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2024 Mercedes-Maybach EQS 680 SUV tops $180,000

The 2024 Mercedes-Maybach EQS 680 SUV is staking claim to the "next era of driving pleasure," but that pleasure will come at a steep price. The company officially announced Wednesday that the super-lux, battery-electric SUV starts at $181,050 (assuming the $1,150 destination fee doesn't increase for 2024) — $50,000 more than the standard Mercedes-Benz EQS 580. And you can order one starting today.  While U.S. figures are still partially up in the air, we do have some preliminary specs. To go with its 649-horsepower output, the EQS 680 SUV was rated at 600 km of total range on the WLTP cycle, which works out to about 373 miles. While Mercedes-Benz doesn't have EPA figures to offer, the EQS 580 is rated at approximately 340 miles with the same pack and a very similar (613 km) WLTP-certified range. 0-60 comes in just 4.1 seconds on the way to a top speed of 130 MPH. Charging the EQS 680 SUV back up from 0% will take a bit longer — nearly 13 hours on a Level II AC charger — but DC fast charging (10-80%) takes just 31 minutes at its max throughput rate of 200 kW.  The Mercedes-Maybach EQS 680 SUV is available with five different two-tone color combinations. All of the two-tone options will feature the lighter color on the bottom half of the SUV, since the darker tone up top better accentuates the vehicleÂ’s aerodynamics. Maybach-specific design details include vertical metal-look lines in the EQSÂ’ faux grille and a Mercedes-Benz star ornament on the hood.  ThereÂ’s a Maybach logo on the D-pillar and the taillights have a unique running light pattern. Mercedes-Benz says 21-inch wheels are standard for now; larger 22-inch wheels, as well as a sixth two-tone paint option, will come later. Related video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

Mercedes-Benz killing Maybach in 2013, replacing with S600 Pullman

According to an unnamed Mercedes-Benz source speaking with AutoWeek, the German automaker is killing off its Maybach line in 2013.
The unsurprising news comes after the brand was resurrected in 2002, but failed to meet sales expectations with its two core models, the Maybach 57 and 62. Further solidifying its fate, a deal with Aston Martin to aid in the development of future Maybachs fell through earlier this year.
According to the AutoWeek insider, the plan is to continue to sell both Maybach models through the end of 2013, after which the fifth-generation S-Class will go on sale. When that happens, three new variants of the S-Class will be available, including an all-new, range-topping S600 that brings back the Pullman moniker and may be better suited to competing with the likes of Bentley and Rolls-Royce.

Smart brand will be built in China as a Daimler-Geely joint

FRANKFURT/BEIJING — Daimler will build its next generation of Smart electric cars in China through a joint venture with Geely, as a way to increase economies of scale in a market segment that is struggling to turn a profit. China's Geely built a stake of almost 10 percent in Daimler last year, saying it wanted to forge an alliance to develop electric and self-driving cars to better compete against new challengers such as Uber and Google. Daimler said on Thursday it would build the next generation of Smart-branded city cars at a purpose-built factory in China, and planned to share its expertise in manufacturing, engineering and design with Geely. The high cost of electric car batteries has made it hard for automakers to build affordable zero-emissions vehicles, leading several of them to strike alliances with Chinese partners. Daimler's German rival BMW recently unveiled plans to build electric Minis in China, where production costs are low and demand for small electric cars is rising. Daimler and Geely did not disclose financial terms of their deal. The details of the joint venture will be finalized by the end of 2019, they said in a joint press release. Daimler currently develops and builds Smart cars with Renault at factories in France and Slovenia. The Daimler factory in Hambach, France, will be retooled to build Mercedes-Benz cars. Geely has been expanding rapidly through mergers and acquisitions since 2010, when it acquired Swedish carmaker Volvo from Ford. Last year, Daimler and Geely set up a ride-hailing joint venture in China. Daimler's Chief Executive Dieter Zetsche said last month the German carmaker was in talks to deepen its alliance with Geely after the Chinese's group's chairman Li Shufu bought a 9.69 percent stake in Daimler in 2018.