The Mercedes-Benz S-Class long has served as the brand’s flagship, a highly polished example of what German luxury is all about — but for those who want to take things a big step beyond, there’s the new Mercedes-Maybach S580 making its formal debut today.
While Maybach no longer serves as a standalone brand, it’s now being used to badge only the most exclusive Daimler products. So, start with the latest-generation Mercedes S-Class and it give it more of pretty much everything.
“With the new Mercedes-Maybach S-Class, we are emphasizing the progressive, modern approach of its exclusive product portfolio shortly before the 100th anniversary of Mercedes-Maybach automobiles,” said Dirk Fetzer, Mercedes-Maybach product chief. “As they did then, today’s customers have high expectations of their exclusivity and individuality, elegant design and first-class standard of finish, all based on the very latest technology. Especially with respect to comfort, safety and design, the new Mercedes-Maybach S-Class has unique selling features in the hotly contested luxury segment.”
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While the new Maybach will be assembled alongside more mundane versions of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, it has been stretched 7 inches, to 215.3 inches, nose-to-tail, while the wheelbase grows from 126.6 to 133.7 inches. Pretty much all sheet metal from the A-pillar back is new, but for the trunk lid.
In terms of power, the “base” S580 gets a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8 making 496 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque. A V-12 version is widely expected. Power goes through a 9-speed automatic to all four wheels.
As you might expect, Mercedes gives the Maybach S580 some unique enhancements, including a drive mode meant to enhance the comfort of those in back who might not want to spill the champagne they’ve just pulled out of the optional fridge.
The suspension is based on the (relatively) mainstream S-Class, but the Maybach adds standard four-wheel-steering to make it easier to maneuver in urban settings. It can turn the back wheels by as much as 10 degrees, depending upon the type of tire a buyer opts for.
Of course, what really sells a vehicle like the 2021 Mercedes-Maybach S580 is what passengers find inside and, there, the automaker has taken things to extremes. Start out with standard Designo leather upholstery that covers virtually everything, it seems, even the headliner. There is, of course, the requisite wood trim.
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The back seat starts out as a bench, but Maybach buyers can opt for two reclining buckets with power-operated leg rests with built-in massage function. All seats have their own climate controls. With the bucket seat option, buyers also can add that fridge which is paired with silvered champagne flutes.
To protect the sedan’s precious human cargo, the S580 is equipped with all the latest advanced driver-assistance technologies Mercedes has to offer, and back seats can be outfitted with special seatbelts with built-in airbags.
The Maybach shares the MBUX voice assistant technology with the rest of the Mercedes line-up, but the car adds individual, 11.6-inch screens for rear passengers, and there’s a 1,750-watt, 30-speaker Burmeister audio system to add to their enjoyment.
Of course, these elites occasionally have to work on their stock portfolios, and there are tables that open up for a laptop computer or paperwork, along with a WiFi hotspot and plenty of USB ports.
To help further separate them from the outside world, meanwhile, the Maybach S580 has more noise insulation than a stock Mercedes-Benz S-Class, including laminated glass and even foam-filled tires.
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Expected to roll into showrooms next summer, with a starting price of around $200,000, the S580 will be the largest and poshest S-Class yet, Mercedes aiming the sedan at those who might otherwise consider the likes of a Bentley Flying Spur or Rolls-Royce Ghost.
