Mercedes-Maybach S-Class. More than the S-Class
The Mercedes-Maybach S-Class is a luxury executive car, serially produced by Mercedes-Maybach since 2014. It comes as a limousine, a long sedan and a cabriolet. You can currently purchase the 2021 second generation Mercedes-Maybach S-Class.
The Mercedes S-Class is one of the best executive cars for the last 25 years. Despite the high cost, it is very popular not only among wealthy entrepreneurs, but also within many government agencies that use it as an official car. The Mercedes-Maybach is the quintessence of all the S-Class Mercedes models, combining exclusive luxury, maximum comfort and the latest technology. It fills a niche between the ‘regular’ Mercedes S-Class and such more expensive executive cars as Bentley and Rolls-Royce. The Maybach cars are targeted at Asia (up to 60% of sales), Russia (16%) and America (10%), the Middle East (5%), Europe (2%) and Germany itself (1%).
The success of the Maybach models is built on the brand’s unique aesthetics. Mercedes-Maybach stands for “Ultimate Luxury”. The style of the brand is embodied in exquisite beauty, the highest degree of elegance and forward-looking improvements.
Brief background
In 1900, Wilhelm Maybach, Technical Director of Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft, and his associate Gottlieb Daimler developed the first Mercedes. With its offset center of gravity, powerful engine and innovative radiator, the Mercedes 35 HP, known as the Simplex, is considered the progenitor of all modern passenger cars. When the new model was unveiled at Race Week in Nice in the spring of 1901, Wilhelm Maybach was named the ‘Roi des Constructeurs’.
His son, Karl Maybach, was also a talented designer. In 1921, he designed his first car based on a Mercedes chassis. His inventions and dedication to technical excellence are at the heart of the Maybach brand. In 1960, Maybach-Motorenbau GmbH was acquired by Daimler. In 2014, Mercedes-Maybach was transformed into a Mercedes-Benz sub-brand.
Maybach cars have always been considered the pinnacle of automotive engineering. The Maybach name stands for power, luxury and exclusivity.
The Maybach concept was presented at Tokyo Motor Show in 1997. At the presentation, journalists experienced true luxury, as the company provided them with a yacht trip, a business jet flight and specially-made shirts. The production Maybach was released in 2002. The Mercedes-Maybach was supposed to be a new range of Mercedes cars based on the S600, but, unfortunately, it did not happen. After all, it looked like a typical Mercedes S-Class model. In 2005, a new S-Class (W221) model was released, so the Maybach, built on the W200 and W140 series, was instantly outdated. At the beginning, it was ahead of the Rolls-Flight Phantom in terms of sales, but in 2006, it lost to it by half. As a result, only 3,200 Maybach models were sold in ten years. The company lost about 300 thousand euros on each Maybach car. Therefore, their release was discontinued. On December 17, 2012, the last model was released under the Maybach brand.
But, in 2014, the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class was brought back to life. After becoming part of Daimler AG (Germany), Maybach released a new luxury Mercedes-Maybach S500 based on the platform of the 222 Series S-Class. Later, the manufacturer presented cabriolet and Pullman limousine modifications. And in 2016, the company demonstrated the conceptual luxury electric car Mercedes-Maybach Vision 6. Since entering the market in 2015, more than 45,000 Mercedes-Maybach S-Class cars have been sold. In 2018, more of them were sold than ever before: each of the seven S-Class models sold was a Maybach.
The Magnificent Maybach
Let’s figure out how an ordinary Mercedes S-Class differs from a Maybach. We see two “six-hundredth” of 2015. Let’s try to compare them. Look at the edges of the rear doors: with the window in the C-pillar, a 207 mm longer Maybach X222 looks more impressive than its long-wheelbase W222 source model (more precisely, the long-wheelbase V222). The difference in the distance between the axes is 200 mm. The Mercedes-Maybach is 188 mm longer than the long Audi A8 and 234 mm longer than the BMW 7 Series. The entry-level Rolls-Royce Ghost is 54 mm shorter, although the longer version is still 116 mm longer. Visually, the Maybach differs from the S-Class by the original radiator grille, a longer wheelbase, large wheels and chrome elements that are designed to emphasize the elegance and uniqueness of Maybach cars. Maybach models, like other Mercedes cars, are equipped with MOExtended tires (Mercedes-Benz Original Extended), which are not entirely correct to call ‘Run Flat’, despite the reinforced sidewall. They are softer and, in the event of a puncture, allow a loaded car to travel at a speed of up to 80 km/h not 80 km, as prescribed for a run-flat technology by the ISO standard, but only 30.
The combination of the latest technology and exceptional luxury is the formula for the success of the Maybach brand.
The Mercedes-Maybach is distinguished by exclusive contrasting interior finishes: a symbiosis of light colors with black elements symbolizes an atmosphere of luxury. The highest precision of workmanship and love for detail are demonstrated by graphic elements based on the brand logo. However, the sills, the center and rim of the steering wheel feature ‘Mercedes-Benz’ inscription, and only the cover of the mini-glove compartment on the central tunnel is decorated with the ‘Maybach’ inscription. At the same time, the car can offer excellent acoustics: the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class is equipped with a high-quality Burmester surround sound system (27 high-performance speakers and 24 individual amplifiers provide a total power of 1,590 watts). As a visual highlight, the tweeters in the rear doors are tilted slightly towards the passengers, which looks particularly good.
There is a pair of microphones above the interior mirror: the driver’s speech is transmitted through the speakers. The glove compartment contains the air fragrance unit. There are usually four scents to choose from, but Mercedes-Maybach offers its own signature perfume: delicate floral notes and spicy tea mixed with natural greenery (whatever that means). There are also optional folding “airplane” tables (they can also be ordered for a regular long-wheelbase S-Class model), a refrigerator between the rear seats and Robbe&Berking silver wine glasses. But a panoramic roof with a sliding front window and heavy curtains are standard. For a surcharge, the “six hundredth” Maybach can have a panoramic roof with a glass dimming function activated at the touch of a button. The central tunnel houses the Comand system control plate and the chassis control buttons. The “six hundredth” has an exclusively hydro-spring suspension.
The seats are the same as those of the original S-Class: they tilt up to 43.5 degrees and have a massage function, 3-stage heating and ventilation that can be turned on at the same time. But the interior is much roomier. Even in the normal seating position, there is twice as much knee space as in the long S-Class, and another 12 mm overhead. Roominess is of paramount importance for Maybach. The models come standard with thr Chauffeur package. This means that the front passenger seat can be pushed forward 77 mm further than usual using the button on the tailgate. But its headrest covers the right mirror, as warned by the inscription on the dashboard. Removing the headrest is very easy.
The Mercedes-Maybach S-Class is distinguished by a long wheelbase, large wheels, an original grille and chrome elements, roomy interior, excellent acoustics, a special aroma and a very quiet passenger compartment.
What else? A very quiet passenger compartment. Excellent insulation! The Mercedes-Maybach is even quieter than the usual ‘six hundredth’, which is so quiet. But there you can still hear the tires. The noise reduction is felt mainly in the rear seats, around which additional insulation has been laid from floor to ceiling. Moreover, the doors have their own double seals along the B-pillars. Plus, the Maybach models also have specially designed Goodyear Eagle F1 tires with anti-noise foam inside.
What’s under the hood?
Mercedes-Maybach bases its models on Mercedes-Benz automotive platforms. At the same time, the Maybach can be not only ‘six hundredth’, but also ‘five hundredth’ and even ‘four hundredth’ (in the Chinese market). The models come with the same 6.0-liter V12 engines with 530 hp and a 7-speed 7G-Tronic Plus automatic transmission.
As compared with the regular S-Class, the Maybach’s modifications narrowed down to strengthening the body and changing the settings for the MBC hydro-spring suspension (basic equipment of the S 600 and an option for the S 500) to compensate for the longer wheelbase. As a result, the Mercedes-Maybach S 600 is 150-200 kg heavier, which affects the dynamics: acceleration to the first 100 km/h occurs in 5 seconds (4.6 seconds for the long wheelbase S 600). Moreover, the Mercedes-Maybach S 500 develops 100 km/h in the same 5 seconds.
At the same time, unlike the Maybach S 500, the ‘six hundredth’ Maybach of the first generation could not be all-wheel drive, as the front transmission components simply did not fit under the V12 engine. The air suspension, standard for the Mercedes S 500, is also unavailable. The models come with the MBC chassis.
New 2021 Mercedes-Maybach S-Class
The list of its equipment includes Exclusive nappa leather, Digital Light headlights with 1.3 million controlled micromirrors in each, electric rear luxury doors, electric panoramic roof, and two-row seat ventilation. The configuration package includes 20-inch forged Maybach wheels, active multicontour seats, head-up display with augmented reality, 3D dashboard and touchpad on the second row, folding tables, MBUX High-End multimedia system for the second-row seats and TV tuner, Magic Vision Control wipers (with built-in nozzles and heating).
Moreover, the all-wheel drive Mercedes-Maybach S 680 4Matic with a 6.0-liter twin-turbocharged V12 engine has appeared for the first time. For Europe, the maximum output reaches 612 hp, while 630 hp are offered for America. The models now feature 9-speed automatic transmissions (instead of 7-speed ones). Such a Maybach accelerates in 4.5 seconds (0.2 seconds faster than the 630-horsepower rear-wheel drive S 650 of the previous generation). The 680 versions offer a two-tone body paint, a steering rear axle, a refrigerator, a combination of leather and wood on the steering wheel, a Burmester High-End 4D sound system, a High-End interior package, Designo leather and Designo decor on the backrests of the front seats.
Summary
Everyone is used to the Maybach being very expensive. Now, looking at a well-equipped S 500 or S 600, it’s hard not to notice them. Moreover, from the point of view of the rear passenger, this is by far the best S-Class for today, the roomiest and quietest.
