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The BMW M8 leads this month's list of discounts

Back in June of this year, the BMW 8 Series was the most heavily discounted vehicle in America. This month, it's the 617-horsepower M8. Midsummer buyers of the 2020 BMW M8, which is offered in hardtop, convertible and four-door Gran Coupe bodystyles, were seeing an average of $6,150 cut off the sticker; this month that figure has ballooned all the way to $16,864. That's more than 11% off the car's $150,000-plus retail price, and, according to data provided by TrueCar, it's the largest dollar amount sliced off the retail price of any car for the month of September. Next is the Maserati Quattroporte, buyers of which are saving $15,912 for an average transaction price of $99,763. If that's still too expensive, the smaller Ghibli's $70,030 average transaction price represents a huge 14.5% discount, earning the Italian sedan entry into our monthly top 10 best deals list.  The third largest monetary discount in September comes off the $131,066 sticker price of the lovely 2019 Mercedes-AMG GT. Take $15,473 off that sum for an average transaction price of $115,593. For a look at the best new car deals in America based on the percentage discount off their suggested asking prices, check out our monthly recap here. And when you're ready to buy, click here for the Autoblog Smart Buy program, which brings you a hassle-free buying experience with over 9,000 Certified Dealers nationwide. BMW Maserati Mercedes-Benz Car Buying Coupe Luxury Performance Sedan consumer best deals biggest discount

Mercedes-Maybach SUV concept headed for Beijing reveal in April

Mercedes-Benz has toyed with the idea of a Maybach SUV for at least 11 years. According to Autocar, we'll finally see a concept with production intent at the Beijing Motor Show next month, the luxury SUV slated for market release next year. As has been the rumor for at least six years, the Maybach people carrier will be based on a stretched version of the GLS, which moves to the company's new Modular High Architecture with the 2019 model. Back in 2007 when Maybach was its own brand and selling roughly 300 units per year, Car magazine reported that brand chiefs were interested in convertible versions of the Maybach 57 and 62 sedans, and an SUV. Maybach built a one-off concept based on the GL — the former GLS-Class — in 2009, but never took the idea further. The rumor popped up again in 2014, then in 2015, reaching not-if-but-when status early last year. A decade on, it's finally time to play the hand. Even though the super-luxe SUV would sit on a stretched version of what is already a three-row SUV, it's reasonable to expect the Maybach SUV will only get two rows. That would give designers plenty of extra room for seating luxury and amenities even beyond the S-Class Maybach. On the other hand, if Mercedes sticks to the rough Maybach playbook so far, a triple-row Maybach would be the only such SUV in the mid- to upper-six-figures. The S-Class 560 4Matic starts at $102,990, the S 560 4Matic Maybach starts at $168,600. Applying that spread to the $94,500 GLS 550, you'd land around $160,000 before adding the markup for a new generation. That kind of starter pricing might make a great tweener proposition. Mercedes could focus on a range of buyers who want to go upscale from the $125,300 AMG GLS 63, without needing to worry — yet — about challenging Bentley and Rolls-Royce. Power is said to come from some version of the company's oft-applied 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 that puts out 462 horsepower in the S 560, but the 3.0-liter inline-six hybrid in the S 560e is under consideration. We'll know next month, when the lightly veiled concept takes the stand in China. The full-on production version should get an introduction at this year's L.A. Auto Show. Related Video:

Mercedes G-Class 'Designo Manufaktur' even more upscale

Catering to customers who want the brand to provide more customization instead of having to confer with aftermarket tuners, Mercedes-Benz has added a new design book of options to the G-Class called Designo Manufaktur. Developed to offer a range of personalizing choice, a studio in Graz, Austria where the G-Class is built adds exclusive colors and hand-finished touches for buyers, some of them reserved only for the AMG models. New exterior colors include a roof that can be drenched in obsidian black and sheetmetal dressed in non-metallic fire opal, metallic designo mauritius blue metallic, and matte hues like designo yellow olive magno. The wheel selection has grown, with alloys available in black, and the spare wheel cover - normally in a polished finish - can be painted body color. The side strips can be all black instead of black and chrome, or carbon fiber-look for AMG models. Throw the Night package on top of all that and you get more black touches in places like the mirror housings and dark-tint windows. The interior options add saddle brown, deep-sea blue, silk beige, and mocha brown to the collection of swatches, with coordinating topstitching. AMG models can be decked out in red, with red seat belts, and Dinamica microfiber accents. The press release below tells the whole story. Even more individuality ex factory: "designo manufaktur" for the G-ClassStuttgart, Dec 04, 2015 - The Mercedes-Benz G-Class has been writing an incomparable success story since 1979. "designo manufaktur" is now making the classic cross-country vehicle even more individual ex factory. Customers can now tailor the off-road icon to their personal style.The name says it all: "designo manufaktur" captures customers' imagination with individual equipment and appointments features, traditional craftsmanship and the highest quality. The new individualisation programme fulfils the wishes of numerous G-Class customers for their own personal, tailor-made cross-country vehicle. "designo manufaktur" offers exclusive, unique colour and material compositions inside and out. With a host of combination options, the off-roader develops its very special character and unmistakable style.The Manufaktur hand-finishing section, which turns a G-Class into a unique "G", is located in Graz. Be it exterior or interior, topstitching or model badge, virtually every detail is lovingly crafted by hand.