16:54 21-07-2026

Mercedes-Maybach GLS 680: 611 HP, Self-Leveling Wheel Emblems, and a New Cabin

The 2027 Mercedes-Maybach GLS 680 debuts with a 611-hp twin-turbo V8, predictive air suspension, and optional 23-inch wheels with a center cap that stays upright as it spins.

The Mercedes-Maybach GLS 680 gets a reworked V8 making around 611 hp, a road-scanning air suspension, and optional 23-inch wheels with a fixed-look center emblem. On the new wheels, the center star stays upright as the car moves — handled by a bearing-mounted mechanism that’s purely decorative. The practical side is less glamorous: low-profile tires that size cost more, feel every pothole, and demand a careful check after a hard hit. The standard wheels remain 22 inches.

The refreshed SUV gets a four-liter twin-turbo V8, the M177 Evo. Output comes to 603 American hp, or about 611 metric hp, with 850 Nm of torque. That’s a gain of 53 hp and 121 Nm over the outgoing version. The 48-volt system’s starter-generator briefly adds roughly 23 hp more, recovers energy under braking, and enables coasting with the engine off.

The Airmatic air suspension now draws on data from other Mercedes vehicles, learning about bumps ahead before the car gets there. The optional E-Active Body Control reads more than 20 sensors up to 1,000 times a second, curbs pitch and roll, and can lean the body into a corner by up to three degrees. The system smooths out the ride, but it also raises the stakes for post-warranty repairs — an owner of an imported car will need a shop with access to the factory diagnostics and suspension calibration.

The GLS 680 is built mainly for four occupants. There’s no third row; instead, individual Executive seats sit in the back with massage that now extends to calf support. Standard kit includes a fridge, three front displays at 12.3 inches, 11.6-inch rear screens, and a Burmester sound system with 15 speakers. The electric running boards extend in under a second, light up, and project the Maybach logo onto the ground.

U.S. pricing for the 2027 model hasn’t been announced yet. The outgoing Maybach GLS started around $181,000. The new version is expected to land near $200,000. Deliveries to U.S. dealers begin before the end of 2026.