For the primary time in its historical past, a Maybach goes all-electric. We head to the US and get behind the wheel to see if an EV can do justice to the Maybach nametag.
The Maybach model is all about elevating ranges of luxurious and refinement. Whereas at one time it was confined to massive stately vehicles, lately it’s on nearly the whole lot – SUVs, sports activities vehicles, and now an EV, the Mercedes-Maybach EQS. However can an EV make for an excellent Maybach? With an electrical’s inherently quieter and smoother working, that’s half the job performed. What about the remainder?
Mercedes-Maybach EQS exterior type
It’s the EQS SUV in the identical dimensions however with far more bling and branding. The huge black grille panel now has vertical chrome-plated strips creating the Maybach waterfall grille, and the panel, being made out of indium, permits radar beams to permeate by, so there’s no unpleasant radar panel seen.
It’s the EQS SUV in the identical dimensions however with far more bling and branding.
The three-pointed star strikes to the bonnet high, and also you get two-tone colouring that has now grow to be a Maybach trademark. The higher space is in darker shades of black or blue, with the decrease space out there in a alternative of Selenite Grey, Silver, Kalahari Gold or Velvet Brown.
Within the decrease air dam space, the Maybach brand is in a filigree impact on the corners, however some might discover this an excessive amount of. The basic Maybach lettering is engraved on a chrome strip that may be discovered within the centre of the continual mild bar. It lights up as nicely. The digital headlamps have a particular Maybach mild present for welcome and goodbye.
Across the facet, you get 21-inch wheels that are available in both the multi-spoke Maybach or the five-hole design, and the wheel arches have black cladding that runs throughout beneath the doorways as nicely, with the chrome facet step. Right here, too, one can discover the Maybach lettering. Chrome surrounds the window space, and the B pillar can also be in galvanised chrome. There’s a Maybach emblem on the D pillar, too.
With the gazillion logos, emblems and badges, there isn’t any mistaking that this can be a Maybach.
On the rear, the helix tail-lamps with the linked bar are the identical, however you get extra chrome on the spoiler lip, the rear bumper and the Maybach lettering above the lights. It appears stately, and with the gazillion logos, emblems and badges, there isn’t any mistaking that this can be a Maybach.
Mercedes-Maybach EQS inside
It’s a well-known format, with the huge end-to-end glass panel that has three screens, which have Maybach-specific start-up sequences. The console has open-pore wooden or black gloss, and there are refined rose gold accents working throughout the AC vents to the doorways. The UI is in a deep blue, and within the Maybach mode, the devices don’t have the usual needles however a silk-scarf-like pointer that rises and falls along with your acceleration or deceleration.
With the comfort-door package deal, when you have got the important thing, the in any other case flush door handles lengthen out routinely on strategy. As soon as inside, the chauffeur can shut their door by urgent the brake in order that they don’t have to increase their arm out. The opposite doorways will also be opened or closed by way of the MBUX display, so that you don’t need to sully your fingers or lengthen an arm. That is the head of luxurious, keep in mind?
The largest distinction and the most effective change, for my part, is within the again seat. If you happen to go entire hog with the First Class package deal, you get the consolation seats, that are significantly better than these in the usual EQS. The chauffeur package deal even means that you can stretch out full size behind the passenger seat.
Within the First Class package deal, the centre console is a steady beam from entrance to rear, dividing the rear in half, so that is for 2 individuals solely. The central space homes two thermal cup holders and a small storage space coated by a shutter that may be opened electronically. There are two 11.6-inch leisure screens that may be hooked as much as by way of HDMI ports, they usually additionally offer you drive and navigation data. There’s additionally a pill within the central console for rear passengers to entry varied features. You’ll be able to even get fold-away tables and a cooled field for the champagne and goblets.
With this Maybach being an EV, the cabin is silent, however there’s intensive work performed to handle acoustics, and all of it provides as much as present full calm inside. It’s like wafting alongside in your individual spa on wheels. There are intensive ranges of pampering with ventilated seats, therapeutic massage features that embody a calf therapeutic massage and sound from a 15-speaker Burmester 4D sound system with Dolby Atmos. The Energiser package deal provides a wide range of ambient lighting and auditory experiences in addition to lively scenting to fit your temper.
Then, in fact, there’s the huge panoramic sunroof that provides you an intensive view, making this cabin really feel tremendous spacious, which is the case with this configuration of seats. The legroom and headroom are ample.
Mercedes-Maybach EQS drive and efficiency
The 680 variant of the Maybach has two completely excited synchronous motors, they usually put out thrilling ranges of efficiency. You get 658hp and a whopping 900Nm of torque, propelling you to 100kph in simply 4.4 seconds. Get behind the wheel, and it’s a joyful expertise. Onerous acceleration provides you an adrenaline-inducing shove again into your seat, and also you reel in vehicles forward of you at an unimaginable tempo.
Onerous acceleration provides you an adrenaline-inducing shove again into your seat.
With this degree of efficiency and the rear-wheel steering at work, you by no means really feel like you’re driving a automobile that’s over 5 metres. It feels mild on its ft and simple to manoeuvre, too. On the winding roads round Monterey, I discovered that the Maybach EQS can maintain its personal round corners. Sure, it’s softly sprung, and the steering is tuned for consolation, however you’ll be able to nonetheless confidently carry a good quantity of velocity round a winding part of the highway, which is greater than you count on from one thing like this. However it’s not meant to be a nook carver; it’s meant to ferry passengers in a relaxed, leisurely method, and it does that brilliantly. It masks velocity so nicely that it’s simple to overlook how briskly you’re actually going.
It has all-wheel drive, so it feels regular and planted, but it surely additionally comes with the brand new disconnect unit or DCU. Relying on driving traits and the ability required, it routinely decouples the digital motors on the entrance axles. At low masses, it switches to 4X2, giving extra refinement and prolonged vary. The Maybach EQS has a claimed WLTP vary of 600km, which suggests you’ll be able to simply do one thing like a Mumbai-to-Pune and again journey with out charging.
Maybach has ensured an elevated journey expertise. In Consolation mode, you get a particular Maybach programme with constantly adjustable damping, so the highway imperfections disappear beneath the wheels, and the passenger appears like they’re floating on a cloud. The softness additionally means a little bit of motion sideways on very undulating roads; for that, it’s higher to change to Sport, which companies it up barely and settles the journey. Even in Sport, the journey is snug sufficient for rear passengers to overlook in regards to the highway beneath.
The Maybach EQS can maintain its personal round corners too.
With the air suspension, you’ll be able to enhance journey top by about 35mm to make sure that you don’t stomach any velocity breakers.
Mercedes-Maybach EQS worth and verdict
That the EQS would lend itself nicely to Maybach obligation can be simple sufficient with the electrical drivetrain, however Mercedes has performed much more to raise this huge electrical SUV into the higher echelons of luxurious motoring. Prefer it or not, for starters, there’s the standard Maybach bling on the inside and outside. The rear seats now provide a really luxurious and refined setting. This SUV additionally addresses the most important draw back of the EQS sedan, the place the rear seats have been by no means fairly as snug as an S Class. And for house owners who get pleasure from a stint behind the wheel, it provides a fun-enough driving expertise as nicely. How a lot would all this set you again by? We’ll know later this week, however count on an eye-watering quantity. In spite of everything, that is the head of luxurious wrapped in inexperienced.
Additionally see:
Mercedes Maybach EQS India launch on September 5
2024 Mercedes E Class evaluation: Clean and Straightforward