Is the Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 the shape of things to come?
Designed at the outset as an
electric car, the drive system has an output of 550 kW (750 bhp). The
shallow underfloor battery allows a range of over 500 km according to the
NEDC (over 200 miles according to EPA).
The large
coupé, almost 6m in length, made its debut this week at Monterey Car Week held
on the Monterey Peninsula, California. The final event tomorrow will be the
Pebble Beach Concours D'Elégance.
Daimler AG says
the Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 represents the ultimate in luxury. The
company’s copywriters exude: “The classic aesthetic proportions of the show car
– the extremely long bonnet, the low roof line and the rearward positioning of
the greenhouse – recall the aero coupés of days gone by. But this is not retro
design – this is a reinterpretation of classic, aesthetic principles.”
"Our
glamorous coupé, the Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6, represents the ultimate in
contemporary luxury. It is hot and cool", states Gorden Wagener, head of design
at Daimler AG. "With its intelligent appeal and reduced, technoid
look, it perfectly embodies our design philosophy of sensual purity and our
pursuit of aerodynamic efficiency".
So, we even
have a new word: technoid.
A feature is
provided by the gullwing doors, a hallmark Mercedes design element which has
been brought up to date. They underline the sporty character of the vehicle's
silhouette and feature innovatively designed aluminium trim. The exterior
mirrors designed as cameras are supported on the wings.
Daimler claims “the
extended, round ‘boat tail’ format of the Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6's rear
recalls a luxury yacht, and narrow tail lights which emphasise the width of the
vehicle are integrated in its outer edges. Above this sit the two extremely
shallow rear windows (split window). Further distinctive features at the rear
include the diffuser with aluminium frame and the air outlets behind the wheel
arches.”
Emission-free driving
The side sills, illuminated
by LED light strips, clearly underline the fact that the Vision
Mercedes-Maybach 6 is designed as an electric car. Thanks to its four
compact permanent magnet synchronous electric motors, it features all-wheel
drive. The output of the drive system is 550 kW (750 hp).
The shallow
underfloor battery has a usable capacity of some 80 kWh. This allows
performance characteristics typical of a sports car (acceleration from 0‑100 km/h
in under four seconds, top speed electronically governed at 250 km/h) as
well as a range of over 500 km according to the NEDC (over 200 miles
according to EPA).
Daimler adds
that the quick-charge function is also visionary: as a result of DC charging
based on the CCS standard, the system allows a charging capacity of up to
350 kW. In five minutes enough power can be charged to achieve an
additional range of around 100 km.
The battery can
be charged either through a cable connection at a public charging station or a
conventional domestic outlet or, for even more convenience, it can be charged
wirelessly, via an electromagnetic field.
Current Maybach
vehicles include the Mercedes-Maybach
S 500 and S 600 models,
launched in February 2015, which blend the perfection of the Mercedes-Benz
S‑Class with the exclusivity of Maybach. A special protection version, the Mercedes-Maybach S 600 Guard, is
the world's first passenger car to meet the highest ballistic protection level
for civilian vehicles, VR10.
The most recent
model is the Mercedes-Maybach
S 600 Pullman with face-to-face seating and appeared at the
beginning of 2016.
Quite what
happens when the warranty runs out and the battery needs replacing is a small
detail which Daimler does not address at this time, presumably because those
who might purchase the latest Vision, should it enter production, are unlikely
to be bothered about the cost of a ‘mere’ battery, even if it is of bespoke
design and construction!
Nor are they
likely to be concerned that the ‘emission-free’ driving capability requires
current generated at a power station!
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