Remember the Vision Mercedes-Maybach Ultimate Luxury concept, that strange-looking SUV/sedan from last year’s Beijing show? It looks like Mercedes plans to build something mighty close to it at its Alabama plant.

Last year’s concept was an EV, but Automotive News reports that the production version of the new Maybach is based on the new, third-generation GLS platform, using a 560-plus-hp V8 engine. That's just shy of the AMG G63’s hand-built 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8.

The SUV is expected to go on sale early next year wearing a roughly $200K sticker price, making it the most expensive passenger vehicle made in America.

Dietmar Exler, Mercedes’ U.S. boss, told Automotive News that Mercedes would like to introduce the Maybach brand across a few more model lines, similar to the AMG performance brand.

The Maybach will compete with Bentley, Rolls-Royce and Lamborghini SUVs, while Aston Martin and Ferrari are also likely to jump into the ultraluxury SUV market. The class is expected to grow from around 7,500 sales last year to more than 20,000 by 2023, according to Automotive News, with about 75 percent sold in the U.S. and China.

Mercedes’ Alabama plant, also gearing up for the next-generation GLS, is in the early stages of a $1 billion upgrade as Mercedes prepares for EVs: Alabama’s planned expansion includes a battery plant and production of the EQ-series EVs in the early 2020s, Automotive News says.

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