The new Mercedes-Benz S-Class really raises the bar for full-size luxury sedans. So where are you going from there? Get into the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class, which, alongside Hifalutin four-doors such as the Bentley Flying Spur and the Rolls-Royce Ghost, competes in a stratospheric segment. The 2021 Mercedes-Maybach S580 will celebrate its debut on Wednesday and will take up the standard S-Class. That makes a really grandiose S-Class and surpasses Bentley and Rolls-Royce in many ways.
I got the chance to test out the new Mercedes-Maybach S-Class in Malibu, California earlier this month and man, this thing is seriously present. I love it or I hate it, the two-tone gold-over-maroon paintwork makes a statement straight away, as does the 20-inch chrome flushing wheels from Maybach, which, thank goodness, are standard. A range of two-tone and one-tone paint options are available. You can also choose 19 "or 21" wheels if you are into that sort of thing, but I care about the car exactly as it is specified. 'd here. Other oligarchs may disagree, but whatever. That belongs to me.
2021 The Mercedes-Maybach S-Class raises the bar for luxury sedans
Compared to a standard S-Class, the Maybach is 7 inches longer. The Maybach-specific front-end treatment includes a 27-louvre radiator grille and polished trim around the lower ventilation slots. The long bonnet has a chrome strip in the middle, which I will admit looks a bit strange and daring at first, but actually has a distinct arch that you can see in the car and on second glance is great. The C-pillars have Maybach logos and of course light up. On the back there is a continuous chrome strip that covers the taillights and is separated by a two-tone paintwork.
The LED headlights and complicated taillights take over the standard S-Class, as do the flush-mounted electronic door handles, which pop out automatically when you approach. Speaking of which, there is a way to electronically open the rear doors using just the key fob as only plebes grab their own handles. These powered doors are also operated via a switch in the car and are much more intuitive to use than the so-called "effortless doors" of the Rolls-Royce Ghost. (What a world.)
As nice as it is, you don't buy the Maybach for its exterior. No, you get big because the Maybach gets big and offers a level of luxury and sophistication that goes far beyond that, even by S-Class standards. Compared to the basic Mercedes-Benz S-Class, the Maybach S580 has a unique leather roof lining, open-pored wood with pinstripes throughout the cabin (including between and behind the rear seats), new nappa leather colors and some rose gold accents to match your new iPhone. The metal pedals have Maybach logos and there is a Maybach-specific fragrance for the S-Class air freshener. There are a number of other nice touches, like tiny screens for the rear side windows that are automatically triggered with the main parasols, not to mention a whole bunch of extra ambient lighting, including the light strips built into the headliner and front seat backs.
There's no bad seat in the house, though I'm definitely in the back - assuming you specify the Executive Rear Seat Plus package, which for some strange reason isn't standard. In this way you get the two single seats with a fixed console in between and matching plush cushions. The seats themselves can recline and have leg and foot rests, and there are full body massage programs as well as heating and cooling. Between the seats is the console with folding tables, temperature-controlled cup holders, two USB ports, two HDMI ports and a charger for mobile phones. Of course, you can also order a refrigerator to keep your champagne cold, and what better way to sip this sparkling water than from Maybach-specific silver flutes that come with specially designed holders that snap the glasses into place. (Don't take an amateur lesson and spill your Veuve.)
If you don't opt for the mega-chic rear seat setup, you get a three-transverse bench with a large, fold-down console, just like the normal S-Class. Regardless of the seating arrangement, however, every Maybach is delivered with the new Mercedes Passenger airbagA large, almost tent-like airbag is released from the front seat backrests and protects the rear passengers in the event of an accident.
Every Maybach S580 has the MBUX entertainment system for the rear seats with two screens on the front seats and an additional, removable tablet in the center console - just like in the regular S-Class. The drivers can stay connected with the standard WLAN on board and use the integrated MBUX software to send radio stations or navigation instructions to the 12.8-inch OLED main display, for example.
All the Fantastic new technology in the 2021 S-Class The Maybach is standard, including the Burmester 4D surround sound system, the next generation MBUX interface, the augmented reality head-up display and the reconfigurable 3D instrument cluster. The best safety technology is also available, including adaptive cruise control with route-based speed adjustment, active steering assistant, lane change assistant, automatic emergency braking with cross traffic assistant, blind spot monitoring, lane departure warning, Car-to-X communication software, parking assistant and Mercedes Pre-Safe Impulse Side technology, which automatically moves you away from the doors in the event of a collision. Of course that's not all. If it is standard in the S-Class, it is standard in the Maybach.
The current Mercedes-Maybach S-Class is available with V8 or V12 power, but the 2021 model starts with just one engine. The Maybach S580 is powered by Mercedes' excellent 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 with EQ Boost mild hybrid technology. The V8 alone puts out 496 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque, but the 48-volt EQ boost starter-generator can add 21 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of extra oomph if needed. The mild hybrid system also smooths the operation of the stop-start system and can shut down the engine while coasting for better efficiency (this is often referred to as "coasting"). This power is transmitted via a nine-speed automatic transmission and 4Matic all-wheel drive is standard.
If you're stunned by the lack of a V12, don't. This V8 engine is great and has more than enough power for this big luxury barge. Keep this in mind: Bentley offers the Flying Spur with 8- and 12-cylinder options, and the V8 is the way to go. I am sure the Maybach S-Class will be a similar story. And if you just need to have a V12 to brag about rights, don't worry, I've been told one is on the way.
The adaptive air suspension Airmatic from Mercedes is standard. Depending on which wheels you get, the Maybach S-Class has a rear axle steering of 4.5 or 10 degrees. There's also a new Maybach driving mode that makes driving even better than the default comfort setting and disables the stop-start system so passengers don't have to worry about shuddering a bit. Serenity now!
I'm sure I'm missing a lot of things, but that's because the list of functions is way too long to list. The Maybach S-Class is not only just as comfortable and well-equipped as its main competitors Bentley Flying Spur and Rolls-Royce Ghost, it also has better onboard technology and much more standard safety equipment. No, it doesn't have a flying B in its nose or the cool Starlight headliner of the Ghost. The Maybach should also be cheaper than these competitors and at the same time offer a lot more kit and Caboodle.
How expensive exactly? That remains to be seen. The current Mercedes-Maybach S-Class starts off around $ 175,000 with the V8, but I would expect this to drop closer to $ 200,000 considering how much more stuff you get out of the box. The 2021 S-Class will arrive in the US early next year, and this Maybach version should follow a few months later. Get ready for the good life.
