Mercedes-Benz once again took center stage at the prestigious Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in California, showcasing the breathtaking Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 Cabriolet. This stunning vehicle embodies the pinnacle of future luxury, seamlessly blending sensual design with groundbreaking technology. It serves as a modern tribute to the era of handcrafted, exclusive cabriolets, reminiscent of “automotive haute couture.”
This glamorous cabriolet reimagines classic design principles with an avant-garde twist. It masterfully merges intelligent beauty with timeless aesthetic proportions and a streamlined, futuristic appearance, perfectly encapsulating the Mercedes-Benz design philosophy of Sensual Purity.
The Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 Cabriolet is engineered as a fully electric vehicle, boasting a powerful 750 hp (550 kW) drive system. Its cleverly designed, shallow underfloor battery provides an impressive range exceeding 200 miles (500 kilometers based on the NEDC standard).
The Monterey Car Week, held on the picturesque Monterey Peninsula in California from August 15th to 20th, 2017, served as the grand stage for the elegant cabriolet’s debut. The week culminated in the celebrated Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance on August 20th.
Gorden Wagener, Chief Design Officer of Daimler AG, aptly described the vehicle: “The Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 Cabriolet elevates modern luxury to ultimate heights and perfectly embodies our design strategy. Its breathtaking proportions, coupled with a lavish ‘haute couture’ interior, create an unparalleled experience.”
Exterior Design: Striking Lines and Powerful Form
Extending nearly 20 feet (6 meters) in length, the Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 Cabriolet elegantly incorporates classic art deco proportions. Its elongated hood and fluid, minimalist lines offer a contemporary reinterpretation of these timeless aesthetic principles. The body’s curvature exudes a sporty, elongated silhouette, defined by robust structural elements harmonizing with sharp feature lines. This distinctive side feature line gracefully traces the upper vehicle body, originating from the radiator grille and flowing seamlessly across the entire length to the rear.
The striking contrast between the deep “nautical blue metallic” paint and the gleaming chrome accents intensifies the captivating interplay between the clearly defined surfaces of the organically shaped fenders and the chrome trim elements. These elements are positioned atop the fender edges and centrally on the trunk lid, where they elegantly integrate the vertical tail lamps. This design approach enhances the iconic Mercedes-Maybach radiator grille, whose delicate, vertical struts accentuate the vehicle’s front presence. The grille’s design is inspired by the refined aesthetic of a pinstriped suit. Aerodynamically sculpted supports on the outer edges of the bumper cradle the radiator grille.
The newly crafted 24-inch light-alloy wheels feature a center lock, finished in rose gold – a signature color for Mercedes-Benz electric vehicle studies.
The Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 Cabriolet’s extended, rounded “boat tail” rear design evokes the image of a luxurious yacht. Narrow tail lamps, integrated into the outer edges, emphasize the vehicle’s width. Further distinguishing rear features include the diffuser with an aluminum frame and air outlets positioned behind the wheel arches.
The transition between the vehicle’s rear, the trunk lid area, and the interior showcases a fluid, seamless design. Luxurious crystal white nappa leather creates a captivating contrast against the dark exterior paint. The bespoke fabric top, interwoven with rose gold threads, is meticulously coordinated with the vehicle’s overall aesthetic.
Interior: A 360° Open-Air Luxury Lounge
The opulent interior of the Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 Cabriolet represents a fusion of intelligence and emotion, showcasing Mercedes-Benz’s innovative design approach. Designers have seamlessly blended the brand’s rich heritage with an unprecedented high-tech experience.
The generous, flowing design language harmoniously connects the exterior and interior, creating a holistic design. The seamless flow of surfaces from the rear into the interior evokes a distinct yacht-like ambiance. A light, wing-like element curves across the door trim and center tunnel, merging into the seat landscape to create a 360° open-air luxury lounge.
The innovative “inside out” spatial design is a standout feature. The seating surface forms a horizontal plane that transitions into the vertical plane of the doors and ultimately becomes the underside of the dashboard wing.
Beyond the flowing contours, the material composition elevates the luxury experience to the highest level. The interplay of contrasts, both warm and cool, is evident throughout. Signature Mercedes-Benz authentic materials and colors are utilized, including rose gold accents on trim elements and lavish, quilted crystal white nappa leather surfaces that come into contact with the skin. This luxury technique, reminiscent of Chesterfield furniture, involves folding the leather into a diamond pattern and securing it to the frame with buttons. In the Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 Cabriolet, this traditional seat upholstery receives a futuristic interpretation: each button in the quilting features a delicate, blue-backlit Mercedes star. The open-pore wood floor with inlaid aluminum further enhances the lounge atmosphere and the yachting connection.
A display strip above the 360° luxury lounge seamlessly connects the doors, dashboard, and rear area. All display elements are integrated into this continuous glass trim piece. In contrast, classic round dials, such as the instrument cluster, are prominently positioned, reflecting a trend of combining digital displays with traditional needles. These “hyperanalogue” elements address the desire for tangible luxury in an increasingly digital world. Drawing inspiration from aviation, three air vents are positioned beneath the wing, appearing to float like engine turbines.
Another captivating feature is the floating, transparent center tunnel, which visually represents the electric drive system’s energy flow using blue fiber optics, offering a mesmerizing spectacle for passengers.
Key driving functions and location-relevant information, such as restaurant recommendations or points of interest, are projected onto the windscreen via two head-up displays.
Intuitive User Experience
The Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 Cabriolet is designed to anticipate passenger needs, providing real-time information and solutions. The user experience seamlessly blends ultimate luxury with intelligent technology. Beyond touch-only controls and intelligent navigation linked to appointment calendars, the Concierge function stands out. This feature allows natural conversation with the concierge, eliminating the need for predefined voice commands and allowing drivers to fully focus on the driving experience.
Furthermore, the latest generation of biometric sensors monitors the passengers’ state of mind and health status, adding another layer of personalized luxury and safety.
Emission-Free Performance
As an electric vehicle, the Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 Cabriolet boasts impressive performance. Its four compact permanent magnet synchronous electric motors deliver all-wheel drive and a combined output of 750 hp (550 kW). The flat battery pack, located in the underbody, ensures a low center of gravity and optimal weight distribution. This powertrain enables sports car-like performance, accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in under four seconds, with an electronically limited top speed of 155 mph. Crucially, it achieves this performance while maintaining a range exceeding 200 miles (500 kilometers according to NEDC standards).
The visionary quick-charge function, utilizing DC charging based on the CCS standard, allows for a charging capacity of up to 350 kW. In just five minutes, enough power can be replenished to provide an additional range of over 60 miles (100 kilometers).
Visionary Show Car, Lasting Impact
With its generous dimensions (length/width/height: 18.7/6.9/4.4 ft), the Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 Cabriolet continues the lineage of visionary design show cars from Mercedes-Benz. Previous examples include the Vision EnerG-Force (Los Angeles, 2012), AMG Vision Gran Turismo (Sunnyvale, 2013), Vision Tokyo (Tokyo 2015), and Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 Coupé (Pebble Beach 2016). These concept vehicles draw inspiration from local design, culture, and mobility trends, reflecting the global nature of Mercedes-Benz Design. These show cars offer a glimpse into the future of automotive luxury and technology.
Mercedes-Maybach: Where Perfection Meets Exclusivity
Mercedes-Maybach represents the zenith of exclusivity and individuality, catering to discerning customers who value exquisite luxury, impeccable craftsmanship, and exceptional appointments. The Mercedes-Maybach S-Class range, including the S560 4MATIC and the S650 Cabriolet, embodies this philosophy, blending the perfection of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class with the unique exclusivity of Maybach.
The Mercedes Maybach S-Class Cabriolet, limited to just 300 units worldwide, marked the return of the open-top Maybach after decades, celebrating open-air automotive refinement and solidifying the brand’s commitment to ultimate luxury.
