Maybach Is Giving Mercedes’s New Van an Ultra-Luxe Makeover
The Mercedes-Benz VLE promised to be one of the world’s most luxurious vans, but probably not the most luxurious, since the brand said this week it will be making a Maybach version, too. It actually won’t be a van at all, but a “grand limousine.”
The Mercedes-Maybach VLS will deliver an “exceptional rear-seat experience,” Mercedes says, emphasizing that the car will be aimed at executives with drivers, luxuryLuxuryA lifestyle defined by exceptional quality, craftsmanship, exclusivity, and sophistication, encompassing the finest products, services, and experiences that represent the highest standards of refinement and excellence.Go to Luxury Glossary car services, and the like. If this car ever makes it to the track, it will be as a team ferry.
The automaker did not release many details beyond that, nor did it even show a photo, except for a teaser image that shows the Mercedes-Maybach logo attached to the new van. One thing buyers can definitely expect, though, are screens in the form of a “new level of digital sophistication.”
There will be premium materials, too, and design details that might even rival Rolls-Royce in their level of sophistication. The idea is to create a bubble for rear passengers, or an “extraordinary private lounge.” Mercedes did not mention powertrain specs, but the VLS will probably feature the VLE’s planned 409-horsepower electric motor and have a range somewhere north of 400 miles. Charging will be something to watch as well, and the VLS will likely follow the VLE in getting hundreds of miles of charging in less than 15 minutes in the right conditions, using 800-volt technology.
The VLS, as an EV, looks like an especially attractive proposition for the segment, since EVs are well-suited for short trips in quiet comfort, as opposed to screaming around a track or settling in for long road trips.
Mercedes also did not mention a price for the Maybach VLS, or estimate when it might reach customers, though deliveries for the VLE are set to begin in 2027 and wouldn’t be a surprise if the VLS arrives around the same time. As for price, the VLE will likely reach six figures in the more expensive trims, and thus the VLS will likely be at least that much, if not significantly more. The world’s finest car services are probably already reaching for their checkbooks.
This article originally appeared in Robb Report US.