The Mercedes GL is going to get an upgrade with the new GLS 350d set to be launched in India on 18th May. If the change in model name is confusing, it is because Mercedes has been aligning its SUV lineup to mirror its sedan range. Essentially, a ‘C’, ‘E’ or ‘S’ at the end of the model name denotes that model’s pecking order on the Mercedes line-up, the same way it does so for the sedans. So the GLS is going to be like the S-Class of the SUV range for Mercedes.

The new GLS’s exterior and the interior gets a brush over with the current Mercedes design principles.  The LED-eyebrow headlamp cluster design from the S-Class, a little tweak in the tail lamp design and a redesigned front air dam round of the changes on the outside. Inside, the jog-dial command control system from the S-Class, the touchpad, a larger central infotainment screen, updated graphics for the instrument console and three-spoke steering wheel are the important changes. The Dynamic Select system, which allows one to toggle between different driving modes (first seen on the C-Class) makes its way into the GLS, along with the 9G-Tronic transmission, replacing the older seven speed unit. No updates to the engine though, with the 3.0-litre engine still producing 255 bhp and 63.2 kgm.

Ultra luxurious SUVs are the talking point these days, and Mercedes wants to go against the Range Rovers of this world with the GLS. Therefore, it wouldn’t be surprising if the new GLS is launched at quite a premium over the old one, with the GLS500 and the AMG versions following the diesel.