Mercedes-Maybach 6 images sneak out

MERCEDES-BENZ’S gigantic dream machine, the Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 concept, has busted out of its hiding spot ahead of its scheduled unveiling at California’s Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance later this week.

Official-looking pictures have surfaced on Carscoops.com, revealing a massive gullwing coupe with aircraft carrier proportions and a futuristic interior.

Although the car is unlikely to be built in its current 5.45-metre-long form – can you imagine trying to find a parking spot? – elements are likely to turn up in future Maybach models as Mercedes creates its own multi-model standalone brand to battle super-luxury marques such as Bentley and Rolls-Royce.

The German company had shown teaser images of the S-Class-based concept on its social media pages in the lead up to this week’s big event in California – a prime place to reveal high-end machines with billionaire appeal.

As GoAuto has reported, the coupe’s styling is a nod to 1930s Maybach sports machines, including the 1980 Stromlinie streamliner.

Full images leaked overnight reveal an expansive chrome grille with vertical slats dominating the front of the vehicle. Slender LED headlights peer from slits either side of the fascia, while the leading edge of the bonnet is topped by a three-pointed star badge in the same fashion as the only current production Maybach, the S600.

At the back, the Mercedes badge is repeated, along with chrome badging declaring this to be the Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6.

So far, no hints have been given on the powertrain – if indeed it has one – but Mercedes’ push towards electrification suggests some sort of electric drive could be employed.

The bonnet, roof and boot are split down the middle with a seam that also divides the back window.

Chrome strips running the length of the body serve to emphasise the body length which, as Mercedes has already revealed, is a tick short of six metres, hence the ‘6’ moniker.

Large-diameter wheels appear to have red-tinted plastic hubcaps, presumably to not only look unique but also to aid aerodynamics.

The two-seat interior is dominated by couch-like white leather seats with thin backs. The few visible buttons and switches – including the seat-adjustment switches on the doors – are all on touch-sensitive surfaces stretching around the cockpit.

The windscreen appears to be one giant head-up display that looks space-age but would be exceedingly impractical, if not annoying. Mind you, a vehicle like this, if it was ever built beyond 2020, would probably come with autonomous driving controls.

Instruments are housed in 1950s-style twin round binnacles behind a white-leather-clad steering wheel in a design that looks more Chevrolet Impala than Mercedes.

We will have more once the behemoth is shown in the flesh at Pebble Beach, near Monterey in the next couple of days.