The Maybach SUV is one of those topics that keeps coming back and forth. Now, two years after the first rumors, Matthias Luhrs, Mercedes’ global sales chief, has rekindled the flame, confirming the model is still part of Mercedes’ future models program.
Speaking to Top Gear, Luhrs has given strong hints at the prospect of a super-luxury SUV expected to wear the Mercedes-Maybach badge. “We are looking at all sorts of options. A [Maybach] SUV is still one of them…no decision has been made yet,” he said.
The future Mercedes-Maybach SUV is probably at least two years away since the GLS has recently undergone a major facelift and is not expected to receive a new generation until 2018. Considering the delay between the current S-Class and its Mercedes-Maybach counterpart, we’d think it’s safe to assume the Maybach SUV won’t reach Mercedes showrooms before the end of the decade.
Whenever it comes to light, the Maybach SUV will be positioned as a direct competitor for the already announced Bentley Bentayga and the first SUV from Rolls-Royce, the later still caught in development limbo, catering for hot demand in markets like Asia or the Middle East, where large sport-utility vehicles are still prized for their imposing stature and generous cabin accommodation.
