2017 Mercedes-Benz GLS Arrives at Dealerships Next Spring: 2015 Los Angeles Auto Show

ATLANTA — The face-lifted 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLS flagship SUV, the replacement for the current Mercedes-Benz GL-Class, will arrive at Mercedes-Benz dealerships in late March. The GLS will debut at the 2015 Los Angeles Auto Show.

Dealers will open the order books for the seven-seat GLS, a competitor to the Cadillac Escalade, Infiniti QX80 and Lexus GX 460, in December.

Pricing on the GLS has not been announced, but it is expected to start around $65,000.

The SUV's front end has been redesigned, while the rear gets new LED taillights. Cabin changes include a new instrument panel and three-spoke multifunction steering wheel, along with new trim options.

A new Sport exterior treatment, which is available on the GLS550, features unique front and rear aprons, side running boards, side flaps painted in the vehicle's color and 21-inch AMG light-alloy wheels.

Standard GLS features include remote start, a rearview camera, power tailgate and power folding mirrors.

Options include unique ambient lighting featuring three color shades, a new LED Intelligent Light System for improved nighttime vision and a heated adaptive windshield wiper system.

All of the engines provide better performance than before, Mercedes-Benz said.

For example, the top-of-the-line 2016 Mercedes-AMG GLS63 delivers 577 horsepower, over 27 hp more than its predecessor.

The base GLS350d with a 3.0-liter V6 engine delivers 255 hp and 457 pound-feet of torque.

All models except for the GLS63 will feature the nine-speed automatic transmission as standard. The GLS63 is equipped with a seven-speed 7G-Tronic transmission.

Edmunds says: Car shoppers who are not familiar with the new naming strategy at Mercedes-Benz should think of the GLS as the "S-Class of SUVs," says Mercedes-Benz.