Premium automobile manufacturer Mercedes-Benz debuted the highest level of craftmanship at Auto China 2018 in Beijing this week, with the unveiling of Vision Mercedes-Maybach Ultimate Luxury.

The design of the new concept, based on an exclusive high-end sedan and an SUV, follows the philosophy of Sensual Purity.

The car combines the comfort and typical strengths of both body styles. It is conceived as an electric vehicle with four compact permanent-magnet synchronous motors and fully variable all-wheel drive.


Continuing the Mercedes-Maybach success story

The concept vehicle reflects the traditional brand values while continuing the story and embodying the design language of the Mercedes-Maybach. True to the principle of creating "the very best from the very best", Mercedes-Maybach stands for the ultimate in luxury, the company says.

The show car also merges influences from the Western and Far Eastern hemispheres to deliver an appealing automotive cultural dialogue. For instance, use is made of "Magic Wood", ebony, which is traditional in Chinese furniture design.

In the Vision Mercedes-Maybach Ultimate Luxury, spaciousness and comfort, in combination with the raised seating position, elegant design and finest materials, give rise to a luxury experience at the highest level. The vehicle stands in exemplary manner for the typical Mercedes-Maybach values: traditional craftsmanship, uniqueness and individualisation, the company says.


Exterior design: harmony of sensuality and purity

Smooth, extravagant surfaces with no beads or sharp edges create an image of sporty elegance. The front end is accentuated by the distinctive chrome-plated radiator grille with its fine vertical bars in the style of a pinstripe suit.

In combination with the low-profile front headlamps with three lamp units, the grille dominates the front view of the vehicle. The large air inlets and the horizontal air inlet underline the sportiness of the SUV sedan while lending it a dynamic look. The air inlets are crossed by the brand's typical honeycomb pattern. A continuous trim strip extends from the split bonnet across the roof through to the rear end.

The Vision Mercedes-Maybach Ultimate Luxury offers a significantly higher, SUV-typical seating position and therefore a sublime driving experience. This addresses the desire of many customers for a feeling of protection and security.


Sublimeness meets lightness

Exclusive materials with high-grade highlights exude exquisite quality in the interior, thereby underlining the vehicle's superlative luxury. 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 sedan, it says.

Its design is strongly focused on the rear passengers and their well-being. It is in the rear that the feeling of cosy spaciousness is at its most intense.

The driver's area and cockpit are reduced to the essentials. Air vents, which reflect the design of the radiator grille, surround the free-standing Widescreen Cockpit with double 12.3 inch displays. The feeling of spaciousness is further enhanced by a light, contrasting bottom part of the instrument panel as well as by the reduced height of the dashboard.


Modelled on the S-Class

As in the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class, the especially comfortable seats impress with their adjustment kinematics. The reclining seats feature a calf support, which is freely adjustable for length and angle. The crystal white nappa leather seats are enhanced by diamond stitching in rosé gold.

The familiar 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.

The highlight of the Mercedes-Benz user experience in the Vision Mercedes Maybach Ultimate Luxury is the comprehensive touch control concept – a combination of touchscreen, touchpad on the centre console and Touch Control buttons in the steering wheel. Alongside the intuitive control experience, reduced driver distraction is a further advantage.


State-of-the-art powertrain

The Vision Mercedes-Maybach Ultimate Luxury is conceived as an electric car. Thanks to its four compact permanent-magnet synchronous motors, it offers fully variable all-wheel drive. The output from the powertrain is 550 kW (750 hp). The flat underfloor battery has a usable capacity of around 80 kWh, producing an NEDC range of over 500 km (according to EPA: over 200 miles). The top speed is electronically limited to 250 km/h.

The fast-charging function is also convenient: thanks to DC charging based on the CCS standard, the system allows a charging capacity of up to 350 kW. In just five minutes, enough power can be charged to achieve an additional range of around 100 km.

The battery can be charged by cable at public charging stations, conventional domestic socket outlets or, even more conveniently, by induction. The charging current is contactlessly transmitted by an electromagnetic field below the car.