Those who still recall the Vision Mercedes-Maybach Ultimate Luxury concept can finally lay it to rest, as the automaker has reportedly decided against bringing it into production. The odd-looking ultra-luxurious ride, which blurred the lines between SUVs and sedans, was originally intended for the Chinese market but plans have now been scrapped, likely due to cost-related considerations.
The unconventionally-shaped luxury concept was introduced in April 2018 in Beijing, combining the upright stance and generous ground clearance of an SUV with the three-box proportions of a sedan.
While initially believed to be solely a design study, reports from 2020 indicated plans for production in 2025, specifically targeting the Chinese market. However, fast forward to 2024, a new report from the German newspaper Handelsblatt, citing three insider sources, claims that Mercedes has completely shelved the project.
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At 5,260 mm (207 inches) long, the Vision Mercedes-Maybach Ultimate Luxury surpassed the size of the GLS and featured a luxurious, high-tech-filled four-seater cabin. Unlike many gas-guzzling SUVs of similar dimensions, it was propelled by quad electric motors generating 750 hp (559 kW / 760 PS), paired with an 80 kWh battery pack providing a 200-mile (550 km) range.
The final production model was intended to share its EVA2 underpinnings with the Mercedes EQE sedan and SUV siblings. However, the company ultimately abandoned the idea of introducing a third body style in the form of an EQE SUS (Sports Utility Sedan), fearing that Chinese buyers may not be sufficiently interested in another bulky EV. Interestingly, this would have been the first Mercedes exclusively produced in China, as the automaker had no plans to offer it elsewhere.
While the Vision Mercedes-Maybach Ultimate Luxury is dead, those in search of a “Sports Utility Sedan” could buy the Aznom Palladium – an Italian coachbuilt model based on a Ram 1500 truck.
