Mercedes-Benz has unveiled the Maybach EQS SUV, the ultra-luxury sub-brand’s first ever fully-electric vehicle, at the 2023 Shanghai Auto Show

STUTTGART, GERMANY

Mercedes-Benz’s ultra-luxury brand, Mercedes-Maybach, has revealed its first ever full-electric model. Based on the regular Mercedes-EQ EQS SUV, the Maybach EQS SUV, which was officially unveiled at the 2023 Shanghai Auto Show, joins a Maybach lineup that currently also includes high-end versions of the S-Class and GLS SUV.

The full official name of the car is the Mercedes-Maybach EQS 680 SUV, and the nomenclature denotes that it will sit above the current flagship Mercedes-EQ EQS 580 SUV. It features a dual electric motor setup that produces 649hp and 950Nm of torque, which is 105hp and 92Nm more than the EQS 580 SUV. Range is rated at ‘up to 600km’, slightly down on the 613km that the EQS 580 SUV offers.

As with all Maybach models, the Maybach EQS SUV features unique design elements to help it distinguish it from the regular Mercedes-Benz equivalent. On the EQS SUV, these include the striking Maybach vertical grille, the optional two-tone paintwork, plenty of chrome design elements throughout, and 21 or 22-inch wheels that are designed specifically for the Maybach.

The interior is dominated by the Hyperscreen system that was first seen on the Mercedes-EQ EQS electric sedan, and is available as standard on the Maybach, and consists of the 17.7-inch central touchscreen paired with a passenger display and driver instrument panel, all designed to look like a large single screen.

The Maybach EQS SUV is also available exclusively as a four-seater, with four executive seats finished in vegetable-tanned Nappa leather. The wood-trimmed central divider running in between the rear seats incorporates a built-in fridge and accompanying silver-plated goblets for champagne. The seats themselves come with the usual ventilation, massage function and neck and shoulder heating, while there are also 11.6-inch displays on the backrests of the front seats for rear passengers, complemented by a Burmester 4D surround sound system.

In terms of driving dynamics, Mercedes has added a new Maybach driving mode, which replaces the regular Comfort mode of the standard EQS SUV, and claims to minimise body movements under the rear seats thanks to an oscillation node, ensuring maximum ride comfort for rear passengers.

In addition, the company has also added extra acoustic foam around the rear body of the SUV, and incorporated faux-leather coverings throughout the cabin to minimise road noise and create an even quieter driving experience for passengers than the already-silent EQS SUV.

Pricing and on sale details have yet to be announced, but should the car make it to Singapore, probably some time in 2024, the car should cost in excess of over a million dollars, inclusive of taxes and COE.

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