Official: Electric Mercedes-Maybach EQS 680 Is Just Weeks Away From Arrival

Mar. 29, 2023 1:15 PM ET by Jarryd Neves Luxury / 3 Comments

The first fully-electric production Maybach will make its debut at Auto Shanghai in China.

Mercedes-Benz has confirmed that the new Mercedes-Maybach EQS SUV will break cover next month, with a grand world premiere set to take place on April 17 at Auto Shanghai in China.

As the first-ever fully-electric Maybach product, this is a big deal for the German automaker. It's a glimpse into the future of Mercedes, which we will explain shortly. But first, let's look at the information we've received thus far. The newcomer will be called the EQS 680 SUV, which aligns it with the Mercedes-Maybach S680 and GLS 600.

Both of these models exhibit their superiority over lesser Mercedes models with bigger numerical designations, and it's the same case here. The regular EQS SUV is sold in 450, 450+, and 580 derivatives in the United States, with each model boasting varying outputs and range capabilities.

Mercedes-Benz

While the S680 justifies its superior model badging with a model-specific 6.0-liter V12 (a V8-powered S580 is also available), the GLS 600 uses the same 4.0-liter V8 engine found in GLS 63 AMG, although it's detuned. We're guessing the EQS 680 SUV will make use of the same setup found in the EQS 580; the more aspirational badging could just be there to put lesser Benz drivers in their place.

If that's the case, we can expect the new electric Maybach to produce 536 horsepower and 633 lb-ft of torque. That's more than enough to cart the leather-lined luxury car to and fro silently, but we wonder if the Maybach trimmings and added luxury would add weight. If so, that would impact the range.

As a reminder, the EQS SUV weighs in at a portly 6,228 lbs. Despite this, it's rated to travel 285 miles between trips to the charger. Anything less than this would be undesirable for the Maybach variant.

CarBuzz

CarBuzz

It's safe to assume the Maybach EQS SUV will do away with the five/seven-seater options in favor of a more decadent four-seater setup. As we've seen in the GLS 600, this creates a more spacious and luxurious environment and allows rear occupants to stretch out in comfort.

While this takes away some of the practicality, trunk space and squeezing passengers in aren't concerns for the average Maybach owner - they have other cars to fulfill those purposes.

So, why is the Maybach EQS a glimpse into Mercedes' future? Last year, the automaker announced that it would restructure its long-term goals with a vision of selling more high-end cars than ever before. That's not to say regular models will disappear, but rather that vehicles like the Maybach EQS will become more influential.

The company hopes high-end electric luxury vehicles hold the key to even more substantial profits.

Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz

The Maybach EQS SUV is a combination of just about every automotive hot commodity. It's an ultra-luxury SUV that also happens to be electric. Even with the expected high price, Mercedes will likely sell boatloads of the latest Maybach in regions like North America, the Middle East, and China - which is the largest market for the Mercedes sub-brand.

While it will be out of reach for mere mortals, the Maybach EQS SUV will probably be more affordable than rivals from Bentley and Rolls-Royce. The entry-level Maybach S-Class is $70,400 more expensive than the cheapest S-Class. We can expect a similar gap between the regular EQS and its Maybach sibling, which means it could cost as much as $180,000 before options.

The Maybach EQS SUV will undoubtedly be in a class of its own until the British aristocrats devise an electric rival to fight it.