Mercedes-Maybach S 600 and S 500 launched

Mercedes-Benz just announced the launch of yet another car, the Mercedes-Maybach S 600 and S 500. The S 600 will be sold as a CBU and is priced at Rs. 2.6 crore (ex-showroom, Pune) and the S 500, a CKD, is priced at Rs. 1.67 crores.

Under the Mercedes-Maybach S 600’s hood lies a 5980cc V12 engine that makes a stonking 523bhp and 830Nm of torque. Meanwhile the Mercedes-Maybach S 500 has a smaller V8 under its hood. The 4663cc pot makes 453bhp and 700Nm of torque.

Positioned above the regular S-Class, these cars come with a 207mm increase in wheelbase. They are also overflowing with features to add to passenger comfort. It obviously comes with Mercedes-Benz’s Magic Body control that scans the road ahead and adjusts suspension settings according to the approaching terrain. It also gets the air balance package which filters, ionises and fragrances the air inside the car. The rear seats are designed to be away from the side windows to give the impression that the car is exceptionally quiet. It also gets a total of 12 airbags, including airbags in the rear seatbelt.

The S 600s allocated for 2015 have already been sold out, however bookings for the S 500 begin today. The local assembly of the Mercedes-Maybach S 500 give it considerable tax and duty benefits, which have been passed on to the consumer. At Rs. 1.67 crores, it isn’t particularly cheap, but neither is it as outlandishly priced as some of the other high-end luxury limousines. The Mercedes-Benz plant in Pune is the only plant outside of Germany to be rolling out cars with the Maybach badge.

Unlike when Maybach first entered the country as a separate car all by itself, Mercedes-Benz has now brought it in as a sub-brand as they have to the AMGs. MD and CEO of Mercedes-Benz India, Eberhard Kern, hinted that the S-Class is just the first car in the Mercedes-Benz line up to get the Maybach treatment. Other high end luxury cars in their portfolio, like the GL might just get the Maybach badge as well. Could they be looking at a competitor to Bentely’s Bentayga?