Mercedes-Benz Reimagines Luxury With New SUV Concept: Make Passengers ‘Float’
Image via Mercedes-Benz
German luxury car manufacturer Mercedes-Benz has just unveiled a stunning new all-electric SUV concept at the IAA 2021 by the name of the Maybach EQS.
An electric crossover is expected to arrive in 2023, and this design gives us a glimpse into what could be hitting the market when it does. The “near-production one-off” showcases the best of Mercedes’ forward-facing design while acknowledging the company’s usual “tradition-steeped” stance.
Customers in the brand’s core markets, such as China, Russia, South Korea, the US, and Germany, are getting younger on average, the brand recognizes. Therefore, the definition of luxury evolves alongside this, and the EQS shows it.
“The all-electric powertrain not only makes consistently sustainable mobility possible, but also enables a new level of calm and relaxation for passengers,” explains Britta Seeger of Marketing & Sales at Mercedes-Benz AG in the concept’s press release.
Sporting a classy black and red color palette with chrome pinstripes and surfaces, the exterior boasts a gorgeous seamless silhouette of a low front end working its way over to the sloping A-pillar and roof contour.
Image via Mercedes-Benz
Image via Mercedes-Benz
Brand-characteristic accents are shown off in chrome applications including the signature Maybach emblem sprinkled liberally throughout, as well as the glossy black wheel wells emphasizing “power and emotionality,” as described by the brand.
The “emotional and stylish” interior, “realized completely virtually,” reflects the vehicle’s exterior for total cohesiveness. Promising a commute with luxury “at the highest level,” the EQS boasts a High-End Rear Seat Entertainment System. This is controlled by a “floating” center console, likened to a “continuous ribbon.”
Image via Mercedes-Benz
Color and material were both inspired by the world of fashion, particularly shown in the textiles used on the seats and interior. With the floating armrests and seat controls on the reworked door panels, the “simultaneously luxurious and modern character” of the vehicle is highlighted.
Image via Mercedes-Benz
Image via Mercedes-Benz
Dressed in white and blue, the EQS is said to evoke a “feel-good atmosphere” when enjoying a ride in it, as if passengers were on a yacht.
There’s also a higher seat height thanks to the SUV concept, allowing passengers’ feet to “float” above the floor. Large storage allows drivers to tuck away foldable outdoor furniture; and, a built-in vase encourages drivers to keep a flower or two in their car. Just for a little touch of seasonal décor, of course.
Image via Mercedes-Benz
Extending from driver to passenger sides is the MBUX Hyperscreen, made of three separate screens to allow for passenger-only access in accordance with road safety. If the driver is detected looking at the passenger’s side while driving, the display dims. Harnessing the power of AI, MBUX adapts its content and customization to individual users, doing away with the need to search through submenus.
“The Concept Mercedes-Maybach EQS represents the transformation of the tradition-rich luxury brand into a more progressive, all-electric future,” says Philipp Schiemer, Head of Top End Vehicle Group at Mercedes-Benz AG.
“With the future all-electric SUV series model, we’re extending our leadership aspirations in the high-end segment to the area of electric mobility, too.”
[via Carscoops, images Mercedes-Benz]
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