American-made Maybach GLS is ready to roll
The Mercedes-Maybach GLS is the most luxurious, expensive, and, let’s be honest, the most ostentatious Benz to emerge from the company’s Alabama factory.
With a starting price of $161,500, the Maybach is singled out from lesser GLS models with its massive chrome grille and additional brightwork on the front air intakes, windows, sills, and roof rails. Shiny 22-inch alloys are unique to the Maybach GLS. You also get two-tone paint and running boards that automatically extend to make stepping up (figuratively and literally) into the Maybach a little easier.
It’s inside where the Maybach majesty is most clear, though. The SUV can be ordered in four- or five-seat trim, both offering a massive 43.4 inches of legroom in which to sprawl. Choose the four-seater and you can also specify a fridge to chill champagne which you can then quaff from the optional glass flutes. If that doesn’t relax you sufficiently, there’s a comprehensive infotainment system and temperature controlled massage seats.
Add all of these goodies and you’ll soon find your Maybach GLS topping $200K. However you specify the interior, motive power comes from a 550-hp four-liter V-8 with a little extra electric EQ boost. Airmatic suspension with adaptive damping and E-Active body control is also included.
It seems entirely appropriate that the first customer for this most ludicrous of SUVs is Ludacris who, judging from his Instagram feed, is thoroughly enjoying the 27-speaker, 1590-watt Burmester 3D surround sound system and the car’s air suspension.
