The even more luxurious Maybach version of the EQS SUV will make its debut at the Shanghai motor show this month.
The Mercedes-Maybach EQS SUV will be revealed on 17 April at the Shanghai motor show – a symbolic step as Mercedes-Benz pushes forwards with a profit-focused strategy centred on large luxury cars.
First previewed as the Maybach Concept EQS at the Munich motor show in 2021, the most luxurious version of the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV will be badged EQS 680.
It’s the first electric Maybach, and with a platform and powertrain configuration based on the regular Mercedes model, it will offer an electric range of “around 373 miles (600km)”.
To set it apart from the ordinary EQS SUV (Mercedes’ third bespoke EV after the Mercedes-Benz EQS and Mercedes-Benz EQE saloons), it will feature a series of Maybach-specific elements, including the brand’s signature two-tone paint scheme and a bespoke cabin layout offering “first-class” accommodation.
Mercedes hopes the EQS 680 will help position the brand at the top of the EV league table by offering a bespoke luxury electric 4×4 that isn’t yet offered by Maybach’s main rivals, Bentley and Rolls-Royce.
“The Concept EQS represents the transformation of Mercedes-Maybach from a tradition-rich luxury brand into a more progressive electric future,” said Philipp Schiemer, head of Mercedes-Benz’s Top End Vehicle Group, which is responsible for Maybach and the AMG performance division.
The new Mercedes EQS SUV might be one of the most premium electric cars you can buy (or it will be once it goes on sale in some markets from November), but Maybach is aiming to take things to the next level.Last year’s concept previewed plenty of design details that could make their way over to the production model and now we have a better idea what to expect having seen it in the metal.
Just like the upcoming facelifted model of the Mercedes-Maybach GLS (the EQS SUV’s internal-combustion-engined alternative), we don’t expect to see any major changes to the body. The test car we spied looks almost production-ready, undergoing towing capacity tests in the Alps.
Judging by the front of this test car, we can expect to see a new grille shape and front bumper, with a revised headlight design with large lower air intakes. The concept featured a Mercedes bonnet emblem, rather than Maybach’s logo, plus it didn’t had the large three-pointed star at the front. This new design choice has already been seen on the 2021 Maybach S-Class.
The wheels of this development car are modest given Maybach’s history. The concept featured 24-inch rims and, given the standard EQS SUV has 21-inch wheels, there’s scope for the Maybach to have even larger versions. Mercedes says the side steps actually help with aerodynamic efficiency, so they’ll likely feature on the finished product.
The metalwork at the rear is almost entirely covered. Even so, you can expect to see a Maybach logo on the rear pillar and for the car to get prettier rear lights. The test car features a panoramic roof, which isn’t a surprise given Maybach tends to throw every Mercedes option available at its cars.
Underneath the Maybach EQS SUV will be the EVA II architecture that underpins all EQE and EQS models. It gets a 107.8kWh battery – for a range of around 610km – and two electric motors producing 400kW and 858Nm of torque. That’s enough to get it from 0-100km/h in 4.5 seconds.
The EQS SUV goes on sale in Europe in November 2022 with Australian timing yet to be confirmed. The posh Maybach variant will likely follow a few months later.
Alastair Crooks