Mercedes-Benz unveiled a new electric and luxurious car that, despite the new trend, won’t drive itself. On August 9, the company presented the Vision Mercedes Maybach 6, a near 6-meter long flamboyant gullwing coupe, in California. The German automaker says it embodies the future of the industry.
The Maybach 6, a 550kW electric powered vehicle, was one of the stars of the Monterey Car Week in California. The concept car represents how Mercedes-Benz envisions the future of traditional luxury cars transitioning into the digital era.
Apparently, they see the future of electric vehicles with a human in charge. Albeit behind the wheel of a very, very fast and expensive car.
“Driving has been a pleasure for 130 years and will stay that way another 130 years,” told head design to Bloomberg.
Specs and release date
Mercedes-Benz is keeping the new electric car platform secret, but according to the company, the details of the Modular Electric Architecture (MEA) will be revealed at the Paris Motor Show on October 1.
The German company said the new electric drive system was currently under development, and the developers are planning to use it on the upcoming zero emission series.
It will have a massive 750-horsepower engine that can hit the 200 miles mark on a single charge. The powertrain will reach 60 mph in under 4 seconds rivaling some muscle cars.
The cabin features a whole new concept. It suggests a full white cockpit with a ring of blue lights surrounding the passengers. The gullwing style doors will hinge upwards from the roof to provide access to the cockpit.
The 6-meter coupe will have a quartet synchronous electric motor. Two up front for the front wheels and two at the rear wheels. The combined four-wheel drive will have a 550kW powered by an 80kWh lithium-ion battery. That is 160kW more than the most powerful Mercedes-Maybach in production today.
Mercedez has not yet specified the price, but previous Maybach models prices range from $100,000 to $1000,000. The company expects to release the Maybach 6 in 2018.
The first aero coupes inspired the designers
A small group created the concept at Mercedez-Benz’s main studio in Stuttgart, Germany, under the leadership of the company’s head of design, Gorden Wagener.
The upcoming model re-imagines the classic Maybach themes by incorporating the modern curves which characterize the brand’s style.
The concept was created as a tribute to the aero coupes of the early 1900’s. Thus it has a striking combination of long cab-back proportions and top-end features, extravagant lines and confident appearance that aims to the high spectrum of the market.
Source: Forbes