ogre.

There is a GLA class - which is an 'SUV' version of the A class.

Now I hear that the M class is to become the GLE class as an SUV equivalent to the E class and the GLK become as GLC.

Does it not logically follow that the GL will become a GLS? Or is it enough that it was the original GL (even though at one time it was the be the new G).

bzliteyear

Mercedes marketing dept for naming SUX, lol.
Heck, the GL450 is not a 4.5 liter, and neither is GL550 a 5.5 liter, though I understand keeping the 6.3 when it used to be a 6.2 liters.
The only marketing/naming that sux worse is the folks at Infiniti when they decided that all their cars went from I, M, Q, and all became Qs...dumb.
PL

Axxlrod

The GL is a nice vehicle, no doubt. But it is nowhere near being equivalent to the S class.

Maybe the next version GL will be closer.

ogre.

Thought provoking.

Of course, overall, you are obviously correct. Even Mercedes may have labelled the GL the 's-class of SUVs', but it is more about being as close as you can get rather than acutally being an S Class SUV.

However more reading leads me to conclude that Mercedes is intent of making a true 'S Class SUV', although it is not clear whether this will be an evolution of the GL or an all new model.

To myself and many others the S-Class is 'old style luxury' and the GL the best of a new style. Offering more of that ultimate luxury, space, than an S Class as well as extra capability to go off road, which i could use, at the sacrifice of ultimate speed, which i could not legally use.

I do see the GL replacing the S as the pinnacle model of mercedes for an increasing number of people, just because the market share of SUVs continues to rise and the market share of sedans continues to fall.

Another interesting indicator is that i now when i picture a motorcade of VIPs, i think of large SUVs in place of large sedans. The SUV is becoming the ultimate limo for an increasing number of people!

Does anyone have the sales figures over the years for the GL and S? It would be interesting to see if the GL is projected to pass the S in numbers.

JimBarnhart

Interesting observation. I came to a similar observation on police cars. Mind you they aren't MBs, but there are getting to be more SUVs versus the traditional sedans.

Ah_gl450

I don't see it changing. As the new MB SUV coming out will be called MLC (X6 competitor).

ogre.

You could be correct about that, or Car and Driver could be right.

http://blog.caranddriver.com/mercede...rly-next-year/

Time will tell. But your opinion is against most of the industry at this time. Almost all are now saying it will be the GLE Coupe.

Ah_gl450

Interesting. if they do make the GL the GLS, then I hope they base it on the S-class platform and a completely different interior and larger. I feel, the ML and GL sharing the same interior up to the C-pillar was a cheap approach to making the GL.

Especially because the GL is so much wider, but you don't feel that in interior space much.

Todd in PA

I received this email today.
Sorry i tried to post as a link but you have to copy and paste.
http://www.automobilemag.com/features/news/1408-mercedes-benz-renaming-model-ranges/?eml=932137&sp_rid=4500662"

Trimmer2

Very interesting. Any word how the AMG's will be labeled?

ogre.

Agreed. This new proposed model scheme should make the GL more related to the S in some way and sharing interior with M (or GLE) would start almost imply that the S and E could also share interiors.

If this scheme is to make sense it requires further distancing the GL (GLS?) and M (GLE?)