It would make sense for Mercedes to leverage the revival of its Maybach nameplate with an ultra-luxury SUV offering, especially since other automakers including Lamborghini are also entering the segment that is now ruled by the Bentley Bentayga. In an interview with Automotive News, Mercedes-Benz US sales chief Steve Cannon hinted at plans to introduce an equally decadent and high-end SUV, albeit under the Maybach banner. “There’s just an nearly unending appetite for SUVs, and luxury SUVs are proving that”, he added, with a very vivid memory of the sales figures and details in his mind, no doubt.

According to Cannon, an “incredible number” of GL’s are already ordered loaded to the gills, indicating there is a strong demand for something even more luxurious than Mercedes’ current flagship SUV.

A pre-production Bentley Bentayga was spotted several days ago in New York, United States. And it looks like it will soon be spreading to the GL SUV too. Well, they can’t, but who says Mercedes-Maybach can only do limousines based on the S-Class.

Mercedes’ foray in to the world of Bentley and Rolls Royce with the Maybach brand was pretty much an unmitigated disaster, but the Maybach badge is now back as a Mercedes sub-brand and adorning the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class. For $192,025 to start, the S600 comes with a stout turbo V-12 making 523 hp and 612 lb-ft of torque, as well as a stunning interior that includes rear-seat captain’s chairs more elegant than anything you’ll find outside of a private jet.

Still, it’s nearly certainly not going to stop a Mercedes-Maybach SUV hitting MB’s showrooms when the GL gets a tweak and turns in to the 2016 Mercedes GLS.