3 Minutes
Digital luxury: a Gold Edition that exists only in pixels
Mercedes-Benz launched 2026 with a flurry of activity — including a mid-cycle S-Class refresh in late January — but the brand has kept some of its Maybach cards close to the chest. While the factory delivered a V12-powered Guard variant for the S-Class, the Maybach-badged limousine and an updated GLS Maybach are still rumored. In the meantime, digital artists are filling the gap with creative CGI concepts, the latest being an imagined Mercedes-Maybach GLS 'Gold Edition'.
Who made it and what does it show?
Russian render artist Ildar, known online as ildar_project, imagined a 2026/2027 Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 4Matic dressed in a lavish gold-themed treatment. The concept uses the refreshed GLS lighting graphics — including the star-shaped LED daytime-running-light signature — then layers on exclusive styling cues: satin sand bodywork, a contrasting black roof, and extensive gold-tinted chrome trim. Wire-turbine Vissol aftermarket wheels in black with gold accents finish the look.
This CGI project isn’t an over-the-top tuner job. Instead, it reads as a restrained, high-end interpretation that pushes the Maybach’s image toward Rolls-Royce Cullinan and Bentley Bentayga territory, while cheekily asserting elegance over rivals such as the Ferrari Purosangue and Lamborghini Urus SE.
Design, positioning and market context
Mercedes-Benz is planning a heavy product push across 2026 and into 2027 — around 16 new models this year alone, with seven launches imminent over the next three months. A refreshed GLS family, including a Maybach variant, is likely on the roadmap. Whether Mercedes-Benz will ever build a factory 'Gold Edition' remains speculative, but the CGI illustrates how bespoke finishes and limited-run trims could help Maybach compete in the ultra-luxury SUV segment.
Highlights:
- Imagined model: Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 4Matic (2026/2027)
- Notable styling: star-shaped LED DRLs, gold-tinted chrome, satin sand paint with black roof
- Wheels: Vissol wire-turbine style with black and gold accents
Performance and reality check
The concept is purely visual — there’s no new drivetrain or performance claims attached to the render beyond what the GLS 600 4Matic already offers in production form. In reality, Maybach GLS models emphasize a blend of powerful engines, cushioned ride, and sumptuous interiors rather than sport-car performance. The real competition remains the Cullinan and Bentayga, which combine status, bespoke options, and customer-specific personalization programs.
"Digital concepts like this give us a peek at appetite for extreme personalization," says one industry observer. "They can influence limited editions, but Mercedes will decide based on brand strategy and customer demand."
Whether Mercedes-Benz will ever offer a factory Gold Edition is uncertain. For now, the render underscores the strong appetite for hyper-luxury finishes and highlights how digital creators influence automotive styling trends. Should Mercedes-Maybach go gold? It’s an idea that might find buyers — if only a fortunate few.
What do you think: tasteful elevation or too much bling for Maybach? Share your thoughts with fellow readers.
Source: autoevolution
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