The new Mercedes-Maybach S-Class has been unveiled as the pinnacle of the new luxury saloon range, offering more space and premium features for rear-seat occupants.
Set to reach showrooms next summer, the Bentley Flying Spur rival aims to capitalise on growing demand for ultra-luxury flagship variants from markets such as China, Korea and Russia. It joins the Mercedes-Maybach GLS, the sub-brand’s first SUV, which was revealed last year.
At 5469mm long, the Maybach S-Class is a full 18cm longer than even the long-wheelbase version of the standard Mercedes-Benz S-Class. The firm claims this increase “entirely benefits the rear”, making it ideal for high-end chauffeurs.
The upgrade isn’t limited to more space, however, with the twin Executive seats fitted as standard allowing independent adjustment of the squabs and backrests.
Mercedes also claims that the footrest attached to the front seat and the electrically extending legrest (itself 50mm longer than that in the old Maybach S-Class) allows for a “continuous, comfortable reclining surface for a pleasant sleeping position”.
Further new features include an optional massaging function for the legrest and heating for the rear passengers’ necks and shoulders. Also added for the rear passengers are ‘belt butlers’ - automatic seatbelt extenders that are usually found in Mercedes’ coupé and convertible models.
There are also electrically assisted rear doors that can be operated by the driver, plus adaptive lighting for the rear occupants with a wide range of adjustment.
Utilising the same MBUX interface for the available five part-OLED screens as the regular S-Class, the Maybach offers a vast array of control over vehicle systems and features and can recognise movements and gestures from rear passengers via 3D laser cameras in the roof lining.
Externally, the Maybach is differentiated from the standard S-Class with a new bonnet design that features a chromed fin, Maybach’s signature vertically slatted grille and wider rear doors. There’s also a new C-pillar quarterlight, while bespoke badging is applied throughout.
Optionally available is a two-tone paint finish (as pictured). The Maybach S-Class will be offered with two engines in the UK at launch: the 496bhp 4.0-litre twin-turbo petrol V8 from the S580 and a 603bhp 6.0-litre twin-turbo petrol V12, set to be badged as the S650. Other markets will receive a plug-in hybrid using a 3.0-litre six-pot turbo petrol engine and a gearbox-mounted electric motor for a combined 503bhp. Air suspension is standard, along with Mercedes’ road surface-scanning E-Active body control tech. Rear-wheel steering is optionally available.
Pricing is also yet to be detailed but, based on the price of the previous-generation V12 Maybach S-Class, it’s likely that the base V8 model will comfortably exceed £150,000.
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Mercedes has been blanking off the middle part of the traditional grille for sometime disguised as a plastic panel (for aerodynamics reasons? I've never heard it explained), here it does the same but made even more unsightly by the two black boxes of what look like sensors.
Mercedes (and other manufacturers) are unable to find a new design language to accomodate or integrate the various sensors and electronic aids of the digital age but instead rely on odd-looking add-ons which they hope nobody notices.
I believe that the black plastic panel in the grille is part of the adaptive cruise control system. The A8 from the early 2010s had the radar sensors where the foglights would ordinarily be, which I thought was quite a neat solution.
What's more worrying is whether Mercedes might be wide of the mark with the product? I keep hearing that today's uber-rich are erring towards less conspicuous consumption Surely a chintzed-up S-class strikes the wrong chord, in that regard.
The more I see it the more I love it. Modern ultra-luxe, not some cheesy pastiche of dated styling memes (e.g. RR and Bentley). Not stuffy, not dull, not boring, just plush.