Mercedes-Benz showed what it believes is the pinnacle of luxury in combining the ride height of an SUV with a traditional sedan body style. Called the Vision Mercedes-Maybach Ultimate Luxury, this concept car from the German automaker’s exclusive luxury sub-brand bowed at Auto China 2018 in Beijing. Although it combines two traditional vehicle types, the Vision Ultimate Luxury is actually an electric vehicle powered by four motors, one at each wheel.
“The Vision Mercedes-Maybach Ultimate Luxury is a totally new archetype of a kind never seen before,” said Gorden Wagener, chief of design for Daimler AG. “Our concept combines the DNA of an SUV with that of a sedan to produce an ultra-modern SUV of three-box design. With sensual and pure sophistication, we have created a timeless vehicle that underscores the position of Mercedes-Maybach as the ultimate luxury brand.”
The Vision Mercedes-Maybach Ultimate has a bold, multi-vane grille, thin LED headlamps, and large lower intakes. In profile, the vehicle stands tall, with a formal roofline that terminates in a traditional trunk. The window surrounds and lower truncated running boards are accented by chrome, which is also used for the door handles and fender vent. The glass roof is bisected by a spine that carries through the rear window glass. Adding to the vehicle’s massive presence are 24-inch turbine-style alloy wheels. The rear of the vehicle also sports LED lights in the same three-element modules as the front. Large openings and a rear diffuser echoes the look of the car’s nose.
Dream car interior
Intended for the chauffeur-driven Chinese market, the Vision Ultimate Luxury focuses on the well-being of the rear passengers. There are only four seats in the car, and the colors employed include rose gold, crystal white and pearl gray, which with flowing forms, delicate fabrics and high-tech aluminum accents blend to give the vehicle a sporty, yet elegant look.
Up front, the driver’s area is minimalist with a single large display used for all instrumentation and infotainment through two 12.3-inch screens. In the rear, the two seating positions are divided by a large center console equipped with an integrated heated tray with a tea set. The rear seats recline and are also equipped with leg rests to give it the comfort of a private jet.
While it looks like a conventional sedan, the electric-powered Vision Ultimate Luxury puts out 750 horsepower from the four motors. The 80-kWh battery beneath the floor is said to provide a range of over 200 miles and the top speed limited to 155 mph. A 350-kW fast charge system is said to be able to give the vehicle 60 miles of range in just five minutes
