An obvious movement since the controversially styled SUV from BMW has sold more than 120,000 since its launch in 2009. Like its archrival from Munich, Mercedes’s sporty SUV will be a four-seater with a sporty design.
The new model will probably be named GLS and will be based on the new M-Class, sharing its platform and most of its engineering, including the four-wheel drive system. However, it will differentiate itself with more aggressive styling, taking cues from Mercedes’ four-door sedan, the CLS.
Nothing is yet known about the engines, but expect the usual range of gasoline and diesel units, as well as a hybrid, with the top version being powered by a turbocharged 5.5-litre V8 fettled, predictably, by AMG to provide a challenge to the X6 M.
The GLS will most likely be manufactured alongside the M-Class in Mercedes-Benz’s US factory in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
