Remember Maybach? The ultra-luxury brand from 1920s Germany got a reboot by then-DaimlerChrysler in the 2000s, giving moneyed shoppers the Type 57 and Type 62 sedans and eventually the preposterously expensive Type 62 Landaulet. Sales topped out at just 244 cars in 2004, miniscule even for an ultra-luxury brand. The recession put the final nail in Maybach’s gold-plated coffin, and the brand had its swan-song year in 2012.
Well, the swan — or song — is back. Mercedes is bestowing the Maybach designation on a modified V-12 S-Class sedan, complete with extra trunk badging to signal the difference. The once-stratospheric pricing will come down to earth, if only a bit. Exterior The Mercedes-Maybach S600 looks like an S-Class, but it’s about 8 inches longer — and that’s versus an S-Class that’s already sold here in an extended-length version. Curiously, Maybach’s rebirth keeps it under Mercedes’ tutelage, complete with the three-pointed star on the hood, steering wheel and tail. “Maybach” appears on the trunk lid in all caps, while the sub-brand’s double-M logo goes on the C-pillar. Still, that’s a far cry from the 2000s-era Type 57 and 62, which had Mercedes roots but were unique vehicles. Interior The extra length goes to cabin space, and the Maybach designation means new cabin materials over those of the already-posh S-Class. Mercedes promises more space, unique seats and exclusive materials not seen in its standard-issue flagship.
Like other S-Class sedans, the Mercedes-Maybach S600 will have many available features including upholstery-stitched window pillars, power rear seats with extending ottomans and quilted leather along the seats, center armrest and footwells. Under the Hood The Mercedes-Maybach S600 carries the same running gear as its S-Class sibling: a twin-turbo 6.0-liter V-12 with 523 horsepower and 612 pounds-feet of torque. It drives the rear wheels through a seven-speed automatic transmission.
