Beverly Hills, California- Mercedes just pulled the covers off the 2027 Mercedes Maybach GLS680 at its brand new Manufaktur hub — the first US studio for the company’s bespoke personalisation programme.
603 horsepower. 48-volt hybrid. Predictive air suspension. Illuminated grille spelling out the Maybach name. Starts above $200,000. Arrives before the end of 2026. Built in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
People who buy these know exactly what they are communicating when they pull up.
The Engine — 603hp and Deliberately Smooth
Twin-turbo V8, 48-volt mild hybrid, integrated starter-generator, nine-speed automatic, all-wheel drive. 603 horsepower, 627 lb-ft. That is the drivetrain in the Mercedes Maybach GLS680.
Mercedes added balance shafts to the updated engine specifically to reduce vibration. At this price and in this vehicle, smoothness is not a secondary concern — it is the point. A rear passenger on a conference call does not want to feel the engine. The balance shafts are what makes that possible.
The chassis works with the engine rather than against it. A new steering ratio quickens response at the wheel. Predictive damper control reads the road surface ahead using camera data and adjusts the suspension before bumps can reach the cabin. The air suspension itself is tuned for comfort rather than sport — this is not a car trying to be an M-car. It is a car trying to be a spa.
Off-road mode exists. It is there if a Maybach buyer ever needs it. They almost certainly will not.
The Exterior — Everything Lights Up
The Mercedes Maybach GLS680 does not signal its status quietly.
Maybach-exclusive grille, lit surround, Maybach name glowing inside it. Rose gold driving lights with accent elements between the headlights and grilles. Chrome Maybach patterns on the inlet grilles. Redesigned bumper, more chrome. At the back, a redesigned tailgate with a chrome-starred taillight design.
Optional: a spotlighted Mercedes hood ornament. If the rest of the exterior has not established the car’s identity, the lit bonnet star closes the argument.
The wheels deserve their own paragraph. The standard fitment is a 22-inch, 20-hole design. The optional 23-inch wheel has a gyroscopic Mercedes star centercap that stays upright regardless of how fast the wheel is spinning — the same party trick offered by Bentley and Rolls-Royce. On a car at this price, a self-levelling wheel centercap is exactly the kind of detail that owners notice and guests comment on.
Running boards deploy automatically when a door opens, light up, and project a Maybach puddle lamp on the ground. Everything folds back and goes dark when the soft-close door shuts.
New exterior colours include Dark Petrol, Patagonia Red Metallic from the Manufaktur programme, and a Maybach-exclusive Dark Petrol/Verde Silver Metallic two-tone. A 20-piece hand-stitched leather headliner is available as a Manufaktur customisation.
The Interior — The Rear Seats Are the Destination
The Mercedes Maybach GLS680’s cabin is built around the rear passengers.
Front seats get vibrating massage. Rear seats get an extended massage programme that now includes the recliner calf rests. Optional refrigerator compartment. Burmester Dolby Atmos sound comes standard — two additional speakers and a 710-watt amplifier on top of that. Extra insulation under the bonnet and along the floor means the Burmester is the only thing passengers actually hear at motorway speed.
Air quality gets the Maybach treatment too — a multi-stage filtration system with an ionizer handles dust and exterior contaminants. Multi-stage air filtration with an ionizer — the cabin air in the Mercedes Maybach GLS680 is cleaner than most office buildings.
12.3-inch display spanning the dashboard. Rose gold around the driver dials. Gold, rose, and black backdrop for the secondary display. MBUX with personalised app layout. Virtual Assistant on board — natural speech, no memorised commands needed. Driver assistance: 10 cameras, five radar, 12 ultrasonic sensors. Mostly there to protect the chrome bumper from kerbs. Rear passengers can opt for two 11.6-inch full-HD entertainment displays with integrated cameras that support video conferencing — the Mercedes Maybach GLS680 is one of the few vehicles where a passenger might legitimately conduct a business meeting while in transit.
Beverly Hills, Manufaktur, and What It Means
The reveal location is part of the story. Mercedes opened its first US Manufaktur hub in Beverly Hills specifically to bring the personalisation programme closer to the American buyers who use it most.
Manufaktur is Mercedes’ bespoke customisation service for its top-tier models — the equivalent of Rolls-Royce Bespoke or Bentley Mulliner. At the Beverly Hills studio, buyers can see, touch, and select materials in person rather than working from swatches and digital renders. The Patagonia Red Metallic colour and the hand-stitched leather headliner on the 2027 Mercedes Maybach GLS680 are both Manufaktur offerings — the kind of options that require a studio appointment rather than a dealer visit.
Price and When It Arrives
Above $200,000 — Mercedes has not put a specific number out yet. On sale before end of 2026. Tuscaloosa, Alabama is where it gets built, same plant as the standard GLS.
FAQs
What does the 2027 Mercedes Maybach GLS680 cost?
Above $200,000. Mercedes has not confirmed the exact number.
Mercedes Maybach GLS680 power output?
603hp, 627 lb-ft. Twin-turbo V8 plus 48-volt mild hybrid.
When does the Mercedes Maybach GLS680 arrive?
Before end of 2026.
Where is it built?
Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
What is the gyroscopic wheel centercap on the Mercedes Maybach GLS680?
An optional 23-inch wheel with a Mercedes star centercap that stays upright regardless of wheel rotation speed — the same feature offered by Bentley and Rolls-Royce.
What audio system does the Mercedes Maybach GLS680 have?
Burmester with Dolby Atmos, plus two extra speakers and a 710-watt amp.
Massage seats in the Mercedes Maybach GLS680?
Front: vibrating massage. Rear: extended programme including the recliner calf rests.
What is the Manufaktur programme?
Mercedes’ bespoke personalisation service for top-tier models. The new Beverly Hills studio is the first US Manufaktur hub, allowing buyers to select materials and options in person.
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