Mercedes will have a shiny new bauble for America’s 1-percenters to park in their driveways for Christmas — a Mercedes Maybach SUV.

In early December, Mercedes-Benz will enter the rarefied world of ultraluxe SUVs with the most expensive passenger vehicle made in America.

The 2021 Maybach GLS 600 4MATIC starts at $161,550, including shipping. Fully loaded, the SUV tops out at nearly $200,000.

The SUV, based on the redesigned third-generation GLS platform, will be manufactured at Mercedes’ factory in Vance, Ala.

The tony SUV will compete with the Rolls-Royce Cullinan and Bentley Bentayga for the attention — and wallets — of shoppers in that exclusive segment.

Ultraluxury SUVs, which often share platforms with much less expensive vehicles, are cash cows for automakers. The global market for ultraluxury SUVs should grow from around 7,500 in 2018 to more than 20,000 by 2023, according to AutoForecast Solutions. About 75 percent of these vehicles will be sold in the U.S. and China.

The Maybach SUV is powered by a specially developed 550 hp V-8 engine. The engine is combined with a 48-volt electrical system paired with an integrated starter generator, known as EQ Boost, that can add up to 21 hp for short periods. The Maybach GLS can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 4.8 seconds and reach a top speed of 130 mph.

The next generation of the Maybach SUV could be electrified. Mercedes plans to introduce an electric Maybach within three years as the automaker aims to decarbonize its fleet to meet tightening emissions standards.

The new model features E-Active Body Control, a suspension system developed by Mercedes-Benz that is powered in part by the 48-volt on-board electrical system. The technology combines a hydropneumatic active suspension with the Mercedes Airmatic air suspension system and allows spring and damping forces to be individually controlled at each wheel, counteracting body roll, pitch and squat, the automaker said.

Exterior highlights include the Maybach-exclusive grille with vertical louvres, a standing Mercedes-Benz star on the hood (a first for a Mercedes SUV), chrome trim elements and retracting Maybach running boards. The dashboard of the Maybach GLS is anchored by twin 12.3-inch displays housed behind a continuous glass surface to form a large free-standing screen.

The interior is available as a five-seater or a four-seater, with all seats electrically adjustable, heated, ventilated and equipped with massage.