It’s often said that electric power for high-end luxury cars is the most natural fit for zero-emission motoring. Weight is less of an issue because luxury, by its very nature, adds things that aren’t technically necessary. Also, the high cost of big batteries is not such a problem when you’re marketing to the world’s wealthiest men and women. And then there’s the silence and shove of an electric car, which, if anything, improves the in-car experience. No surprise, then, that along with Roll-Royce and Bentley, Mercedes is about to launch its first all-electric Maybach.
It's not based on the EQS saloon, though. The Maybach EV is based on the EQS SUV, although that’s probably no surprise, either. Bentley’s flagship these days is the Bentayga EWB, and SUVs are apparently what everyone wants. So rather than a bespoke car, this is a Mercedes in a Versace frock. And not a very subtle frock, looking at the pictures. Some might say the strive to deliver gaucheness has reached new and dizzying heights.
As usual, the press release is an enigma – I can only assume it was written by ChatGPT with the mother of all hangovers. Let me give you an example of what I mean: ‘The front is characterised by the brand-typical black panel with vertical, chrome-plated trim strips in a three-dimensional depth look.’ I might be wrong, but I think that’s talking about the grille. Maybe the next sentence will add some clarity. ‘The large black panel is smooth closed for the first time.’ Or maybe not, so let me try to distil things for you: this is a two-tone (and almost certainly way over two-tonnes) EQS SUV with more chrome and some Maybach badges. And in case you think that some stuck-on badges are meaningless, you’re wrong. ‘A Maybach emblem on the D-pillar underlines the high quality.’ See, that’s told you, and there’s more.
‘The classic MAYBACH lettering is discreetly incorporated into a chrome plated decorative strip, which forms a unit with the continuous light strip of the standard DIGITAL LIGHT headlights. DIGITAL LIGHT welcomes and says goodbye to the driver with a special light show.’ Ahh, it says hello and goodbye in a pre-programmed, completely inanimate way. How lovely. Now that really is quality.
Right, time to focus our attention on the interior. Before you look at the pictures of the Maybach inside, here’s what the press release says about the ethos behind it: ‘The design of the interior also consistently follows the Maybach credo, “What is good must also be beautiful.” So how do you think they’ve done on that score? Again, it’s the same architecture as the EQS SUV, albeit with a modified look. It has the same MBUX Hyperscreen – in case you’re thinking that’s one huge screen, it’s actually three individual screens laid across the dashboard. The difference here is the Maybach has its own start-up graphics (yes, this car simply will not stop welcoming you) and a blue theme. Speaking of themes, the incomprehensibility theme continues with this description of the instruments: ‘The pointers in the two tubes are designed like a silk scarf that moves elegantly in the wind according to the speed and driving style.’ I am really not making this stuff up, I promise.
Alongside a multitude of infotainment upfront, there is a tablet and two more 11.6-inch screens for the rear-seat passengers - who, unsuprisingly, can control all manner of things from the thrones in the back, including sat nav destination. There's also something called MBUX Interior Assist. This uses cameras to recognise what passengers want by their body and hand movements, and will carry out the corresponding functions – for example switching on the reading lights. I am sure that system is infallible.
As you might expect, there are lots of nice, warm materials on show. This includes sustainably processed nappa leather in various colour combinations (this is vegetable-tanned leather using coffee bean shells as tanning agents) and natural woods like brown, open-pore birch or walnut. There are also the usual pillows on the headrests and a ‘stainless steel pedal system.’ I am assuming this means the pedals are made from stainless steel, and it’s not some sort of Flintstones’ style propulsion system just in case the battery dies.
In the rear, there is a ‘so-called cocooning effect.’ This 'so-called' effect includes executive seats that are ventilated and heated – including neck and shoulder heating – and have a massage function for your calf muscles. And with the Chauffeur Package, when you recline the rear seat, the front passenger seat moves automatically forward to extend the legroom. There’s even more wood on the back of the front seats, a centre console that contains the tablet mentioned earlier and ‘on request, the centre console can include two folding tables, a cooling compartment and silver-plated champagne goblets.’ One imagines that if you do request this, Mercedes will request that you pay handsomely for those additional items rather than give them away for free. There’s even a projector in the centre console that projects the Maybach emblem onto the floor.
Meanwhile, a HEPA filter cleans the incoming air of fine dust, tiny particles and pollen, and the active air freshener will attempt to hide any smells produced actively from those within the cabin. On the other side of cabin ambience, the 15-speaker Burmester sound system includes two ‘exciters’ in each seat that makes the listening experience ‘four-dimensional’. There’s also a driving sound, to mimic engine noise, called ‘Aerial Grace’ that is bespoke to the Maybach. To remove unwanted noise, the Maybach has a better-sealed boot, laminated glass and the front motor disconnects when it’s not required.
The EQS SUV is badged 680 rather than 580, which is currently the top model in the Mercedes EQS SUV line-up. That means more power at 658hp and 700lb ft of torque – enough for 0-62mph in 4.4 seconds and 130mph maxed out.
The battery charges at up to 396 volts but it doesn’t say how big the battery is. We assume it’s bigger than the 108kWh battery used in the EQS SUV, because the Maybach's provisional range of 372 miles is greater than the longest-range EQS, which is 365 miles. It’s going to make this a very heavy car (too heavy to quote a figure in the press release) and not that efficient at 2.76 m/kWh.
Finally, just in case you think that this is consumerism at its most extreme, Mercedes is at great pains to tell us how sustainable this Maybach is. Yes, really. Along with the vegetable leather, which it’s pointed out must come from coffee beans that aren't from deforestation, the manufacturer claims that ‘a number of parts and components are made from resource-saving materials,’ like secondary steel and recycled aluminium. It also insists that the plant in Alabama that produces the EQS and its battery is a net carbon-neutral facility. There you go, the first Maybach SUV maybe gauche, but its owners can satisfy themselves that it’s indisputably green.
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