Mercedes-Benz SUV portfolio to expand

Mercedes-Benz is planning to expand its five-strong SUV model range with more models covering the luxury and sporty genres.

Gone are the days when an SUV was a utilitarian vehicle capable of going off-road.

While those cars still exist, the latest models are more about looking good and fitting lots of people and their gear in.

But a new emerging breed of niche-focused SUVs is set to challenge traditional sports cars for performance, and luxury cars for comfort and features.

"Of course we are thinking many variants and many opportunities," said Wolf-Dieter Kurz, Mercedes-Benz vice president product group for SUVs and sports cars.

An ultra luxury model - to compete with upcoming SUVs from the likes of Bentley and Jaguar - was also being considered, said Kurz.

It's likely such a vehicle would be based on the new GLS, a car that will replace the current GL as the brand's largest SUV.

However it could wear the Maybach badge and bring plenty more luxury features and some unique design touches.

Kurz suggested that while the mainstream Benz SUV range – consisting of the baby GLA, upcoming mid-sized GLC, soon-to-arrive ML replacement called GLE (to be sold in wagon and sportier coupe body styles), soon-to-be-renamed GL (as GLS) boxy and rugged-G-Wagen – would likely be joined by spin-offs and variants designed to capitalise on the unrelenting demand for high-riding wagons.

"I feel that the SUV segment … will be also in future the one that sees the most derivatives in the outskirts of the portfolio," said Kurz.

Kurz hinted a lower-slung, family friendly SUV with some sporting pretensions was being considered.

He put forward the R-Class as the sort of concept he believes could get interest.

"These more on-road based but still very roomy but not station wagon; it's definitely an interesting segment in the future."

Kurz said there were "many ideas" but no decisions regard the expanded car.

"There are lots of discussions because we are dealing with the question what will the future SUV look like."

Kurz also said hybrid technology – which includes full or electric drivetrains – is likely to expand from the GLE and upcoming GLC that currently offer it overseas.

"That's also why we put lots of efforts into fuel efficiency and also into hybrid vehicles, because that's the key to success of the future of the vehicle.

As for the trusty G-Wagen, it's going nowhere fast.

Kurz said the G-Class – which has a boxy and rugged high riding off-road wagon – which first appeared in the late 1970s was a unique vehicle and one the brand had no point in dropping.

"It will survive as long as we can find customers," said Kurz.