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The New Maybach S-Class Keeps The V12 Engine, But Not Everywhere

The flagship Mercedes sedan gets an even bigger grille and illuminated emblems.

2027 Mercedes-Maybach S-Class

Photo by: Mercedes-Benz

Adrian Padeanu

By: Adrian Padeanu

Mar 24, at 9:00am ET

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THE BREAKDOWN

It features a 20% larger grille and self-leveling wheel center caps.
The V8 gets more power while the V12 is now restricted to certain markets, including the US.
The plug-in hybrid with an inline-six covers 61 miles in electric mode.

It’s been nearly two months since Mercedes updated the Benz S-Class, and now it’s giving the posh Maybach version a similar makeover. The Germans have managed to make their flagship even more opulent by adding extra double M logos. You’ll spot them on the front air intakes, while the emblem adorning the C-pillar is now illuminated. Even the three-pointed star hood ornament lights up.

Elsewhere, the grille is 20 percent larger and features an illuminated contour and a backlit Maybach wordmark. Projectors mounted in the side sills remind everyone this isn’t the regular Benz S-Class but its more expensive counterpart. As with the recently facelifted Benz models, a prominent three-pointed star motif appears in the headlights and taillights to drive the point home.

While you and I might call these changes flashy, Mercedes claims the new elements “project quiet authority, never ostentation.” The same goes for the self-leveling wheel center caps, and yes, the striking wheel design with numerous Maybach logos will continue with the facelifted model.

2027 Mercedes-Maybach S-Class exterior

2027 Mercedes-Maybach S-Class exterior

Photo by: Mercedes-Benz

One-percenters can order the luxobarge in one of the 150+ available colors, including two-tone finishes and a fresh Nautic Blue shade. Maybach is also adding new wheel designs, including a 20-inch set with a polished finish and a larger 21-inch set featuring gold accents.

Vehicles equipped with the Level 2-certified MB.Drive Assist Pro can be distinguished by the cameras built into the front fenders. Mercedes is rolling out this technology in China first, followed by the United States. European availability is possible, but it will only happen once regulatory conditions allow it.

2027 Mercedes-Maybach S-Class: Interior

2027 Mercedes-Maybach S-Class dashboard

2027 Mercedes-Maybach S-Class dashboard

Photos by: Mercedes-Benz

2027 Mercedes-Maybach S-Class rear seats

2027 Mercedes-Maybach S-Class rear seats

Photos by: Mercedes-Benz

The interior is where all the magic happens in an ultra-high-end sedan, and the 2027 Maybach S-Class is no exception. Customers can choose from more than 400 colors, including four new two-tone leather upholstery options that pair Carmine Red, Lake Green, Corn Yellow, and Tobacco Brown with Black.

As expected, the facelift aligns the Maybach version with its lesser Benz counterpart in terms of technology. The dashboard is dominated by a triple-screen layout featuring a 14.4-inch touchscreen, a 12.3-inch passenger display, and a 12.3-inch instrument cluster. In the back, dual 13.1-inch tablets come with remote controls to adjust not just the entertainment system but also comfort features like climate settings and electric sunshades.

From automatic rear doors and champagne flutes to ambient lighting with 199 LEDs and 64 selectable colors, the Maybach S-Class has everything but the kitchen sink. As before, the wheelbase is stretched further compared to the long-wheelbase Benz S-Class, so there’s plenty of legroom in the back. For an even more sumptuous ride, Mercedes claims to have added more sound insulation and a new air suspension with real-time adaptive damping.

2027 Mercedes-Maybach S-Class S680

Photo by: Mercedes-Benz

2027 Mercedes-Maybach S-Class: Engines

There’s good and bad news about the engines. The S680 is sticking around, but it will live a double life. The V12-powered luxury cocoon with 621 horsepower will continue in the United States and “select other markets.” However, the twin-turbo 6.0-liter "M279" unit is bowing out of regions with stricter emissions regulations.

In Europe and other markets, a different S680 will be offered with a smaller V8 engine "M177 Evo") producing 604 horsepower. It’s still an impressively strong output, and it actually matches the horsepower delivered by the V12 engine in the pre-facelift, twelve-cylinder S680 sold in Europe.

Lower down the range, the S580 gets more power than its predecessor, now offering 530 hp and 553 lb-ft from its "M177 Evo" engine. This is a turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 with a flat-plane crank and mild-hybrid tech. Not that acceleration times matter much in a vehicle like this, but the sprint to 60 mph takes an estimated 4.3 seconds before hitting an electronically capped 130 mph. Coincidentally, the V12-powered S680 has identical performance figures.

2027 Mercedes-Maybach S-Class

Source: Mercedes-Benz

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In some markets, Mercedes-Maybach will continue to sell the S-Class as a plug-in hybrid with an inline-six gasoline engine ("M256 Evo") working in conjunction with an electric motor. The S580e has a total system output of 577 horsepower, a healthy 74-hp increase over its predecessor. It comes with a 21.96-kWh battery pack, good for up to 61 miles (98 kilometers) of electric range in the WLTP cycle.

The Maybach S-Class facelift will arrive at U.S. dealers in the second half of the year. In the meantime, order books for Europe open on March 25.

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