Next Mercedes-Benz GLS to gain S-Class autonomous tech

Mercedes-Benz has moved testing of its next Mercedes-Benz GLS to the Nürburgring, where the heavyweight SUV is being put through its paces ahead of its anticipated public debut later this year.

Although heavily camouflaged, the successor to Mercedes’ current range-topping SUV can be seen sporting a design similar to that of the smaller and also recently spotted new GLE, which is also due later this year.

The GLS’s significantly larger scale is emphasised by its boxier rear section, although part of this is due to cladding applied to the development car to hide its design.

Like the current GLS, the next-gen car will share many parts with the Mercedes-Benz S-Class luxury saloon, including its powertrains. The S-Class has six and eight-cylinder turbocharged petrol engines, a six-cylinder turbo diesel and a petrol-electric plug-in hybrid, so expect a similar line-up with the GLS.

An electrified powertrain will help to ensure the GLS can compete in regions with strict emissions limits and allow Mercedes to significantly cut CO2 for the model to help it survive into the next generation of CO2 limit enforcement, which comes into play from 2020.

Key to this will be a 48V electric system that uses an electric booster compressor and integrated starter generator to enable mild hybrid running in non plug-in models.