Skip to main content

Mercedes-Benz reveals suave GLS Grand Edition ahead of Detroit debut

mercedes benz reveals suave gls grand edition ahead of detroit debut exklusive farbkombination im innenraum  als erh ltlich
Mercedes-Benz USA
It seems there’s another niche war occurring in the upper echelon of the luxury full-size crossover SUV segment – the battle to see who can build the biggest and most luxurious crossover for very affluent suburbanites. With the Bentley Bentayga leading in this segment, other luxury nameplates aren’t taking kindly to it.

Entrants have been coming out with more luxurious variants to already very opulent crossover SUVs. One case is the Range Rover Autobiography model, a $140,000 ultra-luxurious version of the already luxurious Range Rover.

Mercedes-Benz USA
Mercedes-Benz USA

Another entrant is the latest Mercedes-Benz GLS Grand Edition, just revealed ahead of its physical debut at this year’s North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

Available at dealers in the middle of this year, the new GLS Grand Edition can be had in two trims, GLS450 4MATIC, and GLS550 4MATIC. Basically, two engine options.

The GLS450 4MATIC comes with a 3.0-liter biturbo V6 with 362 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque while the GLS550 4MATIC gets the same 4.7-liter biturbo V8 found in the latest S-Class flagship sedan with 449 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque.

The GLS full-size luxury crossover SUV is already quite nice as is, so how did the company manage to make it even nicer?

According to the latest press release, the GLS Grand Edition comes with a range of exclusive features that customers can personalize, from special order colors, and exclusive option arrangements.

Mercedes-Benz USA
Mercedes-Benz USA

The one debuting at the Cobo Center next week sports an exclusive Porcelain and Espresso Brown interior, with designo Nappa leather-wrapped seats and a diamond-shaped quilting design. Complementing the leather is fancy pore brown ash wood trim with light stripes, and even more Nappa leather on interior bits, like the door panels and dashboard. There’s also optional ambient lighting and Espresso Brown Velour floor mats.

Mercedes-Benz USA
Mercedes-Benz USA

On the outside, the Grand Edition adds more exclusive 20-inch 10-spoke two-tone-finished wheels to the GLS450. The GLS550 gets special 21-inch wheels and Active LED headlights as standard. For some cool exterior and visual lighting effects, Mercedes made its advanced LED Intelligent Light System standard even for the GLS450.

Mercedes-Benz USA
Mercedes-Benz USA

Let’s not forget the Grand Edition badging on the interior and exterior as well, reminding you that you have a super-luxurious version of an already luxurious SUV.

Mercedes-Benz USA

Pricing hasn’t been announced just yet. But considering the standard GLS starts at $69,550, the Grand Edition will likely crest the six-figure mark.

Editors' Recommendations

Chris Chin
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Since picking up his first MicroMachine, Chris Chin knew his passion for automobiles was embedded into his soul. Based in…
Mercedes-Benz G580 first drive: old-school off-roader goes electric
2025 Mercedes-Benz G580 from three quarter view.

American car buyers mostly know Mercedes-Benz as a luxury brand. But for decades, the automaker has also produced the tough, rugged G-Class (also known as the Geländewagen or G-Wagen), an SUV not afraid to get its leather upholstery muddy. And now, this iconic Mercedes is going electric.

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz G580 with EQ Technology — the final name of the SUV previously known as the EQG — isn’t the first electric off-roader. The Rivian R1S and R1T and GMC Hummer EV have proven that electric powertrains and off-roading are a great combination. But the electric G-Wagen is different because it’s based on an internal-combustion model — and a very traditional one at that.

Read more
Honda believes hydrogen semi trucks will make the case for fuel cells
Honda hydrogen fuel-cell semi truck.

Honda remains committed to hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles, but the market for those vehicles remains limited. So Honda is looking at other uses for fuel cells -- including commercial trucks.

To show how that could work, Honda converted a semi truck to fuel-cell power, replacing its diesel engine with three fuel-cell modules. Together, the three modules produce a combined 321 horsepower, and can propel the truck to a top speed of 70 mph. There's enough onboard hydrogen storage capacity for a 400-mile range with a full load, Honda claims.

Read more
Mercedes-Benz G580 vs Rivian R2: Is the much cheaper Rivian actually better?
2025 Mercedes-Benz G580 from three quarter view.

Mercedes-Benz has finally taken the wraps off of the new "Mercedes-Benz G580 with EQ Technology." Yeah, it's a mouthful, but it's basically a new electric G-Wagon. It looks a lot like the G-Wagon you know and love, but with an electric powertrain and a battery. It's not the only electric SUV out there, however, and there are some great ones -- like the Rivian R2.

Both the Mercedes G580 and the Rivian R2 have a lot going for them, but they also approach the electric SUV slightly differently. Is one better than the other? I put the two head-to-head to find out.
Design
The approach that the two vehicles take to design is quite different -- and you might like one better than the other.

Read more