2024 Mercedes-Maybach EQS 680 SUV unveiled at Auto Shanghai

If you’ve been holding out on buying an EV because they simply weren’t opulent enough, then you’ll be pleased to hear Mercedes-Maybach has unveiled its indulgent EQS 680 SUV at China's largest motor show, Auto Shanghai. The Maybach EQS SUV will come to Australia in mid-2024.

The EQS 680 SUV becomes Maybach’s first-ever electric car; it wears the brand’s signature two-tone paintwork, monobloc-inspired alloy wheels, and even retains the luxury carmaker’s classy bonnet star.

Maybach claims 484kW/950Nm, all-wheel drive, and a circa-600km driving range, but when it comes to the EQS SUV, it’s more about luxury appointments than roving range or outright speed.

“The Mercedes-Maybach EQS SUV is a milestone in our brand history. For us, it embodies nothing less than the redefinition of automotive excellence in the age of electromobility. Our customers can look forward to an absolutely top-class electric driving experience – with the aura of the extraordinary that is typical of Maybach,” said Daniel Lescow, head of Mercedes-Maybach.

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Up front, the EQS’s imposing black grille gets chrome accents, there are Matrix LED headlights, and the Maybach logo is incorporated into the LED lighting signature. Where Mercedes-Benz products get black exterior trim, the Maybach EQS gets chrome door pulls and trim around the windows to accentuate its 5125mm length.

At the rear, the full-width LED lighting signature emphasises the EQS’ two-metre width with more chrome on the tailgate including the badging, rear apron, and lip spoiler. The 21- or 22-inch forged alloy wheels are a signature Maybach design.

The car pictured is finished in a two-tone Velvet brown body with an Onyx black roof, it’s one of five hand-painted colour schemes. The others are high-tech Silver/Obsidian black, Tigh-Tech silver/Nautical blue, Obsidian black/Selenite grey, Obsidian black/Kalahari gold.

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It’s all about the passengers

The EQS SUV may be imposing from the outside, but what’s inside really matters.

The front seats are heated, ventilated, and appointed in sustainably-tanned Nappa leather in your choice of Espresso brown/Balao brown pearl or Macchiato beige/Bronze brown pearl. Optionally, Manufaktur grade Crystal white/Silver grey pearl (pictured) is available.

Building on the EQS SUV’s ‘zero layer’ interfact concept, the Maybach gets the same touchscreen in the front but with a bespoke Maybach mode that animates the driving cluster. There’s also a front passenger touchscreen and HEPA-filtered cabin ventilation with active pollen and pollution sensors.

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Manufaktur grade Crystal white/Silver grey pearl interior

Music is rendered through a 15-speaker Burmester 4D sound system with myriad settings for each passenger. Those in the back also get Burmester headphones with their own sound and EQ settings.

And the back seat is really where you want to be, with twin 11.6-inch touchscreen mounted on the back of the seats with ‘MBUX high-end rear seat entertainment’ representing a step up from the regular Benz EQS. It means rear passengers can modify navigation directions from the back seat, while the centre console has been redesigned to better flow into the rear quarters.

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Manufaktur grade Crystal white/Silver grey pearl interior

There’s also technology such as gesture control, and the Maybach gets the portable MBUX tablet, just like the Benz EQS.

The EQS 680 SUV’s individual rear bucket seats are electrically-adjustable and equipped with heating, ventilation, as well as specific heat pads for the neck and shoulder and a massage function that incorporates a calf massage.

By selecting chauffeur mode, the non-driver side rear seat goes into full recline and the passenger seat moves out of the way. There are two temperature-controlled cup-holders, a shelf for the MBUX tablet, and electric roller blinds to block out unwanted light.

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Manufaktur grade Crystal white/Silver grey pearl interior

Silence inside the EQS

The Maybach EQS 680 SUV has the same encapsulated drive units that are doubly decoupled via rubber mounting points to minimise vibration. The Maybach gets extra acoustic foam in the wheel arches, body panels, and beneath the car to better suppress road noise.

With the EQS 680’s focus on rear passengers, Maybach turned its attention to keeping the back seat silent.

To accomplish this, the Artico-appointed parcel shelf is actually a fixed bulkhead in the Maybach EQS. It seals the boot off like a sedan to improve NVH suppression. Additionally, the EQS 680 SUV features laminated glass all around. There’s more wind deflection, covers, seals, and improved geometry for the sunroof.

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Powertrain and chassis

Air suspension is standard and it can be raised by up to 35mm to deal with rough roads. The four-wheel steering gives a maximum 10-degree rear angle to improve the EQS SUV’s behemoth turning circle from 11.9 to 11 metres.

Eco, Sport, Off-road and Individual programs remain for the damper and spring settings, but Comfort mode has been replaced by a bespoke Maybach setting that’s said to be ultra-plush, and maximise rear occupant comfort.

The EQS 680 SUV’s power figures are what you might describe as ‘more than adequate’. Its twin electric motors produce 484kW/950Nm. In such a large SUV, that’s good for a 0-100km/h time of 4.4 seconds.

Mercedes-Maybach is claiming a provisional driving range of 600km, from the same 107.8kWh battery as the Benz EQS. It will fast-charge at up to 200kW, for a 10-80 per cent fast-charge in 30 minutes.

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