All-Electric Vision Mercedes-Maybach Ultimate Luxury concept revealed
It’s an odd name but the Vision Mercedes-Maybach Ultimate Luxury concept has been revealed overnight at the Beijing Motor Show.
THE ALL-ELECTRIC Vision Mercedes-Maybach Ultimate Luxury concept has been revealed in China with the crossover offering four electric motors (one for each wheel) and “fully variable all-wheel drive”.
“The Vision Mercedes-Maybach Ultimate Luxury is a totally new archetype of a kind never seen before,” says Gorden Wagener, Chief Design Officer at Daimler AG.
“Our concept combines the DNA of an SUV with that of a saloon to produce an ultra-modern SUV of three-box design,” says Wagener. “With sensuality and pure sophistication, we have created a timeless vehicle that underscores the position of Mercedes-Maybach as the ultimate luxury brand.”
The output from the powertrain is 550kW. The flat underfloor battery has a usable capacity of around 80 kWh, producing an NEDC range of over 500 kilometres. The top speed is electronically limited to 250 km/h.
There’s fast-charging functionality allows a charging capacity of up to 350kW. In just five minutes, enough power can be charged to achieve an additional range of around 100 kilometres. The battery can be charged by cable at public charging stations, conventional domestic socket outlets or by induction. The charging current is contactlessly transmitted by an electromagnetic field below the car.
Mercedes-Maybach describes the vehicle as having “tremendous presence” and the interior combining elements of Chinese furniture design. The grille is taken from the Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 from 2016 which ended up being tweaked and used on the current Mercedes-Maybach S-Class. The 24-inch turbine-like wheels round out the major exterior design points.
Apparently, the aim of the interior designers was to transport driver and passengers into an “unprecedented world of luxury”.
We can’t do the description justice, so, here’s how Mercedes-Maybach describe it: “The generous feeling of spaciousness, together with the high-contrast colour compositions, make for a hitherto unattained luxury experience. The colours employed are typical of the brand, such as rosé gold, crystal white and pearl grey. Flowing forms, delicate fabrics and aluminium parts create an exciting contrast between the sportily elegant details of an SUV and the lightness of a saloon”. Wow. Okay.
Away from the airy-fairy, there are two 12.3-inch digital displays, while the seats look to be amongst the most sumptuous ever fitted to a vehicle with their crystal white nappa leather trimmed with diamond stitching in rose gold…and then there’s the tea service that retracts into the centre console; yep, there’s a heated tray with teapot and cups on-hand in this concept. Is this taking things a little too far?
There’s also a clever infotainment system that, instead of offering long menus and lists will play music to match the “current mood, it knows the appointment calendar and plans the routes accordingly. In the rear, various flavours of tea and relaxation programmes are on offer, depending on who the rear passenger is”.
The ENERGIZING comfort control has been carried over from the S‑Class. Systems such as massage, fragrancing, light and music “are combined, helping to regenerate and improve concentration”. Hmmm.
It goes further still with a variety of capacitive touch-sensitive screens, pads and buttons around the vehicle to allegedly reduce driver distraction.
There’s no word on when a vehicle based on the concept is likely to make it into production, but it’s believed that elements of the vehicle will make it to market in various other M-B models, like the electric powertrain in the EQ S Saloon around 2020. While the dimensions of the concept are claimed to match those of the Maybach-GLS which is due in 2019. So, I guess it’s a case of, stay tuned.
