2016 Mercedes-Maybach Vision 6 Concept

• Reimagined electric luxury: Maybach's futuristic vision is characterized by 750 horsepower, 500 km of range, and gullwing doors.

• Design rooted in history: A six-meter “aero coupé” paying tribute to the grand tourers of the 1930s.

• Tech meets craftsmanship: Hyper-analogue dials, digital glass interfaces, and rose-gold detailing merge past and future.

At Pebble Beach, surrounded by rows of timeless machinery, the 2016 Mercedes-Maybach Vision 6 Concept didn’t just look futuristic — it looked like time had paused to admire it. Nearly six meters of sculpted metal and glass, the Vision 6 is Mercedes’ love letter to the golden age of grand touring coupes, filtered through tomorrow’s technology

The Vision 6’s proportions are pure drama: an endless bonnet, a cab pushed toward the rear, and a tapering “boat tail” that hints more at a luxury yacht than a car. Its designers call it an aero coupé — a deliberate nod to the streamlined shapes of pre-war elegance. Yet, despite its nostalgic undertones, it’s entirely modern. The bodywork, painted in a deep Maybach red with chrome accents, channels air like sculpture. The long tail allows the airflow to cling to its surface, slipping away only at the very end

There’s a sense of restraint in the detailing — the grille, for instance, draws inspiration from a pinstriped suit, vertical lines echoing Maybach’s tailored confidence. Behind it, the bumper sits on aerodynamic fins. Even the 24-inch wheels are part art, part engineering, featuring transparent panels that show off their aluminum structure. The finishing touch: gullwing doors, polished aluminum trim tracing their arcs as they open — a theatrical nod to the brand’s heritage.

Inside the Lounge of the Future

Open those doors, and the interior unfolds like a stage set for a retro-futurist opera. The cabin is a 360° lounge, where dashboard, doors, and seats flow into one another in sweeping, organic shapes. Mercedes’ designers refer to it as “inside-out design,” where traditional craftsmanship meets digital minimalism

Materials are rich but never excessive — rose gold accents, open-pore elm wood flooring, and quilted white leather seating reminiscent of vintage Chesterfield furniture. Everything from seat temperature to navigation info is shown on a transparent digital strip that spans across the dash. The glass itself turns into a display, superimposing augmented driving information over the actual landscape.

Even the tech feels intimate. The Vision 6 integrates “body sensor displays” into the upholstery — invisible controls that respond to touch and even track vital signs to adjust seat climate or massage functions automatically. It’s luxury that listens rather than commands.

Power and Presence

Underneath the sculpture lies a fully electric drivetrain. Four compact motors deliver 550 kW (750 hp) to all four wheels, launching this leviathan from 0–100 km/h in under four seconds, with an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h

The 80 kWh underfloor battery promises over 500 km of range (NEDC) — ambitious for 2016, even today.

Charging, too, was ahead of its time: DC fast charging at up to 350 kW, adding 100 km of range in just five minutes. Wireless charging was also possible, using electromagnetic induction — technology that’s only now becoming mainstream.

A Vision Still Resonating

The Vision 6 wasn’t a production car; it was a statement piece. A reminder that Maybach could still imagine, not just manufacture. Every surface, from its split rear window to its flowing chrome, spoke of timeless luxury recast for a world of electrons and algorithms.

Seen in retrospect, the 2016 Mercedes-Maybach Vision 6 Concept feels less like a fantasy and more like prophecy — proof that beauty and technology, when done right, can still move people before they ever move wheels.

Technical Specifications

• Vehicle Type: Electric luxury-class coupé (concept)
• Seating Configuration: 2+2
• Overall Length: 5,700 mm
• Overall Width: 2,100 mm
• Overall Height: 1,328 mm
• Drive System: Fully electric with four compact permanent magnet synchronous motors
• Drive Layout: All-wheel drive (AWD)
• Maximum Output: 550 kW (750 hp)
• Battery Type: Lithium-ion, underfloor-mounted
• Battery Capacity: Approx. 80 kWh usable
• Electric Range: Over 500 km (NEDC) / over 200 miles (EPA)
• Acceleration (0–100 km/h): Under 4 seconds
• Top Speed: Electronically limited to 250 km/h
• Charging System: DC fast charging via CCS standard
• Maximum Charging Capacity: Up to 350 kW
• Fast-Charge Capability: 100 km range added in 5 minutes
• Charging Options: Cable connection (public station or domestic outlet) and wireless inductive charging
• Chassis/Body: Aerodynamically optimized “aero coupé” body with boat-tail rear
• Wheels: 24-inch partially transparent aerodynamic alloy wheels
• Doors: Gullwing with integrated aluminum trim
• Interior: 360° lounge design with rose gold accents, white leather upholstery, open-pore elm wood flooring, and continuous glass digital interface
• Display Technology: Transparent windshield display (augmented information projection)
• Additional Features:
• Body sensor displays integrated into seats for climate and massage control
• Floating transparent center tunnel visualizing energy flow
• Hyper-analogue crystal-look instruments with mechanical needles
• Ambient LED lighting integrated into side sills

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