Mercedes GLS SUV leaked ahead of LA premiere

Photos of the Mercedes GLS SUV have been leaked on the internet ahead of its official reveal at the upcoming Los Angeles Auto Show. The Mercedes GLS is essentially the updated GL-class full-size SUV which now gets the new moniker, thanks to Mercedes’ new naming strategy.

Leaked brochure images show that the GLS has a more upmarket look than its predecessor, the GL-class SUV.  The GLS SUV has been seen undergoing testing earlier.  Exterior styling tweaks to the Mercedes GLS SUV include reworked front and rear bumpers and fascia, and new design for the alloy wheels.

Apart from the updated exteriors and interiors, the GLS SUV gets a long line-up of updated engines, already on offer globally in the GLE-class SUV. Like the outgoing GL, the GLS’ mainstay model globally will be the V6 diesel-equipped GLS 350d that produces 254bhp. There are talks of an even smaller diesel engine-equipped model, dubbed the GLS 250d for some markets. Diesel models will get Mercedes’ latest nine-speed automatic transmission. The top-of-the-line engine will be the Mercedes-AMG GLS63 with a 5.5-litre twin-turbo petrol V8 engine good for 577bhp.

For the international markets, the GLS SUV will also come with a plug-in hybrid variant which will be badged GLS 500e. It will feature the same 328bhp twin-turbo V6 petrol motor and a single electric motor – the same set-up seen on the GLE hybrid SUV.

The GLS is likely to release in a highly luxurious Maybach version as well. This variant will compete with the likes of the ultra-luxurious Range Rover models from the SVO division, the Bentley Bentayga, and the upcoming Rolls-Royce SUV.