Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6: Classic elegance revealed at Pebble Beach

LONDON: The Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 was recently revealed at the Pebble Beach Concours D’Elegance.
This concept is a combination of retro design and the latest technology of electric and autonomous drive systems.
It is a 2+2 seater and designed to be homage to the age of the aero coupes.
Despite its classic looks, this is a thoroughly modern vehicle with an electric drive system generating 550 kW (750 bhp).
Four electric motors drive the four wheels.
This not only allows performance characteristics typical of a sports car (acceleration from 0100 km/h in under four seconds, top speed electronically governed at 250 km/h) but also a range of about 500 km.
The quick-charge function of the battery allows an impressive 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 large coupe made its debut at Monterey Car Week, which took place on the Monterey Peninsula between Aug. 16 and Aug. 21, leading to the final event on Aug. 21 at the Pebble Beach Concours D’Elegance.
With its emotional design, the Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 represents the ultimate in luxury.
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 coupes of days gone by.
But this is not retro design — this is a reinterpretation of classic, aesthetic principles.
“Our glamorous coupe, the Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6, represents the ultimate in contemporary luxury,” states Gorden Wagener, head of Design at Daimler AG.
“With its intelligent appeal and reduced tech look, it perfectly embodies our design philosophy of sensual purity and our pursuit of aerodynamic efficiency.” 

Exterior design
Clearly defined contours and organically formed wings stand in contrast to the sharply drawn, extended feature line on each side which defines the upper vehicle body from the radiator grille across the entire length of the vehicle to the rear.
Below this, the main body has a bulging, muscular look, extending across the entire flank.
There is also a striking contrast between the Maybach red paintwork and the chrome strips which sit above the wheel arches and in the center of the bonnet and boot lid.
A reinterpretation of the Mercedes-Maybach radiator grille accentuates the front end.
The radiator grille rests on two aerodynamically shaped supports on the outer right and left of the bumper.
The distinctive 24-inch wheels are a development of the aero rim from the Concept IAA (Intelligent Aerodynamic Automobile).
A further highlight 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 aluminum trim.
The exterior mirrors designed as cameras are supported on the wings.
The extended, round “boat tail” format of the Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6s rear recalls a luxury yacht, and narrow tail lights which emphasize the width of the vehicle are integrated in its outer edges.
Above this sit the extremely shallow rear split-window.
Further distinctive features at the rear include the diffuser with aluminum frame and the air outlets behind the wheel arches.

Interior design
The interior of the Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 combines traditional Mercedes-Benz features with a new high-tech experience.
The dashboard wing curves across the door trim into the seat landscape.
In addition to the flowing contours, the material composition produces a luxury experience.
Authentic materials and colors such as rose gold are used to create luxurious accents.
The interior, with its high-quality leather trim, has a cool color scheme which underlines the digital innovations.
The sitting surfaces have a Chesterfield look.
In the doors and dashboard the traditional wood trim softens the appearance of the digital control and display interfaces.
As a contrast to the digital world of the displays, elm, the palest open-pore wood, is used in the floor area, creating a refined yachting look.
In the front luggage area is a set of two suitcases, exclusively created for the vehicle.
Plenty of space has also been provided for further additions such as picnic accessories or personal items.

Digital experience
The classic circular instruments are combined with display elements digitally integrated into a continuous glass trim part.
Information about the seat, for example, can be shown on this digital strip.
Map information is also shown in the front area of the strip.
Menu content is extended along a digital line which extends to the sides as far as the occupants, who can set their own content ergonomically using touch control.
The front windscreen serves as a transparent display: driving-related data and geographical information is shown across its full width, augmenting the outside world with additional information.
This information can be controlled and adjusted by the occupants using gestures.
The luxury padded leather upholstery is a particular highlight.
Its traditional look is combined with future technology here — the buttons which would normally be trimmed in leather have been replaced in the upholstered surfaces by miniature “body sensor displays.”
These scan the passengers and monitor, for example, their vital functions.
As a result, comfort features such as seat climate or the massage function, for example, can be activated or the seat settings adjusted to the passenger.
The sensors embedded in the upholstery also record the incidence of light, the color of the occupant’s clothing and the ambient temperature.
This information can be used to trigger new, emotional lighting effects in the interior.
The concept car aims to embody the ultimate in luxury and this is underlined by the fact that the driver can switch to digital/autonomous mode.
Another highlight is offered by the floating, transparent center tunnel, which visualizes the drive system’s electrical energy flow for the occupants.