FRESH WHIPS:

SUVs were once known for off-road capabilities and functional transport, until luxury came into play and gave drivers and owners a new perspective on daily commutes. Pioneers of opulence Mercedes-Benz and their partners Maybach have thus released their latest offering in the luxury-SUV market: the Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 4MATIC.

This is the first SUV in the paired-name’s history, resulting in am amalgam of drivability from Mercedes-Benz and pure refinement and lavishness from Maybach. For starters, the truck is equipped with its Executive Rear Seating System, which goes far beyond heated seats. Full reclining backs and footrests are complemented with fold out tables – akin to jets and airliners – for productivity on the go. A separate air conditioning unit separates you from the driver’s cabin even further, negating any interference in temperature control. The rear seats mimic those in the front with unrestricted massage programs: six in total. Within the massage system, the seats even combine both the heat units and massagers to provide two “hot stone” modes for maximum comfort. And for even further private-jet-like amenities, the rear is equipped with a refrigerator box as well as magnetically-secured champagne flutes and cup holders, which are also chilled or heated at the press of a button.

If performance is still a requirement, the GLS 600 doesn’t disappoint. Equipped under the hood is a 4.0L biturbo V8 that’s paired with a 48-volt on-board electrical system, resulting in 550hp and 538 lb-ft of torque. The paired hybrid system offers systems like EQ Boost, which allows for 21 additional horsepower and 184 lb-ft additional torque, as well as a complemented fuel rating and energy recovery. 0-60 is accomplished in 4.8 seconds and since the GLS 600 isn’t a sports car, the number is achieved with a flat acceleration curve that Mercedes-Maybach coin “chauffeur mode” via its DYNAMIC DRIVE selections. Other drive-worthy accolades include fewer gearshifts for a smoother ride, a transmission that starts off in second gear for a less jerky start, even optimizations in vibration through the executive seats.

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HYPEBEAST was able to experience the Mercedes-Maybach SUV first-hand, to truly ground ourselves in the abilities of the GLS 600. View our latest episode of Sights & Sounds above.

The Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 4MATIC is delivering now from select dealerships, starting at an MSRP of $160,500 USD.Of all the Subaru Impreza variants made, the 22B STi is without a doubt the one collectors, JDM fans, and automotive heads go wild for. Luckily for them, a very fine specimen of this particular car is currently at auction with Bring a Trailer, and it’s already attracting big dollars despite the auction having 12 days left before the sale’s completion.

This 22B STi is number 156 of the approximate 400 that were built for the Japanese market, and in 2020 it was imported to the U.S. under strict “Show or Display” rules. As such, it can only be driven 2,500 miles a year in the U.S., and only after it turns 25 can it be driven normally — so, in 2023.

Regardless, this model has racked up 40,000 kilometers on the clock, many of which were probably thoroughly enjoyed thanks to the car’s turbocharged 2.2-liter flat-four that drives all four wheels, producing a factory-rated 280 HP at 6,000 rpm and 268 lb-ft of torque at 3,200 rpm.

Built to commemorate Subaru’s 40th anniversary as well as its third consecutive World Rally Championship, the 22B STi really did feature anything imaginable for a sports coupe of its time. For example, the “World Rally Blue”-hued car is set off with factory 17” gold-finished BBS alloy wheels, while the car also features an enlarged hood scoop, widened fenders, rocker extensions, and an adjustable rear wing.

Elsewhere, we find fog lights with covers, a rear wiper, power-folding side mirrors, a cherry blossom red Pleiades grille emblem, a “22B STi” trunk badge, an STi branded exhaust tip, and tinted windows. STi red brake calipers, a ProDrive-tuned suspension, Bilstein shocks, a quick-ratio steering gear, and a carbon fiber strut tower bar also appear, making the car a weapon on any road.

As of writing, the sale still has 12 days left. However, bidders have hiked the price up to $155,555 USD so far. A very clean model has previously sold for $370,000 USD, so expect this one to also go up even higher in price. Take a look at the car above, and find the listing on Bring a Trailer’s website.Porsche‘s all-electric Taycan 4S is arguably one of the most impressive and stunning EVs on the market right now, and now it’s just got a lot better thanks to the hyperrealist master that is Richard Phillips. The New York-based artist and Porsche go back some time, having worked together on the Porsche Digital Livery Configuration platform launch (resulting in a 911 RSR art car for the 2019 24 Hours of Le Mans race), but now Phillips covers the Taycan 4S in his 2010 work Queen of the Night, inspired by the Swiss painter Adolf Dietrich.

The Taycan 4S is standard underneath the new artwork, bringing 523 HP, 472 lb-ft. of torque, and a 0-60 MPH time of just four seconds thanks to its advanced all-wheel-drive system. However, for once, the power figures aren’t the star of the show for this electric car.

Queen of the Night is an homage to Dietrich, albeit on a larger scale than the original canvas painting it references. Phillips is drawn to the Swiss artist’s approach of painting natural compositions, ones that have become a direct and deliberate appropriative creative process for Phillips. Translating this into an art car made sense for the artist, as its all-electric (and therefore eco-friendly nature) reflects the natural elements of his Dietrich homage.

Speaking on the art car, Phillips told RM Sotheby’s, “The first sketches that I made were literally a still life on top of a car…which was a bit too still… I had to re-think that idea and take the elements of the still life, take them apart… greatly increasing their scale, compared to the painted original, in the process… and make them become elements that could flow across the contours of the car, to show speed.”

The 2020 Porsche Taycan 4S Artcar by Richard Phillips is set to hit the RM Sotheby’s auction block from April 6 to April 13 in Switzerland. All proceeds will be donated to Swiss creatives who have been impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The long-awaited Nissan Patrol NISMO is finally here — sort of. Revealed during a virtual Expo 2020 Dubai event, this 2021 model year super-SUV will be coming exclusively to the United Arab Emirates and paves the way for a year of celebrations that mark the 70th anniversary of the Patrol, which originally launched back in 1951.

This NISMO-tuned version is without-fail the most extreme mainstream Patrol around — the award for possibly the most extreme version would go to this privately-owned tuned Patrol that beat a Porsche 918 in a drag race in an episode of The Grand Tour. Regardless, the NISMO one seen above still packs a hefty punch, delivering 428 HP and 560 Nm of torque from its V8 engine that’s built by those who hand-built the Nissan GT-R V6 power plant.

Speaking on the machine, Mitsunori Morita, Chief Designer for NISMO said: “Designing NISMO road cars is both a challenge and a beautiful opportunity to express our passion for design on a superlative level. We designed Nissan Patrol NISMO with a unique customer in mind, one with a true passion for performance. We consider every finest detail to provide the most exciting and authentic experience to fuel the adrenaline and inspire the imagination of the excitement-seekers.”

With that in mind, NISMO fitted the Patrol with a host of modern tech and technical upgrades including Bilstein shock absorbers and a body kit that’s livened up with aerodynamic add-ons all around. The front end is centered around Nissan’s signature honeycomb three-dimensional mesh grille, while horizontal chrome lines and new front lamps encase the large and in charge grile.

Elsewhere, we find a rear bumper housing a set of sports exhaust tailpipes and an LED rear fog light that’s inspired by the Nissan Formula 1 car. Rims measure at 22 inches, while a host of NISMO details and branded touches round out the car’s menacing design.

Take a look at the Nissan Patrol NISMO above, and enquire about the model at Nissan UAE stockists now. The NISMO model is said to launch this April, costing AED 385,000 ($105,000 USD) inclusive of VAT.The Ford Bronco‘s release is just a matter of months away with many already sold out, but that hasn’t stopped the Bronco team from collaborating with some of the finest tuners around on a series of special Bronco upgrades.

Partnering with RTR Vehicles, ARB 4×4 Accessories, and 4 Wheel Parts, the Bronco now comes in a variety of options that enhance its off-roading credentials and aesthetic. For example, RTR Vehicles — helmed by Vaughn Gittin Jr. no less — takes on the heavy-duty four-door Badlands edition and gives it custom RTR rock sliders and a new rear bumper, an RTR 3D-printed grille with simulated accent lights, plus 35” Nitto Ridge Grappler tires mounted to RTR Tech-6 wheels. This is complemented by the new roof-mounted Project X lightbar, custom RTR graphics, and the 12-volt “Type S Blizzard Box” refrigerator/freeze inside the SUV, the latter of which adds some luxurious creature comforts to the rugged off-roader.

As for ARB 4×4 Accessories, it has equipped the Bronco with a new set of bumpers at the front and rear, heavy-duty rock sliders and a differential cover, but it has also put a bigger focus on going off the beaten track with its additional ARB twin compressor, jack and “Zero” refrigerator/freezer.

Rounding out the aftermarket series is 4 Wheel Parts, which takes the four-door Black Diamond series and applies a modular front bumper, skid plates and a winch platform, heavy-duty suspension components, custom roof rack and light mounts, plus a Smittybilt overhead tent and camping gear, awning and refrigerator/air system, all alongside a new set of 37” BFGoodrich mud-terrain tires that are paired with 17” Method alloy wheels.

Speaking on the collaborations, Jeff Seaman, Ford icons regional product line manager, said, “We’ve brought more companies into the personalization process a lot earlier than in the past to take advantage of the unique design aspects of Bronco and Bronco Sport, all aimed at making customization more accessible to a wider range of off-road enthusiasts — from hobbyists to professional off-roaders… In the end, no two Bronco SUVs should ever need to be the same. They can be as diverse as our customers are.”

Take a look at the Ford Bronco’s that have been fitted with suspension, drivetrain, custom wheels, body parts and off-road gear above, and enquire about the RTR Vehicles, ARB 4×4 Accessories, and 4 Wheel Parts upgrades on the dedicated Ford Bronco website.