Mercedes-Benz unveiled the third-generation GLS at the 2019 New York Auto Show, and the company is already talking about future products based on the full-size SUV. The German company confirmed at least two new variations but dismissed an electric model, so we hope you weren't expecting one.

The Mercedes-Benz GLS Won't Go Electric...Period

Although it introduced a few mild hybrid vehicles and the all-electric EQC since 2018, Mercedes-Benz won't electrify the big GSL. That's the word from Andreas Zygan, head of SUV Development for the brand, who told Auto Express that the GLS' platform was not designed for electrification. Zygan also thinks that demand for an electric SUV the size of the GLS would be too small.

If this is true, Zygan makes a valid point. Developing an electric GLS would require further investment. The EV will definitely end up pretty expensive in dealerships, and Mercedes would probably lose money in the long run. While some companies take this risk in order to reduce their lineup's CO2 footprint, it wouldn't make sense for Mercedes since it already launched an electric vehicle division under the EQ brand.

2020 Mercedes GLS drivetrain specifications

Mercedes-Benz GLS 580 4MATIC

Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 4MATIC

Engine

V-8 with 48-volt on-board electrical system

six-cylinder in- line engine electrified with 48-volt technology

Horsepower

483 HP

362 HP

Torque

516 LB-FT

369 LB-FT

EQ Boost

184 LB-FT and 21 HP

184 LB-FT and 21 HP

Transmission

9G-TRONIC automatic

9G-TRONIC automatic


The Mercedes-Benz GLS will go wild with an AMG badge

While electricity is out of the question, a high-performance AMG vehicle is definitely on the table. "The markets have fed back to us to say they would like an AMG version out of the GLS," said AMG boss Tobias Moers. This isn't surprising though, as Mercedes has been offering AMG versions of the GLS since 2013.

Introduced with the second-generation SUV, the GL63 AMG (it was renamed the GLS in 2016) featured a 5.5-liter V-8 rated at 550 horsepower and 516 pound-feet in its first years on the market. The engine was updated to deliver 577 horsepower and 561 pound-feet in 2016 and remained unchanged until 2019. The next-generation AMG GLS63 will most likely feature the twin-turbo, 4.0-liter V-8 that motivates most AMG vehicles nowadays. The mill cranks out up to 603 horsepower, so it's safe to assume that the new SUV will deliver more oomph than its predecessor.

The Mercedes-Benz GLS will spawn a luxury Maybach model

The German brand also confirmed that a Maybach version of the GLS is in the cards, but Andreas Zygan mentions that no official decision has been made yet. “There is no decision we have taken, but what you see in the exquisite GLS is that we’ve developed a lot of things – the comfort and surroundings we’ve focused on – so the car has the possibility of a further project, but it’s not official," he said.

The Maybach brand was revived in 2015, two years after Mercedes discontinued the 57 and 62 sedans and retired the name. The division was reactivated as Mercedes-Maybach and originally produced more upscale versions of the S-Class. In 2018, Mercedes-Maybach launched its first SUV. Based on the G-Class, the G650 Landaulet has a longer wheelbase, a more comfortable suspension, a folding rear roof, and it's limited to only 99 units. Rumored for a few years now, the Mercedes-Maybach GLS could break cover sometime in 2020.

Further reading

Read our full review on the 2020 Mercedes-Maybach GLS.

The 2020 Mercedes GLS Arrives With a Twin-Turbo V-8 and Seating for Seven

Read our full review on the 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class.