2019 Mercedes-Benz GLS Looking to Take on BMW X7

This time, the camouflaged 7-seater from Stuttgart is seen beside a Citroen passenger van. As the lights turn green, the SUV pulls away with the grace of a 2-ton ballerina.

We already have a new GLC, which is soon to be joined by the GLE successor. The same platform will also be used by the new GLS. Mercedes was the first to stumble upon the idea of an American-made large SUV with family car orientations.

The GL-Class formula will soon be copied by the BMW X7, which was presented as a concept in Frankfurt last week and has by far the biggest interior of any car built by the Bavarians.

As it wears the letter S at the end of its name, the GLS is a flagship of sorts for the Mercedes-Benz SUV lineup, even though the title technically belongs to the G-Class. As such, the company bosses got the idea of also making Maybach versions.

The idea was rumored for many years, but we're pretty sure the 2019 GLS will make it happen. Think of it less along the lines of the crazy S650 Cabriolet and more like the current S560.

Speaking of those fancy new numbers, the 2019 GLS-Class should have inline-6 and V8 engines. There could be one 4-cylinder hybrid, but that's about it! The largest and most powerful mill will be a 4-liter used by the AMG version and packing around 600 ponies. So yes, BMWs and Range Rovers will have the displacement advantage, and so will the Bentayga.

But for the most part, the aim of the new engines will be more refinement and better fuel economy than the outgoing model.

The timing of these spy images suggests the second-generation GLS will debut in late 2018 or early 2019, most probably coming after the BMW X7.