- Mercedes confirmed a VLS “grand limousine” to sit above the VLE electric van.
- The Mercedes-Maybach VLS will have a singular focus on making people in the back feel special.
- The Maybach VLS has the potential to become the most luxurious Mercedes you can buy.
Mercedes-Benz will expand its lineup of “grand limousines” (aka luxury minivans) with the addition of a fancier VLS to sit above the VLE revealed earlier this month. Announced on Tuesday, the Mercedes-Maybach VLS will be larger than the VLE, offer even more bells and whistles, and target people who’d rather be driven than drive.
The VLE can be plenty fancy already, offering air suspension and rear steering that set it apart from today’s V-Class. But there’s a lot of flexibility in how you can configure it too. You can get it in less luxurious flavors if what you’re looking for is a cavernous family hauler that seats up to eight people. Mercedes plans to sell the electric van in the U.S. and hopes to snag some SUV buyers.
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Source: Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes is positioning the Maybach VLS as less of a people-mover and more of a purpose-built VIP shuttle, built with a singular focus of making the rear-seat experience exceptional for two people (and maybe a couple of bodyguards sitting in the third row).
“This extravagant Grand Limousine transforms the generous space into an extraordinary private lounge with everything that characterizes a Mercedes‑Maybach: impeccable craftsmanship, luxurious materials and exquisite design details,” Mercedes said in a press release.
So far, Mercedes hasn’t showed off what this “extravagant” van will look like—only a cropped teaser photo of the Maybach badge.
While the idea of a luxury people carrier may be relatively new to Europe and the United States, in China, fancy vans like the Lexus LM and Buick GL8 are already popular among buyers who prioritize rear-seat comfort. Mercedes is clearly targeting that demand with the VLS Maybach while also looking to introduce this new class of vehicles to other markets.
Even though Mercedes today revealed a new Maybach S-Class, it may no longer be the brand’s most luxurious offering. With more space and fewer packaging constraints, the VLS Maybach could feel closer to a rolling private lounge, which sounds exactly like what buyers in this space are looking for.
The real challenge with these vehicles, particularly the VLS Maybach, will be image. If Mercedes can convince buyers that a van can be the ultimate luxury vehicle, its new “grand limousines” could redefine the top end of its lineup.
