Ultra-stylish Luxury-class cabriolet: Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 Cabriolet
The new Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 Cabriolet presented last week at Pebble Beach in California is a ultra-luxurious car which, with its sensual, emotionally appealing design and innovative technical concept solutions, defines the ultimate in luxury of the coming years. Mercedes-Benz reinterprets classic, emotional design principles in an extravagant way and combines intelligent beauty with classic, aesthetic proportions and a reduced, technoid appearance.
Measuring almost six metres in length, the Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 Cabriolet incorporates the classic proportions of art deco design with its extremely long bonnet and puristic, flowing lines, and at the same time completely reinterprets these aesthetic principles. According to the manufacturer, the target group includes customers who place value on exquisite luxury, perfect workmanship and exceptional appointments.
With its generous dimensions, the Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 Cabriolet (length/width/height: 5700/2100/1340 mm) continues the series of visionary design show cars from Mercedes-Benz. So far these include the Vision EnerG‑Force (Los Angeles, November 2012), AMG Vision Gran Turismo (Sunnyvale, 2013), Vision Tokyo (Tokyo 2015) and Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 Coupé (Pebble Beach 2016).
The Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 Cabriolet is designed as an electric car. The drive system has an output of 550 kW (750 hp). The shallow underfloor battery allows a range of over 500 kilometres according to the NEDC (over 200 miles according to EPA).
“The Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 Cabriolet takes modern luxury into the realms of the ultimate in luxury, and is the perfect embodiment of our design strategy. Breathtaking proportions combined with a luxurious “haute couture” interior help to create the ultimate experience,” explains Gorden Wagener, Chief Design Officer of Daimler AG.
The Mercedes-Maybach radiator grille with its fine, vertical struts accentuates the front end. The newly designed 24-inch light-alloy wheels feature a centre lock. This is painted in rose gold and as such reflects the colour shade used on all electric vehicle studies from Mercedes-Benz.
The extended, round “boat tail” format of the Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 Cabriolet’s rear recalls a luxury yacht, and narrow tail lights which emphasise the width of the vehicle are integrated in its outer edges. the chrome trim element on the boot lid also incorporates the vertical brake lights. The transition between the vehicle rear, the area of the boot lid and the interior boasts a flowing design. Crystal white high-quality nappa leather creates an exciting contrast to the dark paint finish.
The custom-made fabric top with interwoven rose gold threads has been perfectly coordinated with the look of the vehicle.
User experience: intuitive communication
In addition to the touch-only control and intelligent navigation linked to the appointment calendar, concept cars features Concierge function. It is possible to talk to the concierge like talking to a friend, i.e. freely, without using predefined voice commands. This enables full concentration of the tasks of driving. The latest generation of biometric sensors record the state of mind and health status of the passengers.
The brand’s hallmark authentic materials and colours are used, such as rose gold on the trim elements, or the surfaces which come into contact with the skin, featuring a lavish, quilted crystal white nappa leather finish. The leather is put into folds in a diamond pattern and secured to the frame with buttons. In the case of the Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 Cabriolet, this traditional seat upholstery boasts a futuristic interpretation: each individual button of the quilting depicts a delicate Mercedes star, backlit in blue. The open-pore wood floor with inlaid aluminium underscores the lounge sensation and the connection to yachting.
The combination of digital displays with real needles is also totally on trend. By using “hyperanalogue” elements, the designers are responding to the need of people to experience analogue luxury in what is an increasingly digital world. As a classic borrowing from aviation, three air vents are positioned beneath the wing which appear to float like engines.
Another highlight comes courtesy of the floating, transparent centre tunnel, which visualises the drive system’s electrical energy flow for the passengers by means of blue fibre optics.
The main driving functions as well as information relevant to the location (e.g. restaurant recommendations or information on points of interest) are shown on the windscreen via two head-up displays.
