's forthcoming BMW X6 rival.
Looking at how AMG has transformed virtually every model in the Mercedes range, it seems that the proverbial sky is the limit when it comes to potential future Maybach models, but we still wouldn't expect the Double-M badge to be applied to lower-end models in the Mercedes lineup.
By Noah Joseph
See also: Mercedes' $1M S-Class Pullman's could make it the most expensive sedan ever, The story of Maybach, Lorde, her hit song Royals and unintended consequences [UPDATE], Daimler bringing resurrected Maybach name to 2014 LA and Guangzhou auto shows.