#2021 Mercedes-Benz EQ Changes

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2021 Mercedes-Benz EQ Price, Redesign, Concept, and Specs

2021 Mercedes-Benz EQ Price, Redesign, Concept, and Specs

2021 Mercedes-Benz EQ Price, Redesign, Concept, and Specs. The near future, or the year 2021, is bringing us the new member of the next-generation all-electric cars. It will be the new Mercedes Benz EQ SUV which was first revealed as a concept at the Paris Motor Show last year.

Engine

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz EQ SUV will probably use the lithium-ion battery pack with more than 70 kWh. It will be…

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Do You Buy Electric Cars?

Buying electric cars can be exciting and confusing. Think about what kind of car you want and where you need to charge.

The appeal of electric cars has never been stronger than it is now. GM plans to sell only electric vehicles by 2035. Volkswagen's goal is to make it cheaper than gasoline-powered cars. The survey shows that at least two-thirds of American drivers are willing to buy electric vehicles. However, many people are still worried about the costs, choices, and charges of electric vehicles, but these obstacles are falling rapidly. The government hopes to speed up this process and provide tens of billions of dollars of incentives.

For those who want to buy electric cars, this can be overwhelming and exciting. Here's how you should consider whether electric vehicles are suitable for you.

What are you looking for? Electric cars are fast, fun to drive, require little maintenance and produce no exhaust emissions, which are the main cause of climate change. But even if you're sure you want one, there are many options. That's why it's important to understand what you're looking for.

"Is this a basic means of transportation?" Or an expression of yourself and your personality, Said Matt DeLorenzo, senior executive editor of Kelly's blue book“ The car is a statement to the buyer. If not, there would be no Mercedes Benz. "

Tesla. Of course, the company produces powerful, modern, and fast electric vehicles. But Tesla's appeal is also related to its evaluation of car owners. Buying one means buying an early collector community and, to some extent, the views and vision of Elon Musk, the company's charismatic and arrogant CEO. Therefore, many car lovers either like Tesla or hate it.

Some electric vehicles, such as Hyundai IONIQ, Nissan LEAF, or mini cooper se, start at about $30000 and are economic and ecological alternatives to gasoline-powered vehicles. Other models, such as Porsche day can, GMC's upcoming giant electric Hummer, and the luxury Mercedes Benz EQs, are boutiques priced at about $100000.

What is your charging plan? The charging infrastructure in the United States may be developing rapidly, but anyone who wants to turn to electric vehicles should have a charging plan.

The first step is to determine where you usually charge. Most people do it at home, which is the easiest. But as new electric cars and trucks can travel 200 miles or more when fully charged, some drivers choose to replenish fuel when needed in the workplace or public charging stations. It is reported that some urban residents start long cables from apartments or families to provide power for vehicles parked on the street.

If you plan to charge a new electric car or truck at home, there are some pitfalls to pay attention to. Although electric vehicles can be charged through a typical household socket, the charging process is very slow and takes up to 24 hours or more to be fully charged. Many car owners choose to install faster 220 to 240-volt power outlets, as used in clothes dryers, which usually require hiring an electrician.

Alistair Weaver, editor in chief of edmunds.com, said: "you are basically installing something unique for electric vehicles - it costs."

He should know. After buying a new house, Weaver realized that his electric panel needed an expensive upgrade to power his wife's Tesla Model 3.

Anyone without a simple charging method should pay special attention to the driving distance of the car in the real world and its possible changes under different conditions. For example, cold weather can greatly reduce the vehicle's mileage.

But don't be too nervous. Experts say that although the fear of power failure, which is often called distance anxiety, is real, it is often exaggerated. In fact, many electric car owners don't charge every day because they don't need it at all.

Should I buy a Tesla? When it comes to electric vehicles, we can't help mentioning Tesla. Tesla is the leader in the U.S. electric vehicle market for a reason: Although Tesla's car is not without problems, it is still popular.

Tesla has attracted many people who are just looking for future technology or sports cars, and even something deeper. I think people like Elon Musk.

As a market leader, Tesla has some advantages. Tesla's cars and technology last longer than electric vehicles produced by other carmakers, and Tesla has an easy-to-use charging network for its own cars. But the situation is changing rapidly. The choice of electric vehicles is really proliferating. Everyone is pouring into the market. The turning point has come, and all the brands you are familiar with will provide really useful and multifunctional alternatives to electric vehicles in the next two or three years.

At the beginning of 2021, several new electric vehicles started on the road, including Ford's Mustang mache, Volkswagen's ID4, and Volvo's xc40 recharge. Carmakers are expected to launch more cars this year and next. The models eagerly awaited by car lovers include Audi Q4 e-Tron SUV, BMW I4 sedan, Hyundai IONIQ 5 SUV, and Nissan ariya SUV. Several other start-ups are also expected to start selling cars, including the lucid air sedan, Vivian's r1t pickup, and R1s SUV.

What can you afford? Tax credits may help. Yes, electric cars are more expensive than similar gasoline-powered cars, but the price tells you so much. Federal and state tax breaks, utility grants and other savings can help offset costs.

The federal government provides a $7500 tax credit for electric vehicles. Although Tesla or general motors have run out, they can still be used in many other electric vehicles. Take Nissan LEAF as an example. A new basic model costs nearly $32000, but after the federal tax credit, the price fell to less than $25000. States, cities, and even utility companies provide incentives to buy electric cars or install chargers at home.

Electric cars are also cheaper. A recent study by the consumer report found that, compared with the average owner of a gasoline-powered car, the average expenditure of electric vehicle drivers on providing power for a car, truck or SUV has decreased by 60%, while the expenditure on repair and maintenance has decreased by half - there is no need to change the oil.

Buying a used car may be a cheaper way to buy an electric car, but carefully evaluate the quality of the car you buy, especially the battery, because it will deteriorate over time. In other words, a used electric car may be the perfect choice for a second car on business, commuting, and other short trips.

Although owning an electric car may be exciting, it may not be suitable for everyone. Many families and individuals cannot afford electric cars that meet their needs - for example, there are few three-row electric cars, and they are often expensive. Others have difficulty charging at home or nearby. That's why Delorenzo and Fisher recommended plug-in hybrids.

If you're interested but not sure if you're willing to invest, these plug-in hybrids are away. For many people, plug-in vehicles such as Chrysler Pacifica hybrid minivan or RAV4 prime SUV can be effectively used as all-electric vehicles. Toyota said the RAV4 prime could drive 42 miles before switching to gasoline, while Chrysler said Pacifica could drive 32 miles on a full charge. If these cars are mainly used for short commutes and town travel, they rarely use gasoline. Both cars and other plug-in hybrids are also eligible for the federal tax credit. As long as you plug it into an ordinary socket on the wall and charge it all night, you can feel what it's like to have an electric car. Maybe your next car will be a pure electric car.

Of course, gasoline-powered cars have become more and more efficient. If you want to upgrade from an old car, choosing one wisely will help reduce emissions. However, many people buy cars based on what they think is attractive and attractive. 'if you admire the function and design of electric vehicles, you may find that nothing else can satisfy you,' Mr. de Lorenzo said. This is a different experience.

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A Tiny Part’s Big Ripple: Global Chip Shortage Hobbles the Auto Industry Around the world, auto assembly lines are going quiet, workers are idle and dealership parking lots are looking bare. A shortage of semiconductors, the tiny but critical chips used to calibrate cars’ fuel injection, run infotainment systems or provide the brains for cruise control, has sent a shudder through the automaking world. A General Motors plant in Kansas City closed in February for lack of chips, and still hasn’t reopened. Mercedes-Benz has begun to hoard its chips for expensive models and is temporarily shutting down factories that produce lower-priced C-Class sedans. Porsche warned dealers in the United States this month that customers might have to wait an extra 12 weeks to get their cars, because they lack a chip used to monitor tire pressure. The French automaker Peugeot, part of the newly formed Stellantis automaking empire, has gone so far as to substitute old-fashioned analog speedometers for digital units in some models. The disruption could not come at a worse time. Demand for cars has bounced back strongly from the pandemic slump, with consumers ready to spend money they saved over the past year, eager to avoid airplanes by taking road trips. The supply of semiconductors is depriving carmakers of a chance to make up sales they lost. “We have already a robust demand situation being more held back by the semiconductor issue than anything else,” Ola Källenius, the chief executive of Daimler, said in an interview. Some automakers, such as Renault, have begun to triage their chips, reserving them for more costly models that bring more profit. “We’re trying to find an intelligent way to prioritize cars with the higher margins,” Clotilde Delbos, Renault’s deputy chief executive, told analysts on Thursday. Some buyers may be lucky enough to take home a new car, but it may lack options that use specialized chips. Porsche has told U.S. dealers that for several months it won’t be able to deliver high-end seats in the Macan S.U.V. that can be adjusted 18 different ways, a popular upgrade. The necessary chips are unavailable. One big reason automakers can’t find enough chips is that semiconductor manufacturers have given priority to manufacturers of smartphones, video game consoles and other consumer electronics, which tend to be more lucrative customers. A modern car can easily have more than 3,000 chips. But cars account for a tiny share of chip demand. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, or TSMC, is one of the few makers of a variety of chips vital to auto manufacturing, but in 2020 carmakers generated only 3 percent of the company’s sales, according to Roland Berger, a German consulting firm. TSMC’s most important customers are smartphone makers, which accounted for half of sales. Smartphones outnumber cars by a wide margin. In 2019, before the pandemic disrupted global economies, auto factories churned out 93 million vehicles compared with smartphone production of 1.4 billion units. Over all, the chip shortage and other supply chain snarls curtailed production by 1.3 million vehicles in the first three months of the year, according to IHS Markit, a consultancy. The problem has become a concern for political leaders in Washington and other capitals. Peter Altmaier, the German economics minister, recently appealed to his counterpart in Taiwan, a global center for semiconductor manufacturers, asking in so many words whether the Taiwanese minister couldn’t help shake loose a few chips urgently needed by German carmakers. The chip shortage “has become a serious problem for manufacturers, especially the auto industry,” a group of German economic research institutes warned in a joint report this month. Today in Business Updated  April 23, 2021, 10:07 a.m. ET The crisis has exposed not only how dependent the car industry is on a few suppliers, but also how vulnerable it is to disruptions. Supply chain managers shuddered last month when an early-morning fire knocked out production at a factory owned by Renesas Electronics in Hitachinaka, Japan, north of Tokyo. Renesas is a crucial supplier of chips used to monitor brake functioning, control power steering, trigger airbags and in many other tasks. Weather has also played a role. Storms in Texas earlier in the year temporarily forced the shutdown of three semiconductor factories. And Taiwan is in the midst of a severe drought, analysts at IHS Markit warned in a recent report. Chip manufacturing requires large amounts of very pure water. Even without a pandemic and supply chain disruptions, the auto industry is in turmoil. In the United States, sales have been basically flat since the early 2000s. Profit margins are slim. Some big automakers may not survive the shift to electric cars. “If I were a chip manufacturer I wouldn’t start investing in a new plant unless I got free money from the government,” said ManMohan S. Sodhi, who teaches supply chain management at the business school at City, University of London. Free money may be on the way. The White House held a summit on the chip shortage this month, and has proposed allocating $50 billion in infrastructure funds to reverse a decline in the share of chip manufacturing that takes place on American shores. But new chip factories can’t be built fast enough to solve the immediate shortage. And unless government subsidies persuade them otherwise, semiconductor makers and other suppliers are likely to build any new factories in or near China, which is the biggest car market and, unlike the United States and Europe, is growing steadily. It’s not at all clear how long the chip famine could last. Mr. Sodhi said that he suspected chip makers were exaggerating the shortage to pry subsidies from governments, and that the crisis could be over in a month. Auto industry consultants at Roland Berger are more pessimistic, saying the shortage could last all year. On Thursday, Ms. Delbos of Renault said “the visibility is deteriorating” for determining an end to the chip crisis, “as news is changing by the day.” In the meantime, automakers are improvising to try to minimize the damage. Daimler’s Mercedes unit is allocating scarce chips to its priciest models, like the EQS electric luxury sedan the company unveiled this month, which is expected to start at around $100,000. The triage prompted Daimler to temporarily shut down factories in Germany that produce lower-priced C-Class sedans. Most of the 18,500 workers at the plants are furloughed until the end of April, though they will continue to receive government subsidized “short work” pay. Along the same lines, Volkswagen has cut production at plants in Germany that make sedans and other internal combustion models, and one in Mexico where the company makes Tiguan S.U.V.s for the American market. But a factory in Zwickau, Germany, that produces ID.3 sedans and ID.4 S.U.V.s, the vanguard of Volkswagen’s drive to dominate the emerging market for electric cars, has not been affected, according to the company. General Motors, which has had to halt production temporarily at a half-dozen plants since the beginning of the year, has in some cases been producing cars without electrical components and parking them until the parts are available. Ford Motor said Wednesday that it would keep several U.S. plants idle longer than expected because of the chip shortage. The auto industry has been paralyzed by supply chain disruptions before. Mr. Källenius recalled an episode when a hurricane struck Puerto Rico and shut down production at a factory that, to his surprise and pretty much everyone else’s, was the only source of a coating essential to some kinds of auto electronics. Automobiles have tens of thousands of parts and so many layers of suppliers and sub-suppliers and sub-sub-suppliers that even carmakers have trouble keeping track of every component’s provenance. The economics of the industry are such that only suppliers with the highest volume survive. Smaller suppliers tend to die out because they can’t produce parts or materials as cheaply as the big players, leaving the industry dependent on one or two manufacturers of high-pressure fuel lines, for example, or a certain specialized plastic. The current semiconductor shortage may not be the last. The auto industry’s need for semiconductors is expected to explode in coming years because of autonomous driving features and the increasing popularity of electric vehicles, which are more reliant on software than internal combustion engines. Mr. Källenius said, though, that the most sophisticated chips were not the ones currently giving him headaches. “We are missing the most simple of chips, that maybe only cost cents or dollars,” he said. “That’s holding us up from building a product that costs $75,000.” Source link Orbem News #Auto #Big #Chip #Global #Hobbles #Industry #parts #Ripple #shortage #tiny

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2021 Mercedes-Maybach GLS600 offers oodles of luxury, but is it enough?

New Post has been published on https://appradab.com/2021-mercedes-maybach-gls600-offers-oodles-of-luxury-but-is-it-enough/

2021 Mercedes-Maybach GLS600 offers oodles of luxury, but is it enough?

Hello, opulence.

Antuan Goodwin/Roadshow

There are some folks who need more luxury than a standard Mercedes-Benz can offer. And for them, there’s Mercedes-Maybach. Previously only the S-Class got this extra-extra treatment but now, Maybach is broadening its reach with the new hifalutin GLS600, as well.

Like

Sumptuous rear seats

Excellent onboard tech

Buttery-smooth transmission

Don’t Like

Competitors offer more luxury

Poor fuel economy

This fancy SUV looks like a bright, shiny silver dollar, complete with copious amounts of chrome and an available two-tone paint job. The grille, while shiny as hell, is actually quite subdued with its simple vertical slats. Yes, they reflect the sun and glint into the eyes of the peons that dare look at you, but I honestly expected something even more ostentatious.

The silhouette is dominated by my tester’s available 23-inch multi-spoke wheels. Curiously, the center caps are not self-centering as those on the Rolls-Royce Cullinan, which is a bummer, as that’s a pretty easy feature to incorporate. Regardless, when I open the door the GLS lowers itself slightly and a running board made of anodized aluminum deploys for easy ingress.

2021 Mercedes-Maybach GLS600: When more is more but not too much

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Inside, the dashboard and front seats are essentially ripped from the standard GLS, but tweaked ever so slightly. My tester has gorgeous, open-pore wood; leather at every touch; ambient lighting; ridiculously comfortable seats that are heated, cooled and massaging; and heated and cooled cup holders. There’s plenty of Maybach badging as well and this thing even has its own dedicated Maybach scent piped in through the air vents. I’m no bloodhound, but Mercedes describes this aroma as, “The white osmanthus blossom, floral and light, rounded off by a gentle leather note and spicy tea.” So yeah, let’s go with that.

But really, the highlight of the Maybach GLS’ cabin is in the back. The standard GLS’ third row is gone and the back seats are moved rearward for improved legroom. You can get a bench seat, but I don’t know why you would, especially since the awesome four-seat configuration is a no-cost option. Also, there’s a built-in champagne cooler, along with holders for your champagne flutes and cooled cup holders for your more boring beverages. Go big, y’all.

This is where you want to be.

Antuan Goodwin/Roadshow

The executive chairs in back are supremely comfortable — heated, cooled and massaging, natch, with a recline function and footrest that brings riders almost half-way to horizontal. At 5 feet, 9 inches tall, I’m able to stretch all the way out, but taller passengers might find their feet resting against the front seat. With a soft pillow for your head and lower back, this is a place to relax, for sure.

Should you want to get some work done, there are optional folding trays for each seat and a tablet computer in case you forget your laptop. You can keep everything charged with two USB-C ports as well as a 115-watt outlet and wireless charging.

Mercedes’ MBUX infotainment system is here, running on a 12.3-inch screen. I usually plug in my phone to use Apple CarPlay or Android Auto when navigating, but I love the virtual overlay on the in-dash navigation that shows precise arrows for turns and street addresses. The virtual assistant is also pretty good, recognizing natural language and will even tell you a joke or two. The standard 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster is nifty, showing me all the information I could possibly want. There is also a standard head-up display to keep everything at eye level.

23s? 23s.

Antuan Goodwin/Roadshow

I really enjoy Mercedes’ suite of advanced driver’s aids and they are all standard on the Maybach. That means you’ve got blind-spot monitoring and lane-keeping assist, while the adaptive cruise control works great in stop-and-go traffic. It can even slow the car down based information gathered from the in-dash navigation. The steering assist helps drivers get down the road and can even change lanes automatically provided the coast is clear. However, this is still a hands-on system and if the GLS thinks the driver is incapacitated in any way it will stop the car in its lane and unlock the doors so first responders have access.

Where the Maybach suffers, however, is in cargo space. Behind those executive seats is only 18.5 cubic feet of space and that’s without the rear of the champers cooler invading the cargo area. That’s a bit less than a Rolls-Royce Cullinan but way less than the 24.5 cubes in the Land Rover Range Rover SVAutobiography. Only the Bentley Bentayga, with 17 cubic feet behind the second row, has less.

If you needed further proof that the Maybach GLS is all about being driven, the SUV has a unique Maybach drive mode that prioritizes the comfort of rear seat passengers. This drive mode starts the GLS in second gear, mutes the throttle and turns off the stop/start for less passenger jostling.

The V8 engine has mild-hybrid assist.

Antuan Goodwin/Roadshow

Of course, the Maybach GLS has plenty of power under the hood, with its 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 good for 550 horsepower and 538 pound-feet of torque. The engine is supplemented with EQ-Boost, a 48-volt mild-hybrid system that can fill in low-rev turbo lag with an extra 21 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque. The EQ-Boost system also makes the stop/start system incredibly smooth, almost imperceptible. Still, even with that hybrid tech, the Maybach GLS is a thirsty gal, earning a fuel economy rating of 15 miles per gallon in the city, 19 mpg highway and 16 mpg combined.

If you want ridiculous speed and great handling, look at the 603-hp Mercedes-AMG GLS63. The Maybach is still quick, scooting to 60 mph in 4.8 seconds, but it’s tuned to be softer overall. The Sport mode isn’t as aggressive, forcing me to slow down just a bit and not tackle a backroad with abandon. The Curve mode uses the air suspension system to kind of lean into turns, which sounds bizarre, but makes for a less roly-poly ride. There is also an Off-Road mode that can bounce the big SUV up and down to help get it unstuck from soft sand, in case your chauffeur didn’t air down enough while driving on your private beach. You can also just bounce because it looks cool, too.

I can’t say enough good things about the nine-speed automatic transmission. I’ve always been a fan of the Benz’ modern gearboxes, and this one is a delight, offering up smooth, quiet shifts exactly when I want them. Similarly, the brakes are effortless, with a firm, linear feel despite the Maybach GLS’ 6,000-pound footprint.

The two-tone paint is subtle but effective.

Antuan Goodwin/Roadshow

The 2021 Mercedes-Maybach GLS starts at $161,550 including $1,050 for destination. My tester wears the $18,500 two-tone paint job and the $5,500 23-inch wheels. The fridge is an extra $1,100 and the champagne flute holders are $800. Finally, the folding tables add $1,800 for an as-tested price of $190,000.

If you really want to feel like you’re riding on a cloud, the GLS can’t really touch cars like the Bentley Bentayga or Rolls-Royce Cullinan. Yeah, those SUVs cost a whole bunch more money, but if you’re in the market for a super-luxurious SUV, is price really that much of a concern?

In fact, that’s my one big issue with the Maybach: It doesn’t go far enough. Aside from the ride quality, the Land Rover Range Rover SVAutobiography will get you farther off the beaten path and the Bentley Bentayga is more enjoyable to drive. I’d rather see the Maybach go even bigger in the luxury department to really offer something unique.

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2021 Mercedes-Benz Sedan

Great changes are going to the 2021 Mercedes-Benz model setup. Per regular, Mercedes-Benz of Colorado Springs has all the insider subtleties on the 2021 Mercedes-Benz Sedan/Wagon Lineup: A-Class Sedan, C-Class Sedan, E-Class Sedan, S-Class Sedan, Mercedes-Maybach S-Class Sedan, and E-Class Wagon; the 2021 Mercedes-Benz Coupe Lineup: CLA Coupe, C-Class Coupe, E-Class Coupe, CLS Coupe, S-Class Coupe, Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe, and Mercedes-AMG GT Coupe; the 2021 Mercedes-Benz SUV Lineup: GLA SUV, GLB SUV, GLC SUV, GLC Coupe, GLE SUV, GLE Coupe, GLS SUV, and scandalous G-Class SUV (G-Wagon); the 2021 Mercedes-Benz Convertible/Roadster Lineup: C-Class Cabriolet, E-Class Cabriolet, S-Class Cabriolet, SLC Roadster, SL Roadster, and the Mercedes-AMG GT Roadster; and to wrap things up, the 2021 Mercedes-Benz Hybrid/Electric Lineup: GLC SUV Hybrid and future EQC 400 SUV.

As 2021 methodologies, we at long last begin to see the introduction of the game-changing EQ setup. Mercedes-Benz' vision of an all-electric future beginnings with the EQC 400 SUV. Close by that, Mercedes-Benz keeps on prodding us with smooth, cutting edge models that are set to move the not-to-far off future, for example, the AMG Project One Formula 1 Racecar, F 015 Luxury Concept, Mercedes-Maybach Vision 6 Coupe/Cabriolet, and the Mercedes-Benz Vision EQS. Get familiar with each 2021 model here and see what's not quite the same as the 2020 Mercedes-Benz arrangement (demonstrated as follows). Look at our new Mercedes-Benz stock in Colorado Springs and keep awake to-date with the most recent data on every one of the 2021 Mercedes-Benz models. On the off chance that you have any inquiries, it would be ideal if you call us at 866-980-1275 to ask about the new Mercedes-Benz setup and timetable a test drive! Visit Mercedes-Benz of Colorado Springs!

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2021 Mercedes-Benz E450 All-Terrain first drive review: Go butch or go home

New Post has been published on https://appradab.com/2021-mercedes-benz-e450-all-terrain-first-drive-review-go-butch-or-go-home/

2021 Mercedes-Benz E450 All-Terrain first drive review: Go butch or go home

How do you sell a wagon in the US in 2020? Make it look like an SUV. Traditional station wagons continue to fall out of favor with American customers, yet higher-riding crossovers keep on selling like hotcakes. With that in mind: The Mercedes-Benz E-Class wagon is dead; long live the Mercedes-Benz E-Class All-Terrain.

The All-Terrain joins the Mercedes’ US lineup as part of the E-Class’ 2021 model-year update. It’s essentially the outgoing E450 wagon with 2 extra inches of ground clearance, standard air suspension (previously an option), some rugged-looking body cladding and butch new bumper treatments. Overall, the look really works; the All-Terrain is definitely handsome, though I’m not sure if all the cladding works against my tester’s rich shade of Cardinal Red. In any case, this crossover-like updo makes a whole lot of sense for the E-Class, better positioning it to take on other high-riding luxury wagons such as the Audi A6 Allroad and Volvo V90 Cross Country.

2021 Mercedes-Benz E450 All-Terrain is ruggedly handsome

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You can only get the All-Terrain in E450 4Matic guise in the US, meaning it uses Mercedes’ 3.0-liter turbocharged I6 engine and all-wheel drive. The straight-six engine is the same one you’ll find in a number of Benz’s other products, producing 362 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque, in addition to a supplemental 21 hp and 184 lb-ft from the 48-volt EQ-Boost mild-hybrid system.

With its ample low-end torque and smooth-shifting nine-speed automatic transmission, the E-Class All-Terrain is super nice to drive. This wagon pulls away from stoplights with authority, thanks in part to the extra torque boost from the mild-hybrid tech (Mercedes estimates a 0-to-60-mph time of 5.1 seconds). What’s more, EQ-Boost irons out the action of the stop-start system, meaning I’m more likely to leave the fuel-saving function activated as this tech isn’t usually my jam. This helps the portly, 4,350-pound E450 All-Terrain return respectable EPA fuel economy estimates of 22 miles per gallon city, 28 mpg highway and 24 mpg combined.

The All-Terrain is the kind of car you wouldn’t think twice about putting hundreds of miles on in one sitting, knowing you’ll arrive at your destination as relaxed as when you left. The standard adaptive air suspension takes a lot of the credit for that balance and composure, mitigating larger impacts from broken pavement and generally delivering a solid, serene ride. Pro tip, though: Skip the 20-inch wheels you see on this test car. Good as they look, they allow for small initial impacts to be felt through the chassis. Plus, the surprisingly aggressive 245/40 front and 275/35 rear Pirelli P-Zero summer tires kind of go against the whole take-me-anywhere attitude of the All-Terrain. This E450 comes standard with 19-inch wheels and 245/45-series tires at all four corners; that’s definitely the way to go.

Methinks you won’t be doing much off-roading with these 20-inch wheels and P-Zero summer tires.

Michael Shaffer/Mercedes-Benz

On the other hand, throw the All-Terrain into Sport mode and the air suspension hunkers down, the steering adds a bit more weight and those sticky tires offer lots of grip while cornering. In other words, the few folks who might’ve otherwise bought a standard E450 wagon will be happy to know this thing can still hustle when provoked. And if it’s performance you’re after, AMG has you covered.

For what it’s worth, the All-Terrain has Offroad and Offroad Plus driving modes that raise the suspension and reduce throttle sensitivity, but I don’t recommend venturing too far off the beaten path in one of these wagons — especially if you’re rolling on 20s. Much like the new Audi A6 Allroad, this E-Class is an All-Terrain in name and appearance far more than in ability. Have a dirt road on the way to your campsite? Great, have fun. Want to hang with the Jeeps on the trails? Break into Mercedes’ headquarters and steal the E-Class 4×4 Squared instead.

Also like Audi’s new Allroad, the E-Class All-Terrain is an absolute tech powerhouse. On the driver-assistance front, the E450 is available with full-speed adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capabilities, active steering assist, lane-change assist, traffic sign recognition, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping tech and Mercedes’ new Exit Warning function, which will alert you if an object is approaching when you’re parallel parked and about to open your door. (Cyclists will thank you.) The only bad news is that none of this safety gear is standard, so be sure to add the $1,950 Driver Assistance Package.

The All-Terrain’s cabin is mostly flawless, and all 2021 E-Class models now use Mercedes’ MBUX infotainment tech.

Michael Shaffer/Mercedes-Benz

The E-Class upgrades to Mercedes’ latest MBUX infotainment tech. A pair of 12.3-inch screens span two-thirds of the dashboard, the left display acting as a digital instrument cluster, the right one serving as the main multimedia interface. Like MBUX’s integration in other Mercedes-Benz models, you can operate the software via controllers on the steering wheel, a touchpad on the center console, voice commands — “Hey, Mercedes, I’m cold” — or simply by touching the screen. I’m all about the latter, especially with the system’s quick responses to inputs. Also, you should totally spring for the augmented reality navigation overlays ($350) because they make finding destinations a cinch.

Aside from the tech update, the E-Class’ interior carries over largely unchanged, which is fine by me. This is an incredibly comfortable and stylish cabin, with nice details like open-pore wood, real metal finishes and a gazillion different ambient light choices. Front and rear passengers have lots of room to stretch out, and there’s 35 cubic feet of cargo space behind the back seats. Fold ’em down and you’ve got 64 cubes at your disposal.

There’s just one itty-bitty-teensy-tiny problem with the new E-Class’ interior, and it isn’t specific to the All-Terrain: the steering wheel. For some weird reason, Mercedes removed the thumbpad controllers for the infotainment system as well as the physical buttons and scroll wheels for the volume and menu controls. Instead, there are little capacitive-touch sensors which take getting used to. The four-way swipe pads for the screens aren’t so bad, but the slider bar for the volume is infuriating. I inevitably always end up going too far up or too far down, or I press too hard and mute the whole thing. I’m not sure why Mercedes opted to fix what wasn’t broken.

Long live the longroof.

Michael Shaffer/Mercedes-Benz

But like I said, that’s a minor complaint in an otherwise flawless cabin, one that can be optioned to the gills with amenities like massaging seats, wireless phone charging, heated armrests and lots of different color and trim combinations. There’s even a $1,100 Acoustic Comfort Package on the options roster, which offers increased cabin insulation and special acoustic glass. If silence is your definition of luxury, then this is a must-have add-on.

The 2021 E450 All-Terrain costs $68,650 to start, including $1,050 for destination. Load one up like the car you see here and you’re looking at $84,790. That’s a bunch of money, but it falls in line with Audi A6 Allroad pricing. The Volvo V90 Cross Country is the most affordable of the bunch, however, and it offers a lot more ground clearance. Plus, I think the Swede is the best-looking wagon of the bunch.

Really, though, it doesn’t totally matter if the All-Terrain can out-Allroad an Audi. What matters is that it makes the E-Class wagon more appealing to US shoppers. If these off-road duds even manage to convince a few people to pass up a GLE-Class SUV in favor of longroof life, that helps ensure a brighter future for all Mercedes-Benz wagons — the holy-grail AMG E63 included. The new E-Class All-Terrain is no better or worse a wagon than the old E450. But if some added cladding and an air suspension is what it takes to move these in the States, then I’m all in favor of a little off-road cosplay.

[un-enfant-immature]

Daimler names new CEO to lead push into electric, autonomous vehicles

Daimler said Wednesday that Dieter Zetsche is stepping down as CEO and will be replaced by a long-serving executive who has most recently been leading the automaker’s research and development efforts, including its push into electric vehicles.

The company has proposed that Zetsche, who was CEO of Daimler for 12 years, become chairman of the supervisory board in 2021 when Manfred Bischoff leaves. The move must be approved by shareholders at the company’s next meeting. The company’s structure requires a two-year “cooling off” period before Zetsche can be elected as the board’s chairman.

Daimler has picked Ola Källenius to head up Mercedes-Benz vehicles and Daimler, the first non-German, to hold the top spot. Källenius most recently headed up research at Daimler and development at Mercedes-Benz Cars. He joined the company in 1993, then called Daimler-Benz AG, as trainee within its International Management Associate Program.

In recent years, it appeared he was being groomed for Zetsche’s spot. In 2015, Källenius was appointed to the Daimler AG’s board of management.

Källenius’ appointment comes at an interesting and potentially transformative time for the maker of Mercedes-Benz vehicles and Daimler trucks. The old business of building, financing and selling cars, trucks and SUVs has changed as automakers seeking new ways to make profits.

Daimler is among those with plans to launch a series of new electric vehicles, develop autonomous vehicles, and ramp up its “mobility” business, a unit that includes car-sharing and ride-hailing.

Earlier this month, Mercedes-Benz unveiled the EQC, an all-electric crossover that kicks off the German automaker’s plans to invest more than $12 billion to produce a line of battery-powered models under its new EQ brand. Daimler plans to invest another $1.2 billion in global battery production.

Daimler and BMW took the unusual step in March 2018 to merge their untraditional operations such as car-sharing and ride-hailing, parking locator services and electric vehicle charging into a single joint business in an effort to better compete with Uber, Lyft and other mobility companies.

That means tying up all their on-demand mobility offerings, including car share services Car2Go  and DriveNow, ride-hailing like myTaxi, Chauffeur Privé and Clever Taxi,  parking products like ParkNow and Parkmobile, and on-demand services like moves and ReachNow.

BMW and Daimler said they will continue to compete in their core business of building and selling vehicles.

[componentplanet]

2021 Mercedes S-Class: 2 HUD Sizes, Level 3 Autonomy, 4D Sound, 5 LCDs

Mercedes-Benz S-Klasse, 2020, Outdoor, Fahraufnahme, Exterieur: Diamantweiß // Mercedes-Benz S-Class, 2020, outdoor, driving shot, exterior: diamond white

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class sedan will envelop the driver and passengers in unparalleled layers of comfort, safety, technology, and — this is a German car, after all — performance. Most active and passive safety technology comes standard, which is both good and about what you’d expect when the least expensive S-Class sold in the US starts at $96,000 (estimated).

The S-Class sold fewer than 71,000 units worldwide last year, mostly in China, Germany, and the US. But the midsize E-Class and compact E-Class each sold five times as many units, and much of the S-Class tech trickles down quickly. (Total 2019 Mercedes, Daimler, and Smart sales: 2.4 million.)

The US market gets the long-wheelbase S-Class only, which is 208 inches long. It will feature V6, V8, and plug-in hybrid versions; no diesel or four-cylinder here. Also, there’s no pure-electric S-Class anywhere; that will arrive as a separate Mercedes EQS model. US S-Class delivery is expected in the middle of 2021.

The new S-Class has as many as five flat-panel displays, some OLED, and four ways to access and control the Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX): voice, finger/fingerprint, face/gaze, and speech.

The outgoing MBUX interface: dual 12-inch LCDs, HVAC outlets below the center display.

Here’s our take on the S-Class’s striking array of new technology based on early data from Mercedes — in particular, from a background document of 60 pages or 24,000 words:

The driver will see a 12-inch flat panel display with switchable 3D effects, and with no 3D glasses needed. A squarish center stack “media display” sits below the four HVAC outlets. This means it’s easier to touch but will require a bit more downward eye movement for the driver to center on. New display styles evoke the old Spice Girls: Discreet, Sporty, Exclusive, and Classic (no Posh, but that’s a given on this car), plus three modes called Navigation, Assistance, and Service. The center console shows no touchpad or control wheel, marking a point of departure from the iDrive concept BMW has used since 2001. This is daring, because iDrive, widely reviled 20 years ago, now tops many infotainment ratings.

The back seat can have three displays: two on the seatbacks, one in the center armrest.

Rear seat touchscreen display.

Mercedes spiffed up the back seat. In the white-hot China market, it’s where the owner sits. In the US, your kids will have gobs of legroom. Optionally, the rear seats recline and the seats have touchscreens, and there’s an available touchscreen controller in the armrest. The side windows can be shaded. An executive package lets the rear passenger opposite the driver move the front seat all the way forward. All of this is the optional stuff that puts the $96,000 base price far in the rearview mirror. But the average S-Class owner makes on the high side of $300,000 a year.

The “Hey Mercedes” voice recognition capabilities expand, Mercedes says, with cloud processing, more and more natural language queries, some commands (“accept call”) that don’t require the wake word, and control from the rear. The cockpit microphone array senses which speaker, and the ambient lighting, which contains more than 250 concealed LEDs, flashes at the speaker’s location.

The premium Burmeister audio system features 22 speakers, or a dozen shy of some poseur competitors — but hey, there’s quantity and there’s quality. According to Mercedes, it provides 4D audio — huh? If stereo is 2D and shaped multi-channel sound is 3D, the fourth D is a set of in-seat transducers that vibrate with the deepest parts of the music. At-home gamers already have vibrating seats to amplify the effects of their weaponry. Yes, it can be disabled.

In your face (gently): Rear seat occupants can have their own front-impact airbags.

Often it’s the guy in the back seat who has key man insurance, not the chauffeur. To make sure he or she is safe, too, the new S-Class offers airbags in the backs of the front seats to provide additional protection in a forward collision. The Mercedes graphic says they’re “fast and gentle.” That’s in addition to inflatable rear seat belts with mini-airbags that MB already uses and in addition to the side (door) airbags and the side head protection airbag that covers both front and rear windows.

The augmented reality version of the HUD equates to a 77-inch flat-panel monitor. The fishbones, or turning indicators, are overlaid exactly where you’re supposed to turn.

Not every automaker offers a head-up display (HUD). The S-Class will offer good and better HUDs, the latter with augmented reality. Translation: The car tracks where your eyes are. Navigation arrows (the “fishbones” in the image above) are presented so they appear on top of where you’re supposed to make a turn or bear off the highway onto an exit. How dumb can drivers be, you might think. But it’s easy to make a mistake if two exits 49A and 49B are 50 yards apart, if there are two left turns in the space of a very short block, if it’s really dark (less so with MB’s headlamp array), or if the driver is in his 50s or beyond (as is the average S-Class buyer).

The perceived HUD size is impressive, as Mercedes calculates it: “The aperture angle of the display is 10° horizontal and 5° vertical, and the image appears virtually at a distance of 32 feet. This display area corresponds to a monitor with a 77-inch diagonal.”

Every 2021 S-Class gets an air suspension. With active body control, if a collision is imminent, it rises up 3 inches to better absorb impacts.

The four roundish towers in the photo above comprise the air-controlled suspension system (as opposed to hydraulic shock absorbers and steel springs). The AirMatic suspension is standard, with continuously adjustable damping. Optional is E-Active Body Control, which leans the car into a turn, like an airplane banks. If radar sensors predict a side crash, the body is lifted 3 inches to more of the impact is absorbed by the door sill (the unibody frame).

Mercedes barely mentions it, but the suspension actually regenerates energy with every up and down oscillation. It’s enough to help re-energize the 48-volt battery controlling it. Not enough to make this a perpetual motion machine. Optionally, forward-facing sensors can scan the road ahead, 1,000 times per second, for imperfections and adjust the suspension to deal with potholes and speed bumps. Things like predictive suspension travel are not new to Mercedes or the S-Class. But the sum of all the new and the enhanced features make this a car apart from BMW, Audi, etcetera. Until their next new model or refresh.

The new S-Class has V2I communications via cellular, potentially V2V as well.

Mercedes will enable some shared safety signaling, apparently via cellular rather than separate DSRC radios. In this Mercedes schematic above, a car in an accident can send a warning to the cloud (and also reach out the Mercedes call center), the driver can manually warn other vehicles of an incident via the cloud, and dangers such as glare ice can be autodetected (by wheel slip sensors) and communicated to police or highway maintenance crews. Just like fax machines, one such car has no impact; two is the minimum to do anything, and when you have a million, it becomes really useful. It’s also more useful when cars can signal each other directly, unless there is zero lag going vehicle to infrastructure (the cloud) to vehicle.

The S-Class in Europe will be capable of Level 3 self-driving. Many cars today do Level 2, where the driver has to be — is supposed to be — 100 percent attentive while the car steers, accelerates, and brakes. Here, Mercedes says, L3 represents a freeway “conditionally automated mode [up to 37 mph / 60 kph, allowing for] “secondary activities such as the in-car office.” Or really long texts. The driver would have to be ready to take over with some advance notice; it’s uncertain if that’s three seconds or 60.

With up to 10 degrees of rear-wheel steering, the S-Class can back into tight spaces. The cool tri-star paint job, alas, is only on the prototype car.

The new S-Class is just one inch shorter than the base Ford F-150. So how do you navigate the narrow streets of Europe or the clogged streets of LA? With rear-wheel steering. Here, too, there are two options, and the premium version allows up to 10 degrees (a lot) of steer angle. It cuts six feet off the turning radius, down to about 36 feet, and makes it possible to back into more parking spaces.

Rear-wheel steering opposes the front steering angle at parking lot speeds. On the highway, all four wheels steer in the same direction.

On the highway when making lane changes, the rear wheels turn in the same direction as the fronts, and the car crabs sideways. It’s smoother that way. Wheel alignments cost more, but that’s like asking the cost of yacht fuel. If you have to ask, you can’t afford it.

This is a car worth waiting for. Since there’ll only 10,000-15,000 sold in the US in the first full year, what’s equally important is how it trickles down to more approachable (cheaper) Benzes, starting with the next-gen compact C-Class that follows the S-Class by 6-9 months. Mercedes is said to be aggressively porting key features such as the multimedia system, MBUX, the bigger (but not Lexus-big) front grille, and the augmented-reality displays.

It’s also important with the long term trend of migration to big cities (on hold with coronavirus issues currently), where affluent buyers want all the safety, tech, and luxury features of a full-size car in a midsize or compact that fits more easily into available urban parking spaces. It gives makers of mainstream cars targets to aim at. You can’t cheaply replicate four-wheel steering, but it may make lead to rear airbags, maybe illuminated seat belt buckles, and bigger if not huge center stack displays. The claimed 60-mile range for a plug-in hybrid is also an enviable target.

Now read:

Tesla Has Some Serious Quality Control Problems With the Model Y

GM Plots an EV Comeback Inside Its Secretive Battery Lab

Are Stoners Really Safer Drivers Than People Texting or Using Touch Screens?

from ExtremeTechExtremeTech https://www.extremetech.com/extreme/314758-2021-mercedes-s-class-2-hud-sizes-level-3-autonomy-4d-sound-5-lcds from Blogger http://componentplanet.blogspot.com/2020/09/2021-mercedes-s-class-2-hud-sizes-level.html

[myautoworldcom]

2021 MERCEDES MAYBACH GLS UPDATES & CHANGES

The all-new Mercedes-Maybach GLS is the first-ever SUV to join the Mercedes-Maybach product portfolio, showcasing a Maybach-exclusive grille with vertical louvres, standing Mercedes-Benz star on hood (first for an SUV), projected Maybach logo, chrome trim elements, fully retracting Maybach running boards, Maybach emblems and lettering and Maybach-exclusive leather details in the interior.

All-new Maybach GLS 600 4MATIC featuring:

4.0L V8 Biturbo engine with EQ Boost and 48-volt onboard electrical system making 550 hp

E-ACTIVE BODY CONTROL Intelligent Suspension

4MATIC® variable torque on demand All-Wheel Drive

MBUX Infotainment System with Touchscreen and “Hey Mercedes” Voice Control

12.3″ Digital Instrument Cluster and 12.3″ Touchscreen Multimedia Display

Augmented Video for Navigation and Navigation

Head-Up Display

5-seater or 4-seater with individual Executive Rear Seats and center armrest

Rear seat elements:

7″ MBUX tablet

Folding tables (with 4-seater) available

Heated and ventilated and multicontour seats

Rapid heating seats

Comfort headrests

Inductive Wireless Charging (front and rear)

Heated and cooled cup holders (front and rear)

Wooden parcel shelf separates interior from luggage compartment

Active multicontour seats with massage

Burmester® High-End 3D Surround Sound System

64-color Ambient Lighting, including ambient lighting in roof liner

SiriusXM Radio

9 USB ports

Smartphone Integration with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

KEYLESS-START and KEYLESS-GO®

Driver Assistance Package with latest suite of active driver assistance features

Panoramic sliding sunroof

Active Parking Assist with Surround View System

Warmth and Comfort Package

Extended leather package including roof liner

ENERGIZING Comfort

Air Balance cabin fragrance system

The Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 4MATIC represents a new form of luxury in the SUV segment. It extends the portfolio of the Mercedes-Maybach brand by combining the body design and technical basis of the GLS with the luxury of a top-class sedan. Its spacious interior with the highest-grade materials and extremely effective noise insulation creates a stylish and luxurious atmosphere. From their pleasantly elevated seating position, thanks to electronically operated roller sun blinds on the two rear side windows, the passengers can decide for themselves how much of their surroundings they want to see. The AIRMATIC suspension included with the fully-active E-ACTIVE BODY CONTROL system effectively keeps the road bumps at bay. For the first time there is a dedicated Maybach drive program that ensures even more comfort. Access and egress are also highly convenient: when the doors are opened, the vehicle is lowered slightly, and an illuminated running board made of anodized aluminum quickly and silently emerges on the respective side of the vehicle. The V8 engine with a displacement of four liters, which can develop 550 hp and 538 lb-ft of torque, is an engine variant developed exclusively for Maybach and moves the car discreetly and powerfully. The engine is combined with the 48-volt system EQ Boost. 

The Mercedes-Benz star surmounts the hood in the classic way, while the fine, vertical chrome struts of the Maybach radiator grille create a pinstripe effect. Effective chrome highlights around the side windows, and the chrome inserts in the side sill panels, lend dignity and elegance to the profile. The 22 or 23-inch wheels were developed exclusively for this model, with the 23-inch version echoing the pinstripe theme. The tailpipe trim elements with a small cross rib emphasize the model’s identity as a Mercedes-Maybach. The same applies to the brand emblem, which is positioned at various points such as on the D-pillar. As a special, Maybach-specific feature, two-tone paintwork is available in eight different, elegant color combinations.

Another eye-catching feature of the Mercedes-Maybach GLS is the electronically extending running boards. They make accessing and leaving the high seating position both convenient and safe. With surfaces of anodized aluminum laced with black rubber strips, illuminated in the dark and particularly wide in the area of the rear doors, they ensure a very special visual appeal. When in their retracted state, the running boards are concealed behind the side sill panels. If a rear door is opened, the running board on the side concerned automatically swings into position in around one second. This default setting can be changed using a special menu in the MBUX infotainment system.

2021 Mercedes-Maybach GLS (Euro Spec)

The equipment features: luxury, leather and reclining seats

The standard appointments of the Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 4MATIC are already decidedly luxurious. The two outer rear seats can be electronically converted into reclining seats. Padded areas and the dashboard are finished in fine Nappa leather, with a range of further cushions and leather interior linings available on request. An electronic panoramic sliding/tilting sunroof with an opaque roller blind is standard, as are heated and ventilated massaging seats. Available on special request, the fixed center console transforms the car into a spacious four-seater whose rear is just as suitable for working as it is for relaxing. This console is available with extending, folding tables and even a refrigerator with space for champagne bottles. Suitable silver champagne flutes for this are available from the accessories range.

A dedicated fragrance was developed for the Mercedes-Maybach GLS as part of the optional AIR BALANCE package: the white osmanthus blossom, floral and light, is rounded off by a gentle leather note and spicy tea.

From the power transfer and suspension to the headlamp technology, the technical systems of the Mercedes- Maybach GLS correspond to the most comfortable equipment level of the technically related Mercedes-Benz SUVs. Starting from this basis, added value that is typically Maybach is often a further result. For example, noise insulation in the interior has been raised to an even higher level by installing a rigid partition and a fixed parcel shelf behind the rear seats, separating the interior from the luggage compartment. A separate air conditioner for the rear seats is standard, and features additional vents and heater boosters with which temperature control is even faster. There is a dedicated Maybach drive program for the suspension and powertrain; its settings offer passengers in particular the ultimate in ride comfort.

With the standard MBUX Rear Tablet in the center console or the armrest between the rear seats, the extensive comfort and entertainment functions can also be intuitively controlled from the rear seats. The integration of digital devices used by passengers comprises all of the common standards.

At a Glance

  GLS 600 4MATIC Number of cylinders/arrangement 8/V Displacement 3,982 cc Rated output 550 hp @ 6,000 – 6,500 rpm Add. output with EQ Boost Up to 21 hp Rated torque 538 lb-ft @ 2,500 – 5,000 rpm Add. torque with EQ Boost Up to 184 lb-ft Acceleration 0-60 mph 4.8 sec (est.) Top speed 130 mph Length/width/height 204.9 in / 79.9 in / 72.4 in (5205 mm / 2030 mm / 1838 mm) Wheelbase 123.4 in (3135 mm) Track, front/rear 66.9 in / 67.8 in (1699 mm /1723 mm) Turning circle 41.0 ft (12.5 m)

Successful sub-brand: Mercedes-Maybach

The Mercedes-Maybach brand stands for exclusive luxury, maximum comfort and state-of-the-art technology in automotive engineering, services and accessories. It is seen as a trailblazer in defining style and status. The maxim of its name-giver Wilhelm Maybach was to create the very best from the very best. In 2014 Mercedes-

Maybach was established as a sub-brand of Mercedes-Benz as part of a brand realignment. Since its market launch in 2015, more than 45,000 examples of the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class have been delivered worldwide. In 2018 more Mercedes-Maybach S-Class cars were sold than ever before: one in seven S-Class models sold was a Maybach.

The new Mercedes-Maybach GLS Interview: Martin Hülder, Head of Product Management Mercedes-Maybach

“Unique combination of comfort, technology and luxury”

Martin Hülder has been Director of Product Management Mercedes-Maybach since November 2014. With a degree in automotive engineering, he has occupied senior sales and marketing positions at Daimler AG since 2007. He explains the role of the Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 4MATIC for the brand’s further development.

Mr. Hülder, in a nutshell: What does Mercedes-Maybach stand for?

Hülder: Mercedes-Maybach stands for the ultimate in comfort, top technology and therefore sheer luxury.

With the Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 4MATIC, the brand is being extended with the addition of a model in the SUV segment. Why?

The SUV vehicle concept has a major advantage for the luxury segment: the high seating position. In combination with the running boards, this makes access and egress outstandingly easy and convenient. Furthermore, the raised position gives the occupants a different perspective of the surroundings, and many Mercedes-Maybach customers greatly appreciate this. Incidentally, a raised seating position is nothing new in the luxury segment: the grand luxury sedans of the 1930s, such as the Maybach Zeppelin, had a similar seating height for the driver and passengers, and very similar proportions.

Are you also aiming the GLS at new customers who are less interested in classic sedan models?

Of course. We are also aiming at customers who already drive an SUV. The different entry and the different seating position are experiences they want to retain. The worldwide success of SUVs has changed the standards and habits of car buyers.

Will the success of the luxury SUV come at the expense of the classical sedan models?

We are convinced that there will tend to be a distinction in demand rather than a substitution. The differences in design and vehicle concept are simply too great for that. We therefore see the SUV as a supplementary offer. Our customers normally own several different vehicles – and if they drive an SUV, we want them to drive a Mercedes-Maybach that offers them the luxury they expect from the brand. By the way: Since its market launch in 2015, more than 45,000 examples of the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class have been delivered worldwide. In 2018 more Mercedes-Maybach S-Class cars were sold than ever before: one in seven S-Class models sold was a Maybach.

What distinguishes the Mercedes-Maybach GLS from other luxury SUVs?

The unique combination of comfort, technology and luxury. The great spaciousness, especially in the second seat row, and the use of materials are just two examples. Attention to detail also makes a difference. Think of the electronically extending running boards, which have ergonomic advantages when entering and leaving the vehicle. Their design is classically Mercedes-Maybach: fully integrated into the side sill panels, they are not visible in the retracted position. There is also the very high standard of design, which for example includes louvres in a pinstripe design and illuminated surfaces – which makes getting in a real experience.

What role does the Mercedes-Maybach GLS play within the portfolio?

Following various limited-edition small series by Mercedes-Maybach, for example the S-Class Cabriolet or the G-Class Landaulet, the GLS will supplement the Mercedes-Maybach Portfolio alongside the S-Class. We are therefore able to offer customers with different preferences a wider choice.

Are there also high-quality accessories suitable for the vehicle?

Yes, the brand experience goes well beyond the vehicle itself and the available services. The brand rounds off the lifestyle of its customers with various accessories. The licensing partner “Maybach – Icons of Luxury” produces exclusive collections accompanying the brand, and individual accessories that perfectly complement the individual models–for example travel bags, sunglasses, leatherwear and home accessories. As well as first- class quality and design, the greatest importance is attached to the functionality of the products and accessories. Fine logo emblems and embossing lend a stylish touch to the products.

However, the all-around brand experience goes even further. The exclusive international customer program “Circle of Excellence” offers unique events such as joint tours or test drives with new vehicles, opportunities for personal conversations with Mercedes-Maybach experts and brand ambassadors, and exclusive insights into our production locations.

The new Mercedes-Maybach GLS Exterior design

Luxury in its purest form

The Mercedes-Maybach GLS combines the body form and superior, robust technical basis provided by the GLS, the S-Class among SUVs, with all the technical and material luxury of a top-class sedan. It stylishly yet emphatically shows its special standing among the Mercedes-Benz SUVs. The Mercedes- Maybach bears the Mercedes star in the traditional way, upright on the hood. Where the Mercedes-Benz GLS sports a large star between two horizontal louvres in the radiator grille, the Mercedes-Maybach grille has a fine, elegant line of vertical chrome pinstripes as a motif. They widen into small oar-blades at the upper edge, blending into the chrome frame bearing the lettering MAYBACH at its top center.

“The Mercedes-Maybach brand represents ‘Ultimate Luxury’ in its most contemporary, purest form,” says Gorden Wagener, Chief Design Officer at Daimler AG. “The brand’s style is embodied in sublime beauty, supreme aesthetics and elegance. In order to define the luxury of the future, we are taking the concept of Sensual Purity to the next level and transforming ourselves from a premium manufacturer to the world’s leading design brand.”

The headlamps with Intelligent Light System LED technology as standard present the entire front lighting as if in jewelry showcases. Below the radiator grille, the front bumper has a wide air inlet that discreetly suggests the power of the V8 engine with a finely woven grille in high-grade chrome. On the left and right of the radiator grille, this grille has finely curved trim strips for additional embellishment, and it tapers to form an elegant, slim cross-piece emphasizing the horizontal line between the radiator grille and the registration plate bracket. Below the chrome grille the bumper has a high-gloss black paint finish and a robust, high-gloss chrome underguard indicating the vehicle’s considerably refined SUV character.

The side view of the car likewise shows a refined reinterpretation of the SUV genes. The robust chrome surrounds of the side windows are subdivided by the chrome-plated B-pillar facings. This embellishing feature is a fixed part of the Mercedes-Maybach bumper signature, and externally emphasizes the length of the rear seating area. The black-painted side sill panels with chrome inserts and the strut-mounted roof rails, all typical SUV features, have also been made into embellishing features with their high-gloss finish and striking chrome highlights. On the D-pillar, an elegant Mercedes-Maybach badge underlines the high quality and great attention to detail. In the dark, a Mercedes-Maybach emblem projected onto the ground from the exterior mirrors is part of the welcome light show when opening the vehicle.

Illuminated ramp: the extending running boards ensure a dynamic entry experience

The side sill panels in particular are more than just an embellishment. They include a running board that automatically swings out for passengers to enter and leave the vehicle. Made from high-gloss aluminum with anti-slip rubber strips, the more than two-meter long running boards not only allow Mercedes-Maybach GLS drivers and passengers convenient access and egress, but also ensure an incomparable spectacle each time (see next chapter for details).

The large wheels have a diameter of 32.5 inches (825 mm), while the rims measure 22 or 23 inches in diameter. Their multi-spoke design was conceived exclusively for the Mercedes-Maybach. The design of the 23- inch wheels echoes the pinstripe motif of the radiator grille. The slim, filigree spokes blend into the rim flange as small oar-blades, like the louvres of the radiator grille. The standard 22-inch wheels are made of die-cast aluminum painted in high-gloss black with a high-sheen finish, while the 23-inch wheels are made of forged, polished aluminum. The elegant hub covers are made of high-quality metal, and bear a Mercedes star surrounded by “Maybach” lettering on each side. The large, flush-mounted wheels completely fill the wheel arches. The SUV-specific wheel arch flares are painted in the vehicle color.

Striking and elegant embellishments as design features are continued at the rear of the Mercedes-Maybach GLS. Below the rear window, to the left and right of the Mercedes star, the car shows its model designation in a Mercedes-Maybach specific script. Below this a chrome facing extends across the entire width of the car, from the outer edge of the first rear light to its counterpart on the other side. A second trim strip is fitted at the height of the loading sill, and the rear reflectors are embedded in the broad ends of the reflectors like gemstones. The lower edge of the rear bumper is painted in high-gloss black, and carries a robust, high-gloss chrome underguard that encloses the two large, rectangular tailpipe trim elements. Between them a characteristic, horizontal connecting piece provides a further, typical Mercedes-Maybach design feature.

Two-tone paint finishes are optionally available, and these underline the balanced proportions of the body. A total of eight combinations are planned, the color named first being that of the lower section: Lunar Blue/Iridium Silver; designoDiamond White/Obsidian Black; Iridium Silver/designoDiamond White; Iridium Silver/Selenite Grey; Obsidian Black/Kalahari Gold; Obsidian Black/Patagonia Red; Obsidian Black/Rubellite Red; Emerald Green/Mojave Silver. These paint finishes are rendered particularly elegant by the fluid course of the separating lines, where a fine pinstripe in the one color merges into the body of the other color along the vehicle’s beltline. This fine line once again echoes the pinstripe motif.

The new Mercedes-Maybach GLS Under the microscope: the electric running boards

Spectacular impact assured

One highlight of the Mercedes-Maybach GLS are the electronically extending running boards. They make accessing and leaving the high seating position both convenient and safe, and ensure an elegant spectacle.

The running boards painted in high-gloss black are each 6.8 feet (2.06 meters) long, and have a maximum width of 21 centimeters in the rear door areas – they are slightly narrower below the front doors. They occupy the entire length of the side sill panels. Black rubber strips are inset into their surfaces of anodized aluminum, with their contours echoing the oar-blade pattern from the radiator grille at the rear end. At the rear end of each running board there is also a chrome-look Mercedes-Maybach emblem.

When in the retracted position, the running board is almost invisibly concealed within the side sill panel. In this position it is inclined towards the center of the vehicle by around 45°, and closely follows the side sill. This means that ground clearance is not compromised. When a side door is opened, the running board on the side concerned is first moved downwards silently and smoothly by two electrically powered arms of die-cast aluminum each with four articulation joints, and then moves outwards to a horizontal position. The time taken between operating the door handle and deployment of the running board is roughly only one second. In the dark, as an addition to the ambient illumination provided by the open doors, the running board surface in the rear door area is illuminated by an LED strip in the side sill panel, including projection of the Maybach emblem.

When the car is lowered by 25 mm by AIRMATIC when the door is opened, the distance between the road surface and the vehicle’s underfloor is further reduced by the running board, making access and egress even easier. The anti-slip rubber strips ensure a secure foothold. The support structure of each running board is designed for a maximum load of 441 lbs (200 kg).

If a rear door is opened, the running board on the side concerned automatically swings outwards. This default setting can be changed at any time, using a special menu in the media display. For example, it is also possible to keep the running boards permanently retracted or only activated on manual instruction. In manual mode, the running boards can also be deployed when the doors are closed. If the vehicle is moving at more than 10 mph, the running boards are automatically retracted. In the Off-Road drive program, the automatic function is always deactivated to avoid collisions with uneven surfaces. After the side door is closed, the running board retracts in around 1.5 seconds.

The kinematics and installed position of the running board ensure that on level surfaces, deployment and retraction of the running board is possible without constraint even in the low-level position of the AIRMATIC. For safety reasons the automatic function has sensors similar to those used in the anti-pinch protection systems of power windows or sliding sunroofs. The procedure is therefore automatically stopped if a collision occurs with an obstacle.

The new Mercedes-Maybach GLS Interior design

Sure-footed styling and authentic luxury

The interior of the Mercedes-Maybach uses the generous dimensions of the GLS to offer drivers and passengers comfortable seating in all four or five seats where they are able to use their time as they wish. Especially the Executive Rear can be used both as an office and as a private relaxation zone. The integration of digital devices plays an important role in every seat. High-resolution displays with brilliant graphics and touchscreens for controlling the extensive features further enhance the luxurious ambience. The Mercedes-Maybach user can perfectly integrate his or her digital environment into the car, whether as a self-driver or being chauffeured.

The character of the interior is particularly reflected in the high-grade materials, which are fitted and finished with great care and a high level of craftsmanship. The generosity and luxury of the Mercedes-Maybach are reflected for example in the Nappa Leather lined dashboard and the horizontal, chrome-look louvres of the air vents. The latter make a discreet reference to typical Mercedes-Maybach details from the exterior design, for example the pinstripe decor of the radiator grille or the horizontal connecting piece of the tailpipe trim elements.

The central element in the dashboard’s design is an impressively sized screen unit embedded in an energetic, distinctively styled and fully leather-lined instrument panel. The instrument panel flows into the door panels, and the integral trim element likewise extends into the doors. At the same time, it creates the impression that the upper cockpit section is floating. The instrument cluster and media display (2 x 12.3-inch as standard) are housed behind a shared continuous glass surface to form a large free-standing screen.

When the ignition is switched on, the passengers are welcomed on all screens by an animation with Maybach lettering and an exclusive color combination. There is then a choice of different display styles such as Sport, Progressive or Discreet, which contain different numbers of displays and adjust the ambience to suit the current mood. A presentation with brilliant graphics underlines the comprehensibility of the intuitive control structure. One unique feature of MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) is its learning capability, thanks to artificial intelligence. A further display style has been designed exclusively for the Mercedes-Maybach: Maybach Classic. In this case the overall mood is darkened to deep blue. Figures, needles and bezels are presented in rose gold. The virtual glazing of the tubes is discreetly engraved.

The instrument cluster is divided into three separately selectable display zones – the two dial instruments and the central display field positioned between them. All three zones can be intuitively configured using the left touch control button in the steering wheel, allowing a very high degree of individualization. The driver can individually combine three function and displays that are important for his or her route and driving style.

The multifunction steering wheel of the Mercedes-Maybach GLS in Nappa leather, or optionally wood, is pleasant to the touch, matches the upholstery and trim and is heatable on request. The left and right spokes have control arrays with touch buttons, and Maybach lettering on the clasp. There is a touchpad in the center console as a further means of controlling many vehicle functions. The prominent, raised center console creates a robust contrast with the flee-floating appearance of the dashboard. The console carries two robust, leather- covered grab handles as a gentle reminder of the car’s SUV character. It also features an elegant handrest with the exclusive Maybach emblem.

Ambience from the yachting world and rose gold as a symbolic Mercedes-Maybach color

The high-gloss or open-pore wood surfaces of the trim elements, plus the upholstery in Nappa Magma Grey/Black or Nappa Mahogany Brown/Macchiato Beige as standard ensure a very high perceived value. The same color combinations are also available with the standard designo Leather package. For this a lighter upholstery color in Crystal White/Silver Grey Pearl will become available as an alternative soon after market launch, awakening associations with interior design in luxury yacht-building and thereby underlining the high quality of the selected materials. One typical Mercedes-Maybach detail is the color rose gold for the piping on the white leather.

Another feature exhibiting a high level of craftsmanship are the multiple box pleats along the centerline of the seat upholstery. The leather is indented at the center, and the two halves on the sides are folded in to face each other and form two padded pockets opposing each other across the indentation. The two pockets are sewn together at the top and bottom. The result is a smooth, stretched seat surface that can adapt itself to the contours of the back and is taut where the seat is supposed to give way less. The box pleat motif is repeated in the cushions accompanying the Leather package, where it is cleverly emphasized: the box pleat on the cushion covers allows a view of a sewn-in contrasting strip in the rose gold color tone of the piping.

Wood trim elements with Mercedes-Maybach emblems matching the remaining decor are attached to the backrests of the front seats as standard, additionally enhancing the ambience in the rear. The screens for the MBUX Rear Seat Entertainment system can also be installed on the front seat backrests.

The in-door speakers of the Burmester®  High-End 3D Surround Sound System are inset into the wood trim behind metal meshes. High-quality chrome work and Mercedes-Maybach badges in the interior create further highlights. A stimulating contrast is created by the traditional materials, their craftsman-like finish and the modern high-tech appointments of the Mercedes-Maybach.

Luxury also means using the latest styling methods

The LED optical fibers of the standard ambient lighting with 64 colors are inset into the door panels beneath the trim elements. They rise to the parcel shelf from the rear doors as “flowing lines,” and elegantly envelop the seats. In the middle of the rear seat unit they then continue to the sides of the comfort center armrest of the five-seater, or the rear center console of the four-seater variant. They also surround the MBUX Rear Tablet, which allows the comfort features for the rear to be operated from there. Exclusively, and for the first time in the Mercedes-Maybach GLS, the ambient lighting also includes optical fibers in the roof liner, on the left and right sides of the panoramic sliding/tilting roof, which especially emphasizes the effect of the roof aperture at night.

The large panoramic sliding/tilting roof allows a great deal of light into the interior, as well as fresh air when required. Its electrically operated roller blind is completely opaque and allows privacy for the rear passengers, just like the electrically operated blinds on the rear side windows. Passengers will also find temperature- controlled cup holders in the extended center console.

In the four-seater variant, the continuous center console has a lockable closure whose wood decor echoes the waterfall decor of the trunk division. Behind it is a stowage compartment, or if preferred, a large, refrigerated compartment. This can accommodate three 0.75-litre champagne bottles, for example. Below the lockable closure there is a heatable armrest in Nappa leather. In front of it is the MBUX Rear Tablet with a 7-inch screen diagonal for the control of all comfort features. The MBUX Rear Tablet can be removed from its charger/holder for convenience of use. The holder is located in the folding lid of the illuminated stowage compartment, which is also equipped with a 115V socket. In front of it there is space for an optional Wireless Mobile Interface, which can be optionally equipped with a Bluetooth receiver for discreet conversations.

Between the rear seat footwells, the continuous center console has a wood trim element with a sliding cover which reveals temperature-controlled cup holders and a stowage compartment. Optionally this space can also be used to accommodate the silver champagne flutes available as Mercedes-Maybach Genuine Accessories, where a fixed space is provided in the lid of the refrigerator compartment.

The new Mercedes-Maybach GLS Under the microscope: designo decor with “flowing lines” and “light lines”

High-tech meets craftsmanship

The pinstripe motif is a striking Mercedes-Maybach feature that can be found in numerous places, such as the radiator grille, running boards, wheel design or the air conditioning vents. This pattern has also inspired two trim designs. As a traditional material, wood is processed and finished to the usual standard of craftsmanship for these parts. However, presenting the guiding pinstripe theme is only possible using high-tech processes.

With the available designo high-gloss black flowing lines piano lacquer trim, extremely fine, light “flowing lines” reminiscent of marquetry pass across the trim element, taking on its form and emphasizing its contours. They describe an elegant flourish and draw apart or come together to heighten the harmonious overall effect. These lines are created by skilled craftsmanship and precise digital technology.

The carefully selected wood veneer has been aged for at least ten years, and a great deal of craftsmanship goes into cutting, reinforcing and stabilizing it before it is sanded particularly thinly to take shape. It is then mounted on a carrier which gives it shape, and dyed black. The actual application of the “flowing lines” now follows. A specially developed CNC milling cutter is used to define the fine lines in the layer of veneer, only a few tenths of a millimeter wide. These extremely precisely milled striations are also only just under one millimeter in depth. In the process the veneer layer is completely cut through, exposing the light carrier material. The difficulty of this operation is that the veneer can tear. To prevent this, the direction of milling must for example be adapted to the course of the wood fibers.

After milling, all of the milling dust must be removed from the components, right down into the fine striations. Microscopic checks are performed to ensure that the lines are cleanly milled and that all residue has been removed. The tiniest of dirt particles would make the part unusable. Only if it gets this far unblemished does it receive a full coating by machine.

The fine line pattern for the optional designo high-gloss brown light lines lime wood trim is produced in an altogether different way. In the first stage of the process, several layers of wood veneer are glued together to form a block. Every seventh layer is made of polycarbonate rather than wood. 0.6 mm fine slices are cut from the resulting layer-glued block perpendicular to the surface of the veneers and then sanded smooth. They form the veneer of the trim elements and are stained in a dark shade. The stain is then wiped away again so that the polycarbonate strips stand out as “light lines.” In contrast to the “flowing lines” of the piano lacquer and magnolia trim, these lines run dead straight and parallel. When cutting and applying the veneers onto the molded parts, meticulous attention must therefore be paid to their alignment. These veneers are then fully coated with a clear coat.

The finish, involving sanding and polishing, is then the same for both trim variants. Most of the work is done by hand, accompanied by frequent, careful checks. It takes a great deal of experience, finesse and a good eye to achieve an elegant surface. The walnut veneer receives a deep shine to which the “light lines” lend a unique structure. In the finely chiseled line pattern of the “flowing lines,” it seems as though the light lines are inserted into the dark, high-gloss black surface of the piano lacquer or the magnolia veneer.

The new Mercedes-Maybach GLS Dimensional concept

Space for the good life

The spatial concept of the Mercedes-Maybach GLS starts with the seated position high above the road surface, which puts the SUV concept into the luxury segment. Compared with the S-Class, the driver sits more than 9.8 inches (25 cm) higher, and the rear passengers almost 11 inches (28 cm) higher. This makes it particularly easy for occupants to get in through the wide door openings using the electric running boards. The interior of the Mercedes-Maybach uses the generous dimensions of the GLS to offer drivers and passengers comfortable and spacious seating. The rear compartment especially, with seats 4.7 inches (120 mm) further back than they are in the Mercedes-Benz GLS, serves as both an office and a private relaxation zone. The outer rear seats with their foot rests and the exceptionally wide backrest that can be inclined backwards up to 43.5° are ideal for deep relaxation on long journeys or even a rejuvenating power nap.

The long wheelbase length of 123.4″ (3135 mm) provides generous spaciousness in the interior. This results in the vast legroom of 43.4″ (1103 mm), in which the calf supports for both outer rear seats can be extended. They are standard for both seating configurations – the five-seater or the four-seater. If the front passenger seat is moved into the chauffeur position, there is up to 4.4 feet (1.34 m) of legroom behind it.

Moving the front passenger seat into the chauffeur position not only extends the legroom behind, it also inclines the backrest towards the seat cushion, taking account of the statutory requirements for the driver’s field of vision, which may vary from market to market. Combined with the slightly higher sitting position in the rear seats compared with the front seats, this results in an exceptionally generous feeling of spaciousness with good forward visibility.

The rear seats are optimized to provide an outstanding level of seating comfort, particularly in the two outer seats. Compared with the position of the second seat row in the Mercedes-Benz GLS, the seats are each moved 1.2″ (30 mm) inward and 4.7″ (120 mm) rearward. This means there is 0.63″ (16 mm) more elbow room between the seat occupant and the door paneling in the Mercedes-Maybach. The headroom in the rear seats is 40.2″ (1020 mm) when they are in the normal position with the backrests inclined 27° rearward.

Behind the rear seats, the fixed load compartment partition with an exquisitely designed parcel shelf separates the interior from the luggage compartment. This solution offers advantages in terms of body rigidity, low noise levels and high climate comfort. The luggage compartment capacity is 18.5 cu-ft (525 liters). The loading space between the wheel arches is 41.7″ (1058 mm) wide – enough room for four large golf bags. The through-loading height of the luggage compartment below the parcel shelf is 15.7″ (398 mm), making it 0.87″ (22 mm) higher than in an S-Class.

The front seats provide the driver and front passenger with the same generous amount of space that is available in the Mercedes-Benz GLS. Even exceptionally tall people can find a relaxed and comfortable seated position thanks to the wide adjustment ranges of the seats. There is 40.4″ (1025 mm) of headroom up to the standard-fit panoramic tilting/sliding sunroof.

The new Mercedes-Maybach GLS Seating comfort

Luxury you never stop feeling

Seating comfort in all seats has always been a stand-out feature of all Mercedes-Maybach vehicles. In the new Mercedes-Maybach GLS, all seats are electrically adjustable, heated, ventilated and equipped with massage functions as standard.

Multicontour seats, which can adapt to drivers and front passengers of any stature, are fitted as standard in the front. The seat cushion length–the part of the seat that supports the thighs–is electrically adjustable, as are the position and angle of the seat cushion and backrest. The backrests feature four-way adjustable lumbar support. Even the head restraints and the steering column are electrically adjustable. A memory function allows the settings to be stored together with those for the electric exterior mirrors.

But even the ideal seat position can be too one-sided in the long run, which is why the ENERGIZING seat kinetics function is included as standard for the driver and front passenger. The system supports advantageous changes in the seating posture by means of minute movements of the seat cushion and backrest when on a journey. This encourages the driver and front passenger to “sit actively.” Their seats also feature inflatable active cushions in the seat backrest bolsters for additional lateral support when cornering. In conjunction with the Driver Assistance package (standard), this feature is also used by PRE-SAFE®  Impulse Side.

There is also a massage system included as standard for the rear Executive seats and the two front seats: ten pressure points in each backrest, which can be combined with heating elements for a ‘hot-stone massage,’ can give the seat occupant’s back an effective massage. Each of the front seat cushions also includes four additional pressure points for massaging the seat occupants.

Ventilated seats for enhanced well-being

The front and rear seats in the Mercedes-Maybach are ventilated, including ventilation and heating of the seat cushions and backrests. Once activated, the ventilation operates in ‘reverse’ mode initially – in other words, air is drawn away from the passenger’s body for around one minute at first. Cooled air is then directed at the passenger’s body during continuous operation. In this way, the unpleasant effect of excessive heat transfer away from the body can be avoided. In cold temperatures, the fast-acting seat heating provides thermal comfort with almost no delay. If the GLS is equipped with Remote Start, seat heating and seat ventilation can also be activated before getting into the vehicle using the Mercedes me App on a smartphone.

The Executive area in the rear is available in a choice of two different designs – with two or three seats. In both versions, the two outer seats are Executive seats with calf supports and backrests that recline a long way back. The multicontour upholstery offers good lateral support through the backrest and high comfort on long journeys and when driving on rough terrain.

The height and angle of the comfort head restraints on the Executive seats are electrically adjustable. These head restraints feature additional cushions, which have already become a popular feature among Mercedes- Maybach S-Class customers. They are exceptionally comfortable, keep vibrations away from the passenger’s leaned head and also meet the latest Euro NCAP requirements. With the standard designo Leather package, customers also get leather cushions for the thigh supports on the Executive seats and additional accompanying cushions with matching leather trim. These individually positioned cushions can make the sitting position even more comfortable.

The comprehensive adjustment options for the rear seats make it sensible to have a memory function here, too, allowing several favorite settings to be stored and recalled. Another practical feature is the ‘tidy up’ button: a single push of the button is all it takes to return the rear seats and, if it has been moved into the chauffeur position, the front passenger seat to their original positions.

The familiar and often copied Mercedes-Benz control panels are fitted in the front and rear doors to operate the many convenience features and adjustment options. It is even possible to activate the central locking from the rear doors. All of the rear seats’ comfort functions can be controlled using the MBUX Command Center Rear as an alternative to using the control panels in the doors.

There are also command menus that can be called up in MBUX, the MBUX Rear Tablet and the MBUX Rear Seat Entertainment System. The MBUX Rear Tablet is housed in the extended center console in the four-seater variant, while it is located in the fold-out luxury center armrest with chrome trim element in the five-seater version. It also has space for an illuminated stowage compartment with two USB ports.

The removable tablet further enhances ease of operation when the rear passenger has adopted a particularly comfortable, reclined position with the separate cushions. If the occupant then also wants to use the seat’s ventilation or massage function, listen to music or adjust the ambient lighting, they do not need to sit up again to select the setting.

Relax in comfort even more with ENERGIZING Comfort programs

The ventilated seats and the massage functions are integrated into the ENERGIZING package’s comfort control. ENERGIZING Comfort networks various comfort systems in the vehicle and uses lighting and musical moods plus a number of massages for a wide range of feel-good programs. The ENERGIZING COACH, which recommends these programs based on the situation, can offer programs such as Freshness and Vitality or, in conjunction with the Warmth and Comfort package, also Warmth, Joy and Comfort programs. If a compatible wearable or a smartwatch is worn, personal values such as stress level or quality of sleep optimize the accuracy of the recommendation.

The programs all run for ten minutes. They are visualized on the media display with color graphics, and backed by suitable music. Individual functions of the programs can be deactivated. ENERGIZING Comfort also incorporates ambient lighting, which is harmoniously tailored to each of the individual screen designs. The light stages the interior like a work of art by composing color worlds from different colors.

The new Mercedes-Maybach GLS Comfort appointments

Pampering in total peace and quiet

In addition to sumptuous spaciousness and exquisitely comfortable seats, the interior of the Mercedes- Maybach GLS offers the high standard of comfort appointments one would expect in the luxury class. The effective insulation of the interior to prevent disturbing noise and vibration means that these systems have an additional requirement to fulfill: they need to perform their tasks extremely quietly. This makes it easier for the driver and Executive passengers to converse, as does the intercom (two- way in-car communication) included as part of the standard Burmester®  High-End 3D Surround Sound System.

The standard-fit THERMOTRONIC is likewise designed so as not to disturb the peace in the Mercedes-Maybach GLS. Accordingly the fan motor rests on rubber bearings so that no vibrations are transferred to the housing that might lead to a noise in the interior. A coating on the air ducts additionally dampens airflow noises. The air is then conducted to the vents after thorough filtering and temperature control according to the weather and the occupants’ wishes.

The standard-fit Executive Climate System (ECS) has a separate air conditioner for the rear and controls the temperature and the air quantity on the left and right and in both seat rows separately. Numerous vents ensure effective and draught-free air supply to exactly where it is needed. Those in the footwell at the front and rear operate independently from those in the B-pillars, for example. Above the rear doors there are additional, fixed outlet openings which are used by the rear air conditioner and make the ventilation particularly pleasant and indirect. Two additional electric heating elements in the rear footwell provide a pleasant temperature in double- quick time, even when it’s cold outside.

Discreet and comfortable: the air conditioning system thinks for itself

The ECS system is configured so that the passenger adjusts the system for their seat once, and the automatic system then ensures the desired, pleasant interior climate every time. This is why several sensors measure the inside and outside temperatures, the angle of the sun and even the air humidity at the windscreen, so as to prevent misted-up windows before they can cause an issue.

The control unit also detects poor air quality outside the vehicle, or receives a warning from the navigation system if the vehicle is approaching a tunnel. In both cases, the system automatically switches to air recirculation mode, and the side windows and sliding sunroof are closed. Like a good butler, the control system also remembers the personal preferences of up to seven different, regular users and one guest.

A separate control panel in the rear and the menus in the MBUX Rear Tablet or MBUX Rear Seat Entertainment System allow control of the Executive Climate System from the rear seats, too. Mercedes me connect can be used in conjunction with Remote Start to pre-heat or pre-cool the vehicle by remote control before setting off.

Warmth and Comfort package, the heated multifunction steering wheel and AIR BALANCE (all standard) allow individual adjustment of the ECS system. The Warmth and Comfort package includes heatable areas in the armrests and door center panels on all four doors and the armrest in the fixed center console.

Even better air quality and enhanced wellness thanks to the AIR BALANCE package

Even more wellness is assured by the AIR BALANCE package. This has two particularly clever features. One is active fragrance of the interior: activated, deactivated and variably controlled via a separate menu in the infotainment system, a fragrance generator perfumes the air entering the interior with a pleasant fragrance from a glass flask. The new Mercedes-Maybach GLS has its own signature fragrance: the white osmanthus blossom, floral and light, is rounded off by a gentle leather note and spicy tea.

Fragrance in the interior contributes greatly to the luxurious ambience but is also a matter of individual taste. Familiar AIR BALANCE fragrances from the Mercedes-Benz range are therefore also available as alternatives to the exclusive Maybach fragrance. The fragrance system’s technology ensures that the fragrance also actually evaporates after system deactivation and air exchange. No perfume droplets stick to clothing or the occupants.

Another function of the AIR BALANCE Package is air ionization by a high-voltage ionizer in the air duct. The ionizer generates negative ions which are attracted by the mainly positively charged airborne particles. With the magnetic attraction, they form heavier agglomerations and fall to the floor. In this way, certain viruses, bacteria and spores whose deactivation measurably benefits asthmatics and allergy sufferers are precipitated from the breathable air. Ionization freshens the air and keeps the occupants feeling fit for longer.

Use the time: equipment for work and entertainment

The Mercedes-Maybach GLS connectivity allows passengers to take their own digital environment with them into the car and integrate it perfectly there. At least four USB ports and WLAN/Bluetooth enable the occupants to incorporate and power their devices. The MBUX infotainment system supports the popular formats and internet protocols, and can manage up to eight different user profiles. Folding tables can be ordered for the large compartment in the fixed rear center console, turning the rear area into a comfortable mobile office.

THE MBUX Rear Seat Entertainment System is equipped as standard for entertaining the rear passengers. It includes two 11.6-inch touchscreens on which films or music can be played or, at a later point, the integrated web browser can be used. Each screen displays the content selected by the individual user. Special Mercedes-Benz Bluetooth headphones are also standard-equipped for a high-quality sound. In addition to the options offered by the MBUX infotainment system, users can also play their own media from a mobile phone, tablet or laptop. The MBUX Rear Seat Entertainment System can also be controlled via the standard-fit MBUX Rear Tablet.

The low noise level inside the Mercedes-Maybach GLS creates the ideal conditions for the Burmester®  High-End 3D Surround Sound system, which is designed to meet the highest individual requirements. Some 27 high- performance speakers and 24 separate amplifier channels provide an overall output of 1590 watts. It offers superb sound quality precisely tuned to the interior. Both systems have an integrated two-way ICC (In-Car Communication) system to make it easier for occupants in the front and rear seats to converse.

The new Mercedes-Maybach GLS Suspension

Only floating is better

A Mercedes-Maybach always aspires to offer the best suspension comfort in its class. The Mercedes- Maybach features the AIRMATIC air suspension with Adaptive Damping System Plus (ADS+) in addition to the E-ACTIVE BODY CONTROL based on the 48 V on-board electrical system, an innovation in suspension technology that meets the highest standards. A special Maybach drive program tuned for maximum ride comfort has also been developed.

The front wheel suspension is a double wishbone suspension with the upper wishbone in a high position, which benefits spring travel when driving off-road. All transverse control arms and the steering knuckles are weight- optimized forged aluminum components. Their light weight and rigidity ensure low unsprung masses and create good conditions for uncoupling wheel suspension vibrations and oscillations from the vehicle body. The design of the front axle ensures separate introduction of longitudinal and lateral forces, which benefits both the vehicle dynamics and suspension comfort.

Even the links of the four-link rear suspension are largely made of aluminum and are optimized based on the same principles as the front axle parts in terms of weight, handling dynamics and vibration comfort. Wheel control is by a cast aluminum lower wishbone and a forged aluminum upper strut rod, as well as an upper camber strut of sheet steel.

Constant level

The AIRMATIC air suspension responds particularly sensitively. It combines air suspension bellows with adaptive ADS+ dampers whose characteristics can be fully automatically varied at each individual wheel, in both the compression and rebound stages. While driving, a sophisticated sensor system and algorithms set the dampers according to the quality of the road to ensure that, for example, driving over a bump with just one wheel is not transmitted to the entire axle and the interior. At the front axle the springs and dampers are housed in one suspension strut, but they are separate at the rear axle.

The driver personally and the selected drive programs can change the suspension set-up. However, the AIRMATIC control unit also uses sophisticated sensors and algorithms to analyze the driving situation and make automatic adjustments. This includes the level control, which is part of AIRMATIC. It keeps the ground clearance constant irrespective of the vehicle load but also makes changes. By way of example, the vehicle body is lowered by 15 mm at high speeds to reduce the aerodynamic drag and increase driving stability. At speeds below approximately 19 mph, lowering of the car by 25 mm can be activated to make it easier for occupants to get in and out.

Superlative ride comfort with E-ACTIVE BODY CONTROL

Even better ride comfort and agility, plus completely new functions such as recovery mode, are provided by the newly developed E-ACTIVE BODY CONTROL suspension, which is combined with the AIRMATIC air suspension. This is the only system on the market that can individually control spring and damping forces at each wheel, suppressing rolling, pitching and lifting movements. Together with ROAD SURFACE SCAN and the curve inclination function CURVE, E-ACTIVE BODY CONTROL makes an exceptional level of comfort possible, and supports the claim of Mercedes-Benz to build the world’s most intelligent SUV suspension.

E-ACTIVE BODY CONTROL operates with 48 volts. The system is based on the AIRMATIC all-air suspension system and offers the same all-round self-levelling. Furthermore, the electrically driven hydraulic pump generates dynamic forces that overlay the air suspension forces and actively support and dampen the vehicle body, for example during linear and lateral acceleration or when driving on uneven roads. The body no longer squats or pitches during braking and acceleration, and on poor road surfaces the system is even able to recuperate energy, roughly halving the energy requirement compared with the preceding system in the S-Class.

Additional features to enhance occupant comfort:

In CURVE drive mode, the Mercedes-Maybach GLS actively leans into bends by up to 3° in three stages, like a motorcycle. This reduces the lateral forces acting on the occupants. Cornering is therefore made much more pleasant, especially for the front and rear passengers.

The ROAD SURFACE SCAN function comprises a stereo multi-purpose camera that continually records the road surface ahead of the vehicle. The suspension struts are then activated so as to substantially reduce the body movements when driving over surface undulations, as the suspension responds even before the uneven stretch is reached. This enhances the comfort in particular away from paved roads.

The recovery function is included as part of the Off-Road drive program and helps to free the vehicle more easily if it gets stuck in sand, for example. If possible the suspension level is automatically raised and lowered several times, which alternately increases or reduces the ground pressure of the tires and therefore improves traction. The car rocks itself free.

Exclusive to the Mercedes-Maybach: the Maybach DYNAMIC SELECT drive program

DYNAMIC SELECT offers a Maybach drive program developed specifically for the Maybach. It is fully focused on ride comfort for the rear passengers, while the Comfort drive program offers balanced ride comfort for the front and rear passengers.

The Maybach program ensures that the body movements are at their lowest precisely at the Executive seats. There is therefore a vibration node here to minimize the amplitudes. Other program settings focus on the engine and transmission:

Very flat accelerator curve for chauffeur mode

Transmission tuning with fewer gearshifts for smooth driving

Starting off in second gear

No stop/start function

The new Mercedes-Maybach GLS Powertrain

Sublime power in velvet gloves

The new Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 4MATIC is driven exclusively by the powerful and discreet M 177 a new, electrified variant of the V8 gasoline engine with a displacement of 3,982 cc, 48-volt on-board electrical system and integrated starter-alternator (ISG). ISG is responsible for hybrid functions such as EQ Boost or energy recovery, while allowing fuel savings that were previously reserved for high-voltage hybrid technology. The development focused on the long-term improvement of the consumption and emissions figures. At the same time, the customers’ power expectations need to be met. As a result, the engine produces an output of 550 hp and 538 lb-ft of torque. An additional 184 lb-ft of torque and up to 21 hp output are available temporarily via EQ Boost. Power is transmitted by the 9G-TRONIC automatic transmission. The wide spread of ratios for gears one to nine ensures a significant reduction in the engine speed and is a decisive factor behind the high levels of drive and ride comfort. Likewise standard is the transfer case with variable transfer of the drive torque from 0-100 percent (Torque on Demand) between the axles.

The new biturbo is configured for high drive comfort and, at the same time, high efficiency and effective emissions reduction. Stand-out features of the V8 in this engine family include the cylinder shut-off in the part- load range. The variable valve control system CAMTRONIC shuts off four cylinders at once. This reduces the gas exchange losses while improving the overall efficiency of the remaining four cylinders in combustion mode by shifting the operating point towards higher loads.

In the Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 4MATIC, the cylinder shut-off is active in the DYNAMIC SELECT Comfort drive program in the 800 – 3,250 rpm speed range. Above that engine speed or when the driver strongly presses the accelerator pedal, cylinders 2, 3, 5 and 8 are switched on within milliseconds. The transition between the two operating modes is seamless and with no loss of comfort for the occupants. A pendulum-type absorber reduces both fourth-order vibrations in eight-cylinder mode as well as second-order vibrations in four- cylinder mode.

The two cylinder heads have particularly high thermal resistance and are thermally conductive thanks to a zirconium alloy. Their intake and exhaust ducts form the tumble, the movement of the air mass during cylinder charging, for particularly efficient and low-emission mixture formation and combustion. A third-generation spray-guided direct petrol injection system with piezo injectors also ensures multiple injections as needed with 100 to 200 bar. The two instantly responding twin-scroll turbochargers are positioned in the “hot inside V” between the cylinder banks to save space. Their boost pressure is adapted to the demand in real time by a control valve. These measures are intertwined and improve the thermal efficiency and the emissions level.

To keep the mechanical losses low, the cylinder surfaces feature NANOSLIDE®  coating. Another measure implemented to reduce friction and therefore consumption is “spectacle honing,” which prevents unwanted distortion during machining of the cylinder surfaces and thus reduces in-engine friction subsequently.

Saving without compromising: EQ Boost

EQ Boost through the ISG offers great potential for fuel saving and added comfort due to the load point transfer during which the combustion engine is used at a more efficient operating point due to precisely measured additional torque of the ISG. During deceleration, the kinetic energy from the starter-generator is converted into electric power (“recuperated”) as appropriate to the driving situation and used to charge the battery.

Knowing where to send the power: 9G-TRONIC and Torque on Demand

Power is sent to the road via the 9G-TRONIC automatic transmission, which has been enhanced to handle the V8 engine’s high torque. The particularly good gear-shifting comfort of the nine-speed automatic transmission is the result of extensive measures. These include the novel direct control system which enables short, barely perceptible gear changes. The combination of twin-turbine torsional damper and centrifugal pendulum technology in the torque converter ensures outstanding drive comfort. An additional, electric transmission oil pump is activated in start/stop operation, ensuring a basic supply to the control elements and actuators. The delay between the desire to move off and the vehicle’s actual movement is reduced by the electric transmission oil pump.

The 9G-TRONIC’s output shaft goes straight through to the transfer case. Its electronically controlled multiplate clutch allows a variable transfer of the drive torque from 0-100 percent (Torque on Demand) between the axles. This takes into account the driver’s wishes and the selected drive program, and physical factors such as the current yaw rate or actual traction are also considered. These are used to continuously calculate the most favorable torque distribution, so as to transfer correspondingly more drive torque to the front axle via the multiplate clutch in the transfer case. The result is reliable and stable handling.

When moving off either forwards or in reverse, Torque on Demand ensures the best possible traction even on ice and snow. Here the controlled clutch acts like the center differential lock in a traditional cross-country vehicle and distributes torque consistently to both axles. During dynamic driving maneuvers such as driving slaloms, evasive action or cornering, on the other hand, the drive torque at the front axle is reduced to increase lateral stability at the front wheels. The new transfer case also has a positive effect on longitudinal dynamics and ride comfort, as the engine torque no longer needs to be reduced for the purposes of load reversal damping.

Character at the touch of a button: DYNAMIC SELECT

Like the suspension, the powertrain of the Mercedes-Maybach GLS can be adapted to the driver’s requirements by selecting a drive program using the DYNAMIC SELECT switch. Here, too, the exclusive Maybach drive program has the task of optimizing comfort in terms of noise and vibration levels. The program’s settings focus on the engine and transmission and have been configured specifically for the chauffeur mode:

Very flat accelerator curve for starting off smoothly

Transmission tuning with fewer gearshifts for smooth driving

Starting off in second gear

No stop/start function

The smooth control strategies used for the drive system here are also exceptionally energy-efficient. The Off- Road drive program is designed to provide excellent traction when driving off-road, for example on farm tracks, gravel, sand or similar terrain. There is also a Sport program, which adapts the dynamic handling control and gearshift points for dynamic driving.

The new Mercedes-Maybach GLS Driver assistance systems and safety

Bodyguard and Copilot

The new Mercedes-Maybach GLS comes with many of the latest-generation Mercedes-Benz driver assistance systems included as standard. The PRE-SAFE®  systems, which can increase the effectiveness of the car’s protective functions by initiating in some cases reversible measures prior to an accident, are comprehensive and state-of-the-art, too. Additional standard safety features include Active Stop- and-Go Assist and PRE-SAFE®  Impulse Side. One of the stand-out features of the Executive seat in the Mercedes-Maybach is the cushion airbag in the seat cushion. In the event of a frontal impact, it is designed to stop the rear passenger from sliding under the belt when the seat is in the reclined position. The cushion airbag restrains the passenger as effectively as possible in the pelvic area and in this way boosts the restraint effect of the three-point seat belt equipped with inertia-reel tensioners and belt force limiters.

The following assistance systems are equipped as standard:

Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC

Active Speed Limit Assist

Traffic Sign Assist

Route-based speed adjustment

Active Steering Assist with Active Lane Change Assist and “emergency corridor” functions

Evasive Steering Assist

Active Lane Keeping Assist

Active Blind Spot Assist with exit warning

Active Brake Assist with turning maneuver function and cross-traffic function

PRE-SAFE®  PLUS

The driver assistance systems in the Mercedes-Maybach GLS can support the driver in many driving tasks and thus enhance comfort and safety. The car can autonomously maintain its speed and the distance to the vehicle in front as well as stay in lane on multi-lane roads. But it can also reduce the vehicle speed autonomously according to the traffic situation, for example when approaching towns or villages, bends, roundabouts, junctions, or even traffic jams.

Its assistance systems can warn the driver if the GLS gets too close to the vehicle in front or if there is a risk of a collision while also monitoring the blind spot, even when the GLS is stationary before the occupants get out, as well as the adjacent lane ahead of, beside and behind the vehicle when changing lanes to overtake. If the driver fails to react having being warned of the risk of a collision, the Active Brake Assist can initiate emergency braking autonomously. In this case, it can even react to pedestrians and cyclists and when turning ahead of oncoming traffic. If the driver is no longer guiding the vehicle when Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC is activated, the vehicle can detect this and give the driver signals. If the driver fails to react, the vehicle can even stop itself autonomously. It warns the traffic behind and can make an emergency call. This measure is important for medical emergencies, which is why the vehicle is also then unlocked to afford access for first- aiders. In the speed range from approximately 12 mph to 44 mph, the Evasive Steering Assist can assist the driver with maneuvering to avoid a pedestrian in a hazardous situation by using camera and radar images to precisely calculate steering torque and then applying this torque to support the movement of the steering wheel.

The standard Active Parking Assist with Surround View system with a 360° camera is designed to assist with everyday maneuvers: networked close-range cameras in the radiator grille, in the tailgate and in the exterior mirror housings produce a 360° image which is shown vividly in different selectable views on the media display, making it easier to maneuver and park.

Active Stop-and-Go Assist

Active Stop-and-Go Assist and PRE-SAFE®  Impulse Side are also equipped as standard. In traffic congestion, Active Stop-and-Go Assist can assist the driver at speeds of up to 37 mph. It can maintain the distance to the vehicle in front autonomously, while repeatedly making the car stop and start off again. It complements the Active Steering Assist which can automatically help to form a ‘rescue corridor’ for emergency vehicles on multi- lane roads based on road markings and the vehicle in front.

PRE-SAFE®  for enhanced occupant protection

For many years PRE-SAFE®, the preventive occupant protection system, has supplemented the classic design measures at Mercedes-Benz. The result is comprehensive protection that starts before an accident and is still effective after the accident. The extensive driver assistance systems, as well as the sophisticated crash sensor system, enable PRE-SAFE®  to recognize a likely impact in even more situations than before. The protective effect of the systems is improved with a precisely coordinated response of the restraint systems and a number of other measures.

In this way PRE-SAFE®  can now recognize an impending impact of a vehicle following behind by means of the radar sensors in the rear bumper and warn its driver with rapidly flashing hazard lights. At the same time, the PRE-SAFE®  measures of the occupant protection systems are initiated. If the vehicle is stopped, the brakes are locked to keep it in place and reduce the forward jolt and thus the risk of whiplash and a secondary collision (PRE-SAFE®  PLUS).

In the new Mercedes-Maybach GLS, PRE-SAFE®  can also protect the passengers in an area that often gets forgotten: the hearing. If a probable impact is detected, the standard-fit PRE-SAFE®  Sound system transmits a noise signal through the sound system of the vehicle, which can trigger a reflex. It causes the stapedius muscle in the inner ear to contract and thus muffles the noise level of a major collision.

PRE-SAFE®  Impulse Side uses the close-range radar sensors to detect an impending side-on collision, for example, in the event of accidents at junctions. As a preventive measure, PRE-SAFE®  Impulse Side can inflate the air pocket in the outer bolster of the front seat on the side of the expected impact very quickly. It can prompt the driver or front passenger to move further away from the danger zone.

The new Mercedes-Maybach GLS Production

Expertise for something special

As a member of the large SUV model series, the Mercedes-Maybach GLS is produced exclusively in Tuscaloosa, Alabama in the United States. Since 1995 Daimler has invested more than six billion dollars in this location in the southern USA, and since 1997 it has produced well in excess of three million vehicles, of which two thirds were exported. The Mercedes-Benz SUV models GLS, GLE and GLE Coupe are also produced here, as is the C-Class Sedan for the North American market. A great deal of time and effort goes into producing the Mercedes-Maybach GLS with its exceptionally high-quality equipment and appointments.

A dedicated Mercedes-Maybach team produces the specific interior equipment and appointments by hand in a separate area. The team members, selected based on their skills and knowledge, were trained for this at the Mercedes-Maybach Manufaktur hand-finishing facility in Germany. Two team members are responsible for the complete finishing of each car, which takes place away from the assembly process for the other SUV models. Before and after these stations, the Mercedes-Maybach GLS models are sent to Mercedes-Benz SUV production for final acceptance.

The Mercedes-Maybach specialists assume a high level of personal responsibility and identify strongly with the product. Particular attention is paid to the careful handling of the high-grade interior appointments with a high proportion of Nappa leather and wood trim parts. The entire process, from the production of these parts by the highly specialized suppliers to assembly by the specially trained team members to final acceptance, is geared towards achieving a flawless result.

2021 MERCEDES MAYBACH GLS 2021 MERCEDES MAYBACH GLS UPDATES & CHANGES The all-new Mercedes-Maybach GLS is the first-ever SUV to join the Mercedes-Maybach product portfolio, showcasing a Maybach-exclusive grille with vertical louvres, standing Mercedes-Benz star on hood (first for an SUV), projected Maybach logo, chrome trim elements, fully retracting Maybach running boards, Maybach emblems and lettering and Maybach-exclusive leather details in the interior.

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2021 Mercedes-Benz E 450 4Matic Sedan First Drive

There’s something wonderfully calming about driving the 2021 Mercedes-Benz E 450 4Matic sedan. The world outside might be going to hell in a handbasket, but here, in the cabin of the car that in many ways still defines the Mercedes-Benz brand, is a continuity that soothes the soul. Sure, there’s way more visual bling than there used to be—the engineers that created the Bauhausian W124 E-Class in the 1980s would be aghast at the glittery decoration adorning its 21st century successor, inside and out. But they would recognize the effortless competence of its powertrain, the studied confidence of its chassis, and the quiet efficiency with which its technology lends the driver a helping hand.

The E 450 4Matic is top dog in a four-model lineup of the face-lifted W213 E-Class Mercedes-Benz scheduled to arrive in U.S. dealers later this year. Apart from new interior trim, exterior paint, and wheel options, the 2021 model year visual upgrades include a new hood—with twin power domes that recall iconic Mercedes sports cars of the ’50s—and a new front fascia with a more aggressively shaped grille. At the rear is a new trunklid with a vestigial lip spoiler, new taillights, and a new rear bumper with the now obligatory fake exhaust outlets.

The redesigned panels have eliminated some of the flaccid surfacing of the current E-Class and subtly changed its proportions. The revised hood and forward-leaning grille aperture, combined with the new trunk that eliminates the awkward droopiness of the previous car, give the redesigned E-Class a more confident gesture that works better with the long dash-to-axle.

Inside is a new dash with the MBUX instrument and infotainment displays on a pair of co-located 12.3-inch touchscreens, a new touchpad control on the center console, and a new steering wheel, too, with touch-control buttons on the spokes. Standard equipment includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration and heated front seats with memory adjustment.

Available options include augmented video navigation, which overlays instructions on a live video feed from the front of the car, and a driver assistance package that includes a route-based speed adaptation system that allows the adaptive cruise control to automatically adjust the speed of the car by referencing map data. Luxury options include a panoramic roof, Burmester audio system, and massaging seats.

While the entry-level 2021 E 350 and E 350 4Matic sedans are powered by the same 255-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter I-4 engine as the outgoing models, the E 450 4Matic has the new mild-hybrid M256 3.0-liter turbocharged I-6 under its double-bubble hood. The same powertrain used in the CLS 450, GLE 450 and GLS 450, in E-Class spec it delivers 362 hp from 5,500 rpm to 6,100 rpm, and 369 lb-ft from 1,600 rpm to 4,000 rpm, the same peak outputs as the outgoing twin-turbo 3.0-liter V-6.

Although Daimler has yet to release official numbers, expect the 0 to 60 mph acceleration time to be right on the V-6-powered car’s 5.0 seconds, and look for a noticeable improvement in fuel efficiency, especially around town. The 48-volt system means the air-conditioning compressor is electrically driven, so the stop/start system can keep the engine off for longer periods.

The M256’s inline layout and the maximum of 21 hp and 184 lb-ft of e-motor assist offered by Daimler’s EQ Boost system makes the redesigned E 450 a silkier car to drive than its V-6 predecessor. It starts from the moment you press the start button: The 2021 E 450 wakes up rather than fires up. Shift to drive, release the brake, squeeze the gas pedal, and the Mercedes glides away, the internal combustion engine humming smoothly into life.

While cruising, the EQ Boost system allows the E 450 4Matic to coast when you lift off the gas. And when you want to hustle, it helps sharpen the powertrain’s response to torque demand, improving acceleration in gears and out of corners. Old-school German inline-sixes were all about top-end bite and needed to be revved to feel their best. This one luxuriates in a warm ocean of midrange torque that stretches from 2,000 rpm to 5,000 rpm. It still revs, though, happily kissing the 6,250 rpm redline, a lovely muted snarl audible from 4,000 rpm up.

Standard wheels are 18-inchers with run-flat all-season tires, which is why U.S.-spec E 450 4Matics are electronically limited to 130 mph. Our German-registered tester was on 18-inch alloys shod with 245/45 Pirelli Cinturato P7 summer tires, which, despite the best efforts of the optional air suspension, occasionally thumped noticeably on the rough British back roads on our drive route. With their softer tread blocks, the all-seasons should be a little more forgiving of imperfections on U.S. roads.

As with all modern Benzes, the E 450 4Matic offers a menu of drive modes: Eco, Comfort, Sport, Sport+, and Individual, which allows enthusiastic drivers to mix and match powertrain, transmission, and suspension settings the way they want. Comfort is the default mode, and in truth, it’s the car’s happy place, especially in terms of all-around ride quality. Sport mode is a nice all-around compromise for a heaving, winding back road; it just takes the edge off the secondary body motions and crisps up the powertrain’s responses. Sport+ makes the ride too lumpy.

If you want a sportier E-Class, buy the 2021 Mercedes-AMG E 53 with its 429-hp version of the M256 engine and AMG-massaged transmission, 4Matic all-wheel-drive system, and air suspension. But that doesn’t mean the E 450 4Matic is dull to drive. Indeed, like the old W124, this is an E-Class that will reward an enthusiastic driver; the more you ask of it, the more it gives back, revealing ever more layers of calm capability. And for those who don’t ask, it’s happy to quietly and comfortably mooch along.

The Mercedes-Benz lineup might be awash with SUVs these days, but the E-Class sedan remains at the heart of the three-pointed star. Daimler has built sedans like this since 1946—more than 14 million of them—and although fashions and technologies have evolved, the fundamentals have not. The 2021 Mercedes-Benz E 450 4Matic is a comfortable and accomplished four-door that feels built to last.

 SPECIFICATIONS 2020 Mercedes-Benz E 450 4Matic Sedan BASE PRICE $63,000 (MT est) LAYOUT Front-engine, AWD, 5-pass, 4-door sedan ENGINE 3.0L/362-hp/369-lb-ft turbo DOHC 24-valve I-6, plus 21-hp/184-lb-ft electric motor; 362 hp/369 lb-ft combined TRANSMISSION 9-speed automatic CURB WEIGHT 4,500 lb (MT est) WHEELBASE 115.7 in L x W x H 194.5 x 73.7 x 57.8 in 0-60 MPH 4.5 sec (MT est) EPA FUEL ECON 21/28/24 mpg (MT est) ENERGY CONSUMPTION, CITY/HWY 169/120 kW-hrs/100 miles CO2 EMISSIONS, COMB 0.82 lb/mile ON SALE Late 2020

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https://www.motortrend.com/cars/mercedes-benz/e-class/2021/2021-mercedes-benz-e450-4matic-sedan-first-drive/ visto antes em https://www.motortrend.com

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Mercedes-Benz Deep Dive: What’s Coming 2019–2023

Mercedes plans to offer 130 electrified models by 2030, which means lots more EVs, plug-in hybrids, and traditional hybrids are on the way. The budget for this mammoth effort is in the area of €35 billion ($39.7 billion), which includes a €25 billion ($28.4 billion) investment in battery technology. Let’s take a year-by-year look at how this aggressive game plan will likely affect the short- to mid-term product portfolio.

2019 Coming this year are the facelifted GLC-class compact SUV, the brand-new GLS-class full-size SUV, two versions of the A45 AMG (388 horsepower for the base car, and a rather frivolous 422 horses in the S model), and the CLA-class shooting brake. Also on the horizon are the chunky GLB-class small SUV, which will be available with seven seats, a new GLE that will include a plug-in sporting 60 miles of range, and the all-electric EQC loosely based on the GLC. There has been talk about a GLA coupe, but this proposal is dead—as is the tentative SUS, an oddball sedan/SUV hybrid that didn’t make it far out of the discussion stage. When Dieter Zetsche steps down in May to make room for Ola Källenius, Markus Schäfer will reportedly become the new R&D chief. This year is only the beginning of a very busy period in Stuttgart, however.

2020 Mercedes will start 2020 by launching the next-generation GLE coupe. Also due in spring is the facelifted E-class, which gets the latest edition of MBUX together with numerous styling changes and a broader hybrid portfolio. Additional debuts include the AMG GT four-door plug-in variant with an electric range of 60 miles, the tarted-up Maybach edition of the full-size GLS, and the second-generation GLA-class compact crossover, which takes on more of a traditional SUV form factor and is a lot more spacious.

On the exclusively electric side of things, the five-door compact EQA (rendered above) will appear by summer. Good for a zero-emission range of up to 250 miles, the stylish EQA and the bigger, taller, and more purposeful EQB will be offered with three different battery sizes from 60 to 110 kWh and with electric motors in 150-kW (201-hp), 200-kW (268 hp), and 250-kW (335-hp) strengths. While the EQA will likely be priced around €35,000 (and roughly the same number in USD), the EQB is expected to arrive with a €50K price tag. Like the EQC crossover, the EQA and EQB are based on the EVA1 framework, which uses elements of the GLC platform. More sophisticated bespoke EQ versions for which Mercedes has already obtained trademarks are EQE (a full-size model in both sedan and CUV flavors), EQS (the electric analog to the S-class), and EQG (full-size SUV).

The Next S-Class Also Arrives in 2020 The biggest splash the three-pointed star has planned for 2020 is of course the next S-class, which gets a fully digital cockpit, high-tech seats, more aggressive rear-wheel steering designed for much improved maneuverability, and a remarkably pretty and aerodynamically efficient body with concealed door handles. In terms of body styles, the next S will come in standard- and long-wheelbase forms, as well as Pullman, but unfortunately will not offer the strikingly beautiful four-door coupe model that was under consideration. That one would have sat on the longer wheelbase. The ostentatious Maybach sedan range will transfer to the new platform a few years later, in 2023. Launched in 2014 and 2016, the S-class coupe and convertible will soldier on way into the next decade, but due to a lack of demand they will not be replaced.

SL and AMG GT One of the most interesting new 2020 arrivals should be the eighth-generation SL-class, which will be mechanically paired with the second-generation AMG GT coupe and roadster. (The smaller SLC has been confirmed as dead.) The 2+2 SL and two-seat AMG GT share a new aluminum architecture that is light and stiff enough to allow both roadsters to feature canvas roofs. The price paid for this synergy, though, is the departure of the coveted rear-transaxle layout used on the current version of the AMG GT (shown above). On the bright side, mating engine and transmission makes room for the fitment of 4Matic all-wheel drive. Electrification plays a big role in the gestation of the two sports cars, with the development being handled by AMG. While a plug-in-hybrid powertrain model will provide an all-electric range of 30 miles, the EQ boost technology reserved for the top-of-the-line AMG GT boasts a 250-kW (335-hp) electric power pack that straddles the differential. According to the Affalterbach grapevine, the batteries and electric hardware will provide almost exactly the same weight distribution as the transaxle layout. While the AMG keeps its trademark V-8, the remaining models make do with Mercedes’ latest straight-six (plus electrification) and the turbocharged four-cylinder.

2021 and Beyond: New C- and E-classes, Plus the Spectacular EQS Early in 2021, Mercedes will unleash the new C-class, first as a sedan and then later in the year as station wagon. The coupe and convertible will return, as well, but there will be no additions to the range like the proposed shooting-brake-style CLT. Mild hybrid powertrains are standard and the plug-ins will sport emissions-free ranges of up to 60 miles, but the V-8 will reportedly be phased out in AMG models. Based on the modular MRA rear-wheel-drive architecture, the future C-class may well be the last of its kind. Why? Because Mercedes has already kicked off the first of two convergence programs designed to eventually fuse its internal-combustion, fully electric, and plug-in-hybrid vehicle lines into one lineup that will span from A-class to S-class on the car side and from the GLA-class to the GLS-class on the SUV side.

For now, at the upper end of the size and price range, bespoke models riding on the EVA2 electric-vehicle platform will include the grandiose EQS (an artist’s rendering of which is shown at the top of this post)—an S-class like no other, it must hardly be said—the more affordable EQE (sedan only, shown above in an artist’s rendering), and the aforementioned EQG which will be offered in both more rugged SUV and less aggressive crossover body styles. The EQE and EQG are set to arrive in 2022 together with the facelifted A-class and the entirely conventional GLC replacement.

Due in March 2023, the next E-class will once again be able to be spec’d as either a no-frills commuter car or as a downsized all-in pseudo S-class. Sadly, Mercedes does not plan to replace the E coupe and cabrio, which is another way of saying that of you want a two-door Mercedes, the next C-class will eventually be your only option. The fates of the bigger E- and S-class models were sealed by lookalike, cookie-cutter design and disappointing packaging. The soft-top E-class, for example, offers notably more passenger and luggage space than the pricier S-class.

Although the EVA2 electric platform is structurally sound enough to go topless, an open-air EV model is featured exactly nowhere in the product plan. One potential problem for Mercedes is the absence of a Tesla Model 3 fighter. The EQE is too big and too expensive, all EVA1 derivatives are compromised crossovers or SUVs, and before the new convergence platform is ready for production, Tesla may well have released its second-generation lineup.

The post Mercedes-Benz Deep Dive: What’s Coming 2019–2023 appeared first on Automobile Magazine.

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