The launch of a luxury limousine always has us waiting with bated breath and few have pushed the boundaries of opulences as much as the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class. The standard S-Class was already an impressive spectacle of luxury on four wheels and that quotient has been taken up a few notches with the Maybach S-Class. The luxury limo is the carmaker’s first launch of 2022 and it will be offered in a choice of two variants, the locally-assembled S580 being priced at Rs 2.5 crore and the CBU S680 being priced at Rs 3.2 crore.
Mercedes-Benz had already moved from the conventional three-box silhouette to a flowing design that looks very futuristic, and the Maybach follows the same basic recipe, but there are a slew of visual differentiators to make sure that you don’t mistake this for an ‘ordinary’ S-Class. The most prominent of these is the dual-tone paint job giving the Maybach S-Class an aura of royalty, which is available only on the S680. When viewed head-on, the Maybach S-Class may look identical to the regular model, but keen observers notice the additional bling on the Maybach, thanks to the distinctive bonnet with a chromed fin and the Mercedes-Maybach radiator grille. The Maybach S-Class gets powerful LED headlamps which feature 1.3 million micro-mirrors inside them. Move over to the side and you’ll notice small but significant details like the door handles which are flush-fitted, along with the beautifully designed alloy wheels. The S580 gets 19-inch alloy wheels, while the S680 comes with larger 20-inch forged alloy wheels with a high gloss polished ceramic finished. The S680 also gets V12 badging on the flanks, but more on that later. One must also note that the wheelbase of the 2022 Maybach S-Class is 180mm longer than the standard car, which is bound to make the rear seat occupants very happy indeed.
Step inside the Maybach S-Class and you’re greeted by a luxurious cabin that shares its basic layout with the standard S-Class, but the Maybach gets even more plush. You continue to get a 12.8-inch OLED touchscreen for infotainment as standard, running the Mercedes’ NTG7 MBUX infotainment with Car-to-X and Mercedes Me connectivity. You also get a 12.3-inch digital instrument on the Maybach S-Class, which is a 3D unit on the S680 and all the digital real estate does give the Maybach S-Class a futuristic look. Audiophiles will be happy to note that the Maybach S gets a Burmester 4D surround sound system.The Maybach S-Class also gets an even more exclusive design with a progressive diamond pattern and double seam, compared to the regular S-Class, along with optional ambient lighting. You can choose between 10 two-tone or 5-single tone options for the upholstery, and there is a smattering of Maybach badges placed in the interior – on the seat backrests, the steering wheel and also the illuminated stainless-steel entry sills – lest you mistake this for an ordinary S, which will be highly unlikely, given that the cabin is finished in swathes of nappa leather and high quality wood. The Maybach S-Class gets a First Class rear seat package with two 11.6-inch screens for entertainment, and rear seat occupants can control the functions infotainment system via a touchscreen tablet. And chauffeur driven owners will be happy to know that the Maybach S-Class comes with electrically operated rear comfort doors which can be opened even by the driver! Safety is also given utmost importance on the Maybach S, with 13 airbags.
The Maybach S-Class comes in two variants with different engine options. The S580, which is locally-assembled, is powered by a 4-litre V8 petrol engine which is assisted by a 48-volt onboard electrical system and it produces 496bhp of power and 700Nm of torque. The S680 on the other hand is powered by a 6-litre V12 that produces 603bhp of power and 900Nm of torque. The V8 can accelerate from 0-100kmph in 4.8 seconds while the V12 does that in 4.5 seconds and both these engines are electronically limited to a top-speed of 250kmph. Both these engines send the power to all four wheels via the 4MATIC all-wheel-drive system. Both these engines are also compliant with the Euro 6 emission norms.
Mercedes India will bring the Maybach S-Class in two variants, the S580 and the S680, with the S580 being locally-assembled and the S680 being imported as a CBU. Prices for the S580 with the V8 will begin from Rs 2.5 crore, while the prices for the S680 with the V12 will begin from Rs 3.2 crore, ex-showroom. This translates to nearly a Rs 85 lakh premium over the most expensive regular S-Class, but given the luxury, opulence and not to mention the snob value of the Maybach badge, there’s no doubt that the Maybach S-Class will be a popular choice among buyers looking for alternatives to the Bentley Flying Spur or the Rolls-Royce Ghost – and the fact that all units of S680 have already been sold out till 2023 is a testament of that very fact.