Re-imagined Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 imminent

MERCEDES-BENZ has seemingly prepared a follow up to last year’s Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 concept, with two recent teaser videos hinting that a re-imagination of the show car is imminent.

Likely to be revealed on August 20 at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance event in California, the new concept was first shown in sketch form last week during a video on Mercedes-Benz’s official Instagram account.

The post featured Daimler AG chief design officer Gorden Wagener discussing the show car with two other designers, who described the forthcoming concept as an “icon’’.

A close look at the sketches reveals a front grille with four horizontal louvres that nearly spans the full width of the show car, while a sculpted bonnet with a heavy crease down its middle completes the updated front-end look.

However, Mr Wagener cautioned the final look “will be quite different to what we … see here (in the sketches).’’

Meanwhile, changes to the rear-end are more dramatic, with the four-horizontal-louvre theme carrying over from the front in dominating fashion, while an aggressive diffuser complements the bold grille-like design.

Throughout this first video, the Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 conspicuously sits in the background of the advanced design meeting, perhaps dropping a subtle hint at what is to come.

Thanks to the second teaser video released this week, the connection between the Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 and the new concept is even clearer, with almost identical bonnet and interior designs shared.

The revised cabin appears to be a more realistic offering than its predecessor’ s, while its white and rose gold bubble-shaped theme appears again.

Nevertheless, the next show car trades in the Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6’s red metallic exterior paint colour for a navy blue hue.

Additionally, the multi-spoke alloy wheel design persists, but has been refined much like the rest of the concept, with a more feasible number of spokes instead now on show.

Unveiled at Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in 2016, the Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 packs an electric powertrain that punches out 550kW and can sprint from zero to 100km/h in less than four seconds.

Top speed is electronically limited to 250km/h, while 500 kilometres of electric driving range is quoted.

Measuring in at 5700mm long, 2100mm wide and 1328mm tall, the two-door coupe seats four and has a shallow 80kWh underfloor battery with quick-charge function that can boost range by 100km in just five minutes.

It is likely the new show car will retain its forbear’s drivetrain, but improvements to power and range could be on the cards as it is likely to become a production model in the future.