Mercedes-Benz has officially lifted the veil off of the new 2017 GLS-Class at the Los Angeles Motor Show.
The first-ever GLS is to the outgoing GL what the GLE is to the ML; in other words, it’s a facelifted model that adopts Mercedes’ new naming structure. Billed as the S-Class of the SUV segment, the GLS benefits from a more modern look with bullet-shaped headlights, a sleeker hexagonal grille, and a revised bumper. The back end features new-look LED tail lamps and a redrawn bumper, while new paint colors and alloy wheel designs further differentiate the GLS from the model it’s designed to replace.
Select trims can be ordered with a Sport package that brings sport-focused add-ons such as deeper front bumper with three mesh air dams, side skirts, a bigger spoiler out back and 21-inch alloy wheels.
Inside, the GLS is adopts an all-new infotainment system built around a high-resolution eight inch screen that sticks out from the center console, a setup already found in many members of the Mercedes lineup. Passengers can navigate the infotainment system using a controller knob on the center console, buttons on the steering wheel or voice commands. The off-roader also benefits from a three-spoke steering wheel and an updated instrument cluster with a configurable TFT screen.
The upgrades continue under the hood, where the GL’s engines carry over with a host of modifications designed to make them more powerful and more efficient. The base GLS400 gets a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 tuned to make 329 horsepower and 354 lb-ft. of torque. Up next is the GLS350d, which uses a 3.0-liter turbodiesel rated at 255 hp and a healthy 457 lb-ft. of torque. Finally, the GLS500 is equipped with a twin-turbocharged 4.7-liter V8 that makes 449 hp and 516 lb-ft. of torque.
All engines come standard with a fuel-saving nine-speed automatic transmission and Mercedes’ 4Matic all-wheel drive system. A low-range gearbox and a center differential lock are offered at an extra cost.
The range-topping Mercedes-AMG GLS63 turns the dial up to 11 with a twin-turbocharged 5.5-liter V8 that sends 577 hp — 27 more than the outgoing GL63 AMG — and 561 lb-ft. of torque to all four wheels via a seven-speed automatic. Performance specifications haven’t been announced yet, but the behemoth is expected to reach 60 mph from a stop in about 4.6 seconds.
The 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class will go on sale next month, and the first deliveries are scheduled for early next year. Pricing information will be published in the weeks leading up to its on-sale date.
Live images by Brian Williams.
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