2024 Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV: Electrified Diamond “ICE”

Idyllic Vancouver Island was the setting for the worldwide media launch of the 2024 Mercedes-Maybach EQS 680 SUV. The ultra-luxury mannequin inside the Mercedes-Maybach wing of Mercedes-Benz continues the model’s march in the direction of a full-electric fleet of vehicles and sport-utes.

In keeping with Mercedes’ present plans, all new-vehicle architectures are to be completely electrical from 2025. And whereas the Inside Combustion Engine (ICE) will ultimately disappear from Mercedes-Benz and Mercedes-Maybach choices, the spectacular EQS SUV shines like electrified Diamond “ICE.”

With the introduction of this all-electric collection mannequin, the legendary model is getting into a brand new period. With its constant interpretation of Refined Luxurious, the Mercedes-Maybach EQS SUV units the brand new benchmark within the all-electric top-end luxurious SUV phase.

“Mercedes-Maybach clients anticipate the extraordinary, and we purpose to exceed their excessive expectations. The Mercedes-Maybach EQS SUV unites our ambition to steer in digital and electrical with our deal with the posh phase. The very first all-electric automobile from Mercedes-Maybach enhances one of the best applied sciences from Mercedes-Benz with the additional consolation and particular person particulars which can be solely accessible from Mercedes-Maybach,” mentioned Ola Källenius, Chairman of the Board of Administration Mercedes-Benz Group AG.

Maybach Historical past

In 1900, Wilhelm Maybach, then technical director of Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft (DMG) and long-time companion of Gottlieb Daimler, developed the primary Mercedes, the “Daimler motor carriage”. At the moment, the primary focus was not but on good luxurious vehicles, however on performance, reliability and effectivity.

Maybach created what was arguably his most excellent design after Daimler’s loss of life. The primary Mercedes triggered a sensation on the Good racing week in March 1901. The automobile clearly stands out from all of the vehicles beforehand designed and constructed by the DMG and ended the carriage age in car building.

Maybach and his son Karl, who adopted in his well-known father’s footsteps at an early age as a trainee on the DMG, collectively based the “Luftfahrzeug-Motorenbau GmbH” in 1909. When Karl Maybach developed his first car in 1919, Mercedes was the inspiration: the “W1” experimental automotive was based mostly on a chassis with a star. Like his father, the son was a gifted designer. His innovations and his penchant for technical perfection established Maybach because the model for emperors, kings, enterprise moguls, prime athletes and movie stars.

Traditional Maybach motorcars embody the Zepplin (produced 1928-1938),  and the SW (1935-1941). Maybach manufacturing ended as a consequence of WWII.

In 2013, Daimler introduced that Maybach would now not produce vehicles, they usually rolled the model into the Mercedes-Benz household, showing as a automobile designation for top-of-the-line luxurious variants, a lot in the identical approach AMG applies to efficiency fashions.

The distinctive exterior with an upright Mercedes star on the hood and a hanging black panel entrance, which carries the precise Maybach radiator grille, defines a particular look. The non-obligatory two-tone paintwork can also be an indicator of the model. Because of beautiful supplies, good craftsmanship and unique particulars, the spacious inside gives a holistic consolation expertise with a cocooning impact.

Overview

Based mostly on the expertise of the EQS SUV from Mercedes-EQ, the Mercedes-Maybach EQS SUV combines technical perfection with Maybach exclusivity – consistent with Wilhelm Maybach’s precept: “What is nice should even be lovely.”

The five-seater Mercedes-Maybach EQS SUV is on the market in a single trim – the EQS 680.

“The Mercedes-Maybach EQS SUV is a milestone in our model historical past. For us, it embodies nothing lower than the redefinition of automotive excellence within the age of electromobility. Our clients can look ahead to a fully top-class electrical driving expertise – with the aura of the extraordinary that’s typical of Maybach,” mentioned Daniel Lescow, Head of Mercedes-Maybach, Mercedes-Benz Group AG.

Exterior

The Mercedes-Maybach EQS SUV is provided with unique 21-inch alloy and cast wheels, with  22-inch wheels accessible quickly after the U.S. market introduction as properly. Commonplace operating boards, that are illuminated in the dead of night and have an built-in Maybach emblem, add to the svelte facet profile. Maybach unique character is underlined on the rear of the automobile as properly: The taillights are designed in a steady gentle strip with a two-part helix and animated throughout all the width. Additional enhancements to the rear are the chrome trim components on the tailgate, on the rear apron and the spoiler lip.

One other unique characteristic are the usual computerized consolation doorways, entrance and rear. The recessed door handles lengthen if the driving force approaches the automobile from the facet from a distance so far as roughly 20 ft. The motive force door opens routinely when approaching the automobile from a distance so far as roughly 5 ft. This characteristic will be activated and deactivated within the MBUX central show. All different doorways will be opened and closed remotely through MBUX – with a easy press of the automobile key, within the central show or the usual MBUX Excessive-Finish Rear Seat Leisure. The motive force door additionally closes routinely as quickly because the brake pedal is depressed. In every door there’s an electrical servomotor on the catch strap.

From stem to stern, the EQS SUV has been produced with myriad aerodynamic options that help with effectivity and enhance total efficiency. Mix these superior aero options with in depth sealing and insulation measures that reduce wind and ambient noise, and the result’s a super-quiet EQS SUV passenger cabin.

Inside

Inside, the EQS SUV epitomizes final Maybach luxurious.  Accessible solely as a two-row mannequin, with accessible bench or captain’s chair seating. If you need final rear seat luxurious, select the captain’s seats and go for heart console choices with a cooler in your most interesting champagne and a pair of flutes, and a detachable pill to regulate twin 11.6-inch entrance headrest screens.

Extra inside highlights embody leather-based, metallic, piano black and carbon fiber trim.

The cabin’s house age “Hyperscreen” includes a 17.7” OLED central show, 12.3” central show, and 12.3”  entrance passenger show. All three shows supply Mercedes-Maybach-specific start-up animations. Lively ambient lighting and illuminated door sills are spectacular at night time.

In depth air high quality management contains HEPA filtration. If the standard of the surface air is low, the filtration system could make suggestions to shut the facet home windows or sunroof. Lively scenting is a part of the usual “Air Stability” package deal. Select from a number of totally different scents or create your individual and feed the system by means of a glove-box mounted scent cartridge system.

A sonically superior Burmester 4D Encompass Sound audio system is customary, and options Dolby Atmos processing, and 15 audio system.  Wi-fi charging and wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are additionally customary.

Battery Capability

The Maybach EQS SUV lithium Ion battery capability is 107.8 kWh. The EQS SUV can cost from 10-80 p.c in 31 minutes due to DC fast-charging structure supporting as much as 200kW speeds. Stage 2 charging from 10-100% takes 9.5 hours.

Security and Know-how

Mercedes-Benz has a legendary historical past of auto occupant security, and the EQS SUV assimilates that security DNA.

Commonplace and non-obligatory superior driver help security programs together with Lively Distance Help, Lively Lane Protecting and Blind Spot Help, and PRE-SAFE PLUS together with PRE-SAFE Impulse Aspect affect safety.

Lively Cease-and-Go Help, Lively Emergency Cease Asist, Lively Brake Help with Cross-Site visitors Operate, and Lively Velocity Restrict Help with Site visitors Signal Help are amongst myriad extra EQS SUV security attributes.

Driving Impressions

On roads with breathtaking surroundings round Vancouver Island, the Mercedes-Maybach EQS SUV displayed all features of its luxurious mettle. The complete-luxe cabin is supremely quiet. Energy abounds with 649-horsepower and 700 pound-feet of torque.

Acceleration is nice, with a zero-60 time of simply 4.1 seconds.

Dealing with is spectacular. The EQS SUV is outfitted with customary All-Wheel Drive, and Airmatic air suspension with repeatedly variable damping. The Airmatic system, mixed with the EQS SUV’s in depth sound dampening, delivered a perfectly serene journey.

One other vital possibility on our tester was rear-axle steering. In parking or slim avenue maneuvers, the steering angle on the rear axle can change as much as 10 levels. At increased speeds, dealing with advantages from a digital extension of the wheelbase, and the system integrates steering and brake management making for extra exact and secure dealing with at these increased speeds.

True one-pedal driving comes by means of adjustable regenerative braking (through steering wheel paddles). The usual Eco Help system additionally decelerates routinely to a standstill when it detects automobiles forward, for instance at site visitors lights.

A brand new Disconnect Unit (DCU) contributes to the super-quiet cabin expertise. Relying on the driving scenario and the facility required, DCU can routinely decouple the electrical motor on the entrance axle to extend the vary. At low hundreds, the DCU switches to 4×2 driving mode. Extra insulation supplies and laminated glass panes are used within the Mercedes-Maybach EQS SUV. Numerous wind deflection measures on the panorama roof, comparable to wind deflectors, covers and seals with improved geometry, ship a excessive degree of noise discount regardless of the big glass roof opening.

A Clear, Inexperienced, and Luxurious Future

Along with the model’s aggressive march in the direction of full electrification, Mercedes-Benz can also be shifting quickly to turning into a carbon-neutral automaker. For instance, Mercedes-Benz has agreed to buy battery cells manufactured in a CO2-neutral method. Quite a few EQS SUV elements are made partly from recycled and renewable uncooked supplies.

“Mercedes-Maybach clients anticipate the extraordinary, and we purpose to exceed their excessive expectations. The Mercedes-Maybach EQS SUV unites our ambition to steer in digital and electrical with our deal with the posh phase. The very first all-electric automobile from Mercedes-Maybach enhances one of the best applied sciences from Mercedes-Benz with the additional consolation and particular person particulars which can be solely accessible from Mercedes-Maybach,” mentioned Ola Källenius, Chairman of the Board of Administration Mercedes-Benz Group AG.

If the 2024 EQS SUV is a sign of the long run for Mercedes-Maybach, then the long run could be very vivid for the posh model.

About Vancouver Island

Vancouver Island is Canada’s eleventh largest island, and second most populous island (about 870,000 residents) after the Island of Montreal, and is only a brief seaplane journey from Vancouver Metropolis.

Indigenous peoples have inhabited Vancouver Island for hundreds of years, lengthy earlier than the arrival of Spanish and British naval expeditions within the late 18th century. It’s one in every of a number of North American places named after George Vancouver, who between 1791 and 1794 explored the Pacific Northwest.

Vancouver Island is usually made up of volcanic and sedimentary rock and tall timber, with wild animals galore, together with black bears  black-tailed deer, the Vancouver Island wolf, harbor seals and river otters. In deep water, Orca whales rule over all ocean species, whereas Humpback whales and Grey whales are sometimes seen on their migration between Alaskan waters the place they feed in the summertime and southern waters comparable to round California and Mexico the place they provide delivery within the winter. The island’s rivers, lakes, and coastal areas are additionally famend for his or her fisheries of trout, salmon, and steelhead.

In recent times the federal government of British Columbia has engaged in an promoting program to attract extra vacationers to seaside resorts in locations comparable to Tofino and Ucluelet. Sport fishing, whale watching, mountaineering, scuba diving, browsing, and snowboarding are just some issues for which vacationers go to Vancouver Island. Guests additionally come to see Victoria’s Nineteenth-century structure, and the numerous villages which line the coast comparable to Cowichan Bay, Chemainus, and Qualicum Seashore.

Throughout our time on Vancouver Island, we loved the gorgeous pure magnificence, and went whale watching on an area vessel. Whereas I wasn’t in a position to digitally seize our whale sightings, we had been entertained by the sleek creatures that should floor every now and then to breathe.