![\"Mercedes](\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2019\/04\/17\/PDTN\/d8654f7b-b714-4577-8825-26f088ba1a90-SSPIP94320.jpg?width=540&height=&fit=bounds&auto=webp\")
<\/p>\n<\/div>Mercedes debuted its giant three-row, gas-guzzling GLS SUV on Wednesday in New York.\u00a0(Photo: Daimler AG)<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n New York \u2013\u00a0<\/em>In the age of $2.80 gas, giant\u00a0fuel-guzzling SUVs are funding automakers’ investments in money-losing electric vehicles. For example, Chevy funds its Bolt EV with profits from its three-row Suburban SUV.<\/p>\n Same goes for Mercedes-Benz.<\/p>\n The German automaker on Wednesday\u00a0revealed an all-new three-row Mercedes GLS SUV. It’s quite a contrast with the Mercedes EQC, a compact electric SUV that debuted at the CES technology show in January and gave Americans their first look at the brand\u2019s new EQ electric line.<\/p>\n The two SUVs share little except standard all-wheel drive, a state-of-the-art MBUX infotainment system and a curb weight in excess of 5,300 pounds.<\/p>\n Though the three-row GLS is two vehicle sizes bigger than the EQC (which is based on the same chassis as Mercedes’ gas-powered GLC compact SUV), the EV\u2019s 80-kWh batteries are a boat anchor bringing its weight on par with its\u00a0big brother.<\/p>\n The EQC is the first entry in a new brand of Mercedes SUVs,\u00a0just as BMW has introduced an i-line of electric cars and Volvo has started a Polestar EV line. For New York, Mercedes is showing a special edition EQC 1886 \u2013 a reference to Karl Benz\u2019s first three-wheel vehicle in 1886. The special edition is loaded with luxury details.<\/p>\n Unlike competing SUV EVs like the Audi e-Tron or Tesla Model X, Mercedes has not made a new \u201cskateboard\u201d chassis for the EQC, but adapted an existing SUV chassis. As a result, the Mercedes is quick to 60 in under 5 seconds but lacks its competitors’ lower center of gravity for nimbler handling.<\/p>\n The giant GLS, which originally debuted in 2006 and is made in Alabama for the American market, makes a nod toward\u00a0electrification by introducing a 48-volt system for both its turbo V-6 and V-8 engines. The system helps with fuel efficiency, smooths the drivetrain and allows for a power boost of up to 21 horsepower when desired.<\/p>\n Even at an estimated 20 mpg fuel economy, however, the GLS will go much farther than the EQC on a tank of fuel thanks to its mammoth 26-gallon fuel tank. The GLS will drive 500 miles on a tank while the EQC will get an estimated 200 miles on a charge. Final EPA numbers will be disclosed as the GLS comes to market later this year and the EQC debuts in 2020.<\/p>\n The big GLS is based on a unibody chassis unlike truck-based\u00a0three-row competitors like the Cadillac Escalade and Lincoln Navigator. Its third row is no less roomy, though.\u00a0The rear seats are also heated and are equipped with USB ports (the SUV has nine in all).<\/p>\n MBUX enables speech recognition command by simply introducing yourself to the system\u00a0\u2014\u00a0\u201cHey, Mercedes\u201d and then telling it what\u00a0you want. The system first appeared on the entry-level A-class\u00a0sedan and has migrated upward\u00a0to its expensive SUVs.<\/p>\n Such amenities are common in the imposing SUV which will likely start in the mid-$60,000 range but top out north of $100,000 if you want to option the V-8 engine and other amenities.<\/p>\n Those amenities include optional\u00a0second-row captains\u00a0chairs over the standard bench seat. The second-row thrones get their own tablet for controlling cabin features.<\/p>\n The standard all-wheel drive system is mated to the 362-horse, 3.0-liter turbo V-6 or turbo-V8 putting out 483. The GLS is equipped with safety technology like automatic braking and blind-spot assist to help it avoid trouble \u2013 or avoid causing trouble.<\/p>\n The big German introduces a standard Carwash mode that preps the vehicle \u2014 with the push of a button \u2014\u00a0to enter a car wash. The program sets the car in the highest riding position for maximum cleaning of wheel wells. It\u00a0folds\u00a0the mirrors, closes\u00a0the sunroof and any open windows, and \u00a0turns off features like automatic windshield wipers when water hits the car.<\/p>\n At the end of the wash, the GLS will automatically deactivate these settings and drive autonomously away at 12 mph.<\/p>\n The GLS bears Mercedes\u2019 familiar, imposing grille highlighted by a giant, three-pointed star logo.<\/p>\n As an electric vehicle that doesn\u2019t need air for a radiator, the EQC\u2019s grille is put to a different use: styling.<\/p>\n The logo lights up \u2013 complementing a wide LED light that connects the two headlights and fames the deep, black grille. The grille shield looks more Honda than Mercedes and is the signature for Mercedes’ new EQ line.<\/p>\n Times are a-changing.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Mercedes debuted its giant three-row, gas-guzzling GLS SUV on Wednesday in New York.\u00a0(Photo: Daimler AG) New York \u2013\u00a0In the age of $2.80 gas, giant\u00a0fuel-guzzling SUVs are funding automakers’ investments in money-losing electric vehicles. For example, Chevy funds its Bolt EV with profits from its three-row Suburban SUV. Same goes for Mercedes-Benz. The German automaker on […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23669"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23669"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23669\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23669"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23669"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23669"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}