You know the SUV market is alive and healthy when a company that was axed just three years ago and revived last year could now get its own (luxury) family hauler. I am, of course, talking about Maybach and the possibility that Mercedes could finally green light an über luxurious SUV for its premium brand.
Mercedes board member Ola Källenius let the cat out of the bag in a conversation with Top Gear, although he did throw out the nugget of information with a couple of caveats. First, it’s still not an absolute certainty. Second, if Mercedes does give the thumbs up, it’s not going to arrive anytime soon. As it is, Källenius explained, a Maybach SUV isn’t likely to happen if Mercedes tapped into its current platform. It wouldn’t make sense using that because a Maybach SUV would need to be carefully planned if it hopes to make a dent in a market that’s currently populated by the likes of the Bentley Bentayga and Maserati Levante.
The safer bet would be to develop the next-generation platform with the model in mind, something that the German automaker is unlikely to rush just so it can accommodate the model. While that’s a little disappointing, those who have been eagerly waiting for a Maybach SUV aren’t going to sweat the specifics if it means that there’s renewed consideration for the model.
The good news is that it’s back on the table and that the growing clout of the premium SUV market means that Mercedes won’t be too quick to dismiss the model the way it did in the past. So cross your fingers that the decision-makers over at Stuttgart will consider the benefits of having a Maybach SUV on the market. At the very least, having that model means that Mercedes will have a presence in what is fast becoming one of the most competitive segments in the business.
Continue after the jump to read the full story.
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