Mercedes-Maybach revealed the 2027 GLS 680 on July 20, 2026, replacing the current GLS 600 in the lineup. It is a facelift, not a new generation. The M177 twin-turbo V8 now makes 603 hp and 627 lb-ft, up 53 hp and 89 lb-ft from the outgoing car. The nameplate changes with the number.
Powertrain
- Engine: 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8, M177 Evo, with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system
- Power: 603 hp
- Torque: 627 lb-ft
- 0-60 mph: under 4.5 seconds
- Top speed: 155 mph
- Delta from GLS 600: +53 hp, +89 lb-ft
The 48-volt integrated starter-generator adds 23 hp of temporary boost under load and lets the V8 shut off during coasting and low-load cruising. The V8 uses a flat-plane crank in this application.
The number game
Mercedes uses two decimals in Maybach nomenclature: 6.0 and 6.8. Neither is a displacement. The GLS 600 was a 4.0-litre making 550 hp. The GLS 680 is a 4.0-litre making 603 hp. The number is a marketing tier, not an engine size, and the facelift is Mercedes moving this car to the higher tier without changing the fundamental hardware. Same block, same architecture, more boost, more electrification.
What is new outside
The Maybach-specific radiator grille now has an illuminated surround with the Maybach nameplate lit within the grille itself. The standing Mercedes-Benz star on the bonnet is optionally illuminated, a factory first. Digital Light headlamps get rose-gold accents. The taillights are now connected across a black rear panel. Electrified running boards extend at door-open with an illuminated Maybach emblem in the aluminium tread plate.
Two-tone paint options include Dark Petrol over Verde Silver Metallic. Standard wheels are 22-inch with a 20-hole design. Optional wheels are 23-inch forged units with a precision ball-bearing mechanism that keeps the Maybach centre-cap logo upright regardless of wheel rotation. Autoblog called them "self-righting."
Inside
The MBUX Superscreen carries three 12.3-inch displays behind a single glass panel across the dashboard. Front seatbacks add 11.6-inch touchscreens for the rear passengers, with iPhone-5-sized remote touchscreens for occupants to control the rear cabin without reaching forward. Rose gold dials and illuminated outer climate vents extend the exterior styling into the cabin. Executive rear seats add calf massage to the existing multi-contour massage function. A rear refrigerator compartment holds two 0.75-litre champagne bottles.
Audio is Burmester 3D Surround with Dolby Atmos, 15 speakers, 710 watts, standard. The interior is hand-finished in Germany by a two-person Maybach specialist team before shipping to the US assembly plant.
Chassis and ride
Airmatic air suspension is standard. E-Active Body Control is available as an option, with intelligent damping that reads the road ahead. Both systems were on the outgoing car; the tuning is revised for the facelift.
Production and pricing
The 2027 Maybach GLS 680 is built at Mercedes-Benz US International in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. US delivery is expected late 2026. Mercedes has not published pricing. The outgoing GLS 600 started at $181,350 in the US.
Where it lands
Maybach's obvious target is Rolls-Royce Cullinan Series II territory. The Cullinan Series II starts well above $400,000 and makes 563 hp from its twin-turbo V12. The GLS 680 undercuts that by roughly half on price, matches it on rear-cabin equipment for anyone not counting champagne coolers, and now beats it on power by 40 hp. Rolls buyers are not comparison-shopping to Maybach in practice, but the specification gap has been closing steadily since the GLS 600 launched in 2020.
The basics
| 2027 Mercedes-Maybach GLS 680 | |
|---|---|
| Reveal date | July 20, 2026 |
| Engine | 4.0L twin-turbo V8, M177 Evo |
| Electrification | 48V mild hybrid (23 hp boost) |
| Power | 603 hp |
| Torque | 627 lb-ft |
| 0-60 mph | under 4.5 s |
| Top speed | 155 mph |
| Wheels | 22-inch standard / 23-inch forged optional |
| Assembly | Tuscaloosa, Alabama |
| US arrival | Late 2026 |
| US pricing | Not announced |
See how the Maybach GLS lineup fits into Mercedes-AMG's larger SUV range on our GLS model page.
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Sources: 2027 Mercedes-Maybach GLS 680 (Mercedes-Benz USA); 2027 Mercedes-Maybach GLS: More Power, More Style (Motor1); The 2027 Mercedes-Maybach GLS 680 Is Peak Excess, Down To Its Self-Righting Wheels (Autoblog); 2027 Mercedes-Maybach GLS680 Is A More In-Your-Face Refresh Of A Refresh (Jalopnik); 2027 Mercedes-Maybach GLS revealed with powerful V8 and revised styling (The Supercar Blog). Photography: Mercedes-Benz USA press.