As a committed petrolhead, my natural instinct is always to drive, and the new Mercedes-Maybach S-Class gives you plenty of reasons to take the wheel.
Depending on the version, this is a car that can combine mighty V8 power, all-wheel drive and the kind of acceleration that makes a vehicle of this size feel almost indecently agile. The new S 680, for example, delivers 612 hp and reaches 100 km/h in just four seconds. The S 580 is hardly shy either, while the S 580 e adds plug-in hybrid technology and an electric range of up to 98 kilometres, for those who want their serenity with a little more conscience attached.
And yet, after a recent trip to the French Riviera to test the new Mercedes-Maybach S-Class, I made an unexpected discovery: in this car, the true privilege is not driving. It is being driven.
This is not a car so much as a rolling private members’ club with number plates. At 5.48 metres long, the new Maybach S Class is not designed to fly under the radar and the latest updates, underline this intention. The grille is larger with the added option of an illuminated surround, rose-gold detailing has been introduced in the double-star headlamps and, in a deliciously unnecessary flourish, the forged wheels feature a Mercedes-Benz star that remains upright as the world turns around it.
On the new Mercedes-Maybach S 680, even the smallest exterior details have presence: the silver-finish forged wheels keep the Mercedes-Benz star perfectly upright, while rose-gold headlamp accents and Maybach-patterned chrome air intakes add a discreet flash of extravagance.
Inside, the tone shifts from status to sanctuary. The cabin has been designed to make the outside world feel of little relevance, which is no small achievement when the outside world happens to be the Côte d’Azur. The Mediterranean, the palm trees and the villas may all be doing their very best through the window, but the Maybach has other ideas. It invites you to recline and accept your new life as someone who is driven to lunch.
The Executive rear seats now come with calf support and the massage function works from neck to legs. Around you, the interior design elements do their own persuasive work: open-pore woods, soft Nappa leather, double stitching, ambient light and surfaces that seem designed to lower your blood pressure by several points. The Airmatic suspension – now with intelligent predictive damping – helps the car glide over the tarmac as if it were silk. Power arrives without fuss. The doors close softly. The world goes quiet. In this environment, considering doing some work begins to seem a little vulgar.
Naturally, champagne has been considered. Behind the rear armrest sits an optional refrigerated compartment with a ten-litre capacity. Two silver-plated Robbe & Berking champagne flutes can be held securely in the rear console, because even glassware needs to behave itself at speed.
Left & Right:Mercedes-Maybach S 680 in Emerald Green/Mojave silver with a dual-tone interior in Maybach-exclusive Nappa leathers. The main seating surfaces, door inserts, and lower dash in Macchiato Beige and the upper dashboard, steering wheel rim, and upper door shoulders are finished in the contrasting, dark Bronze Brown Pearl.
Middle: A different configuration with the new Beech Brown Nappa leather and the classic Manufaktur natural grain walnut wood with aluminium lines. Secured in the middle, the two silver-plated champagne flutes by Robbe & Berking.
The new S-Class also brings Maybach further into the digital age. The latest MBUX system appears here with a Maybach-specific design, rose-gold graphics and the new MB.OS operating system, used in a Maybach model for the first time. Up front, the MBUX Superscreen brings together the central and passenger displays beneath a single glass surface. In the rear, two 13.1-inch screens allow passengers to control the climate, blinds and entertainment, or take video calls using integrated cameras. This is useful if one genuinely needs to work. It is even more useful if one simply wants to join a meeting from the back of a Maybach and make everyone else turn green with envy.
There is also a new leather-free interior option, pairing Artico man-made leather with a high-grade Mirville textile made from linen and recycled polyester. It is a smart addition, because modern luxury should prove that pleasure and responsibility are not sworn enemies.
For those who prefer their Maybach more traditional, there remains a near-intimidating degree of personalisation. Through Manufaktur and the new Made to Measure programme, customers can choose from a vast world of paint colours, interior shades, stitching, embroidery and finishes. Buying one off the peg would almost seem rude.
The S 580 e speaks to the owner who wants electric calm in town and long-distance ability beyond it. The S 580 offers understated V8 authority. The S 680 remains the big statement.
Still, whichever version you choose, the conclusion is the same. The new Maybach S-Class is imposing from the driver’s seat, but it is unforgettable from the back. It turns travel into a pause button for real life. And frankly, one gets used to it far too quickly.
Author: Julia Pasarón
Lead image: Mercedes Maybach S 680 in Emerald green / Mojave silver featuring Maybach Exclusive Nappa Leather Macchiato beige / Bronze brown pearl. Combined energy consumption: 11.7-11.0 l/100 km | combined CO₂ emissions: 267-251 g/km | CO₂ class: G.
Julia’s photograph by Michel Ginsberg.
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