The Maybach Class S receives an update and features new lighting

The Mercedes S-Class is already a luxury model and has many features that allow it to stand out from other saloons in its segment. But sometimes this is not enough. That is when Maybach comes into play. The ultra-luxury sub-brand of Mercedes has worked on this saloon and has given it more presence and poise, with a variant that we like considerably more than the model it is based on and which is ready to be presented.

According to Maybach, this is the most comprehensive update the saloon has received and although the changes on the exterior are not very profound, they do offer decorative details that enhance the image. The grille is much larger, the light bars are more striking and illuminated emblems have been included, although these are limited to some selected markets.

The front and rear lights also include decorative details in the shape of a three-pointed star, the brand’s emblem, to reinforce its image. The Mercedes star is also present on the forged wheels. This star is floating, which means it stays upright regardless of the wheel’s rotation. The upper point always points upwards. In some markets, the wheels are available in polished chrome, to give the model a little more presence.

The interior, even more luxurious

In the cabin, we find luxury finishes that make it feel more like a lounge than the interior of a car. The Superscreen system displays exclusive Maybach graphics, and wood details have been placed at various points on the dashboard and door panels. The ambient lighting reinforces the exclusive look of the cabin, and a second finish has been created for the upholstery with textile and synthetic materials, for those who prefer these materials.

The Maybach S-Class features the MB.OS operating system, which includes artificial intelligence. It can accept natural voice commands to make use of Microsoft, Google and other cloud services. This AI can suggest destinations and routes based on the driver’s habits, respond differently depending on the context of the question, and even automatically adjust the climate control based on behaviour or tone of voice.

The rear seats are very important in Maybach models, since they are chauffeur-driven saloons. The rear doors are automatic and the seats are similar to those found on aircraft in first class. The central console has space for champagne glasses and a refrigerated compartment for the bottles to fill them. On this console there is wireless charging for smartphones, a touchscreen and space to place hand-held items.

The Maybach features the active suspension of the Mercedes S-Class, which has an active adaptation that analyses the road. It can remember where the potholes and poor road surfaces are on regular routes, so it can adjust before passing through the area.

Engines

The available engines are electrified and there are six- and eight-cylinder units, although there is also a V12 engine that will be available in some markets. The flat-plane crankshaft V8 engine is found in the Maybach S 580 and produces 530 CV, boosted by 17 kW provided by the electric motor.

The six-cylinder engine is in the M256-Evo, which is offered as a plug-in hybrid (PHEV). The 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder combustion engine delivers 443 CV and 560 Nm, working alongside an electric motor of 161 CV and 480 Nm. In this case the battery is 21.96 kWh, which allows it to reach 96 kilometres in electric mode.

As for the V12 engine, this produces 603 CV and is marked with an exclusive emblem on the grille. This saloon weighs almost 2.5 tonnes and can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in four seconds.

The V12 engine produces 603 CV and features an exclusive emblem on the grille. This engine allows the nearly 2.5-tonne limousine to reach 100 km/h (62 mph) in just four seconds, according to the manufacturer.

In addition to all this, the virtually unlimited MANUFAKTUR personalisation options complete the package, making this Maybach S-Class the most complete of them all.