The idea of a luxury van may seem counterintuitive at first, but it’s actually been part of the automotive market for some time. Even before the likes of Kia and Chrysler began adding throw pillows and reclining captain’s chairs to Carnivals and Pacificas, third-party companies were creating conversion vans that straddled the line between transportation and living room. And with car companies seemingly finding nothing but room to grow in the uppermost parts of the market, it’s no surprise to see luxury automakers pursuing sliding-door ideas of their own, such as Lexus’s recent LS concept.
Yet even forearmed with that context, it’s still a little surprising to see the official word come down Tuesday that Mercedes-Maybach will soon be selling a van.
The super-premium branch of Benz made the announcement alongside the reveal of the latest Maybach S-Class, a much more traditional member of the brand’s portfolio. Still, from what little we know, the new van may turn out to be an even better experience for those occupying the seats behind the driver. For one thing, it’ll be electric, based on the same VLS-Class that was teased by the Mercedes-Benz Vision V concept car of 2025; that means it should be even smoother than the silky V-12 of the S680. For another, the space ought to be great enough to make the back seat of an extended-wheelbase S-Class feel like Row 2 of a Ford Mustang.
The interior of the Vision V concept. And remember, this was just the Benz version, let alone the Maybach.Courtesy Mercedes-Benz – Hearst Owned
Mercedes-Maybach’s official press release is long on the usual superlatives and flowery language, promising the van will deliver “an exceptional sense of space with unrivaled exclusivity, welcoming passengers into a completely new world of comfort and digital sophistication” that offers “the ultimate spatial and immersive digital experience.” What it lacks, unfortunately, is any concrete details on when we’ll see the finished product. As the VLS-Class in general has yet to be revealed, we’d guess the Benz version will break cover sometime later this year, with the Maybach variant following soon thereafter and both hitting the streets sometime in 2027, but we’ll let you know for sure as soon as we have more details.
You Might Also Like
If You Can Only Own One Car, Make It One of These
These Are the Most Popular Cars by State
