The new-generation Mercedes S-Class made its world debut on May 15th, in Hamburg, Germany and it comes with lots of good news. Along with the new S-Class, Mercedes is using this new sedan to revive the old Maybach brand. The new model and sub-brand, now known as the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class, promises to be one of the most luxurious machines ever created.

The new Mercedes-Maybach S-Class sees a size increase of 8-inches in both overall length and wheelbase. This adds more interior space for the discerning passenger who demands nothing but the greatest in luxury. There is a range of models that scales from the S500 to the S600, with engine choices that include eight or twelve cylinders.

Mercedes officially unveiled the new car in both the USA and China nearly simultaneously at both the Los Angeles Auto Show->ke211 here in the states and at Guangzhou in China.

Updated 01/16/2015: Mercedes announced that the all-new Maybach S600 will be put on sale in April 2015 at a starting price of $189,350, excluding $925 destination/delivery charge.

Updated 01/23/2015: We've added a series of new images from the car's official debut at the 2015 Detroit Auto Show. Check the new images in the "Pictures" tab.

Click past the jump to read more about the future Mercedes-Maybach S600.

2016 Mercedes-Maybach S-Class

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2016 Mercedes-Maybach S-Class
  • Engine/Motor: V12
  • Horsepower: 530 @ 4900
  • Torque: 612 @ 1900
  • Transmission: 7G-TRONIC PLUS automatic
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

Update History

Updated 12/23/2013: The upcoming Mercedes S-Class Pullman was caught testing again, and we have the TopSpeed Exclusive spy shots after the jump.

Updated 12/18/2014: Mercedes announced the European prices for the new Mercedes-Maybach S-Class and as expected, it isn't cheap at all. The S500 version is priced at €134,053.50 (about $165,000 as of 12/18/2014) and the S600 at €187,841.50 (about $231,000).

Spy shots

March, 15 2013: First Sighting

When we first saw the Mercedes-Maybach S600, it was in this hacked-up condition, which looks like Mercedes said "Hm, let's try this out and see how it works." Then engineers took a saw to the body and haphazardly welded a spacer in the middle. Yeah, it was that bad.

July, 19 2013: The S-Class Pullman Nearing Production

In the second spy shots, we saw a much cleaner-looking Mercedes-Maybach S600, as its body was smooth and ripple-free. This proved that the limousine was indeed on the docket; why else would Mercedes waste its time refining the prototype, if it had no production intentions?

December, 23 2013: Exclusive Spy Shots in Public

In these shots, we see the Mercedes-Maybach S600 on public roads in near-production garb, which can only mean that it is getting closer to making its world debut. The new sedan replaces the old Maybach models, so we expect it to look just like an S-Class with a few extra inches added to its length. These exclusive spy shots show, the extended rear-quarter window is but off in an attempt to hide that this is the Maybach model.

On the side there is a modified C-Pillar and an extended rear door for easy access.

Exterior

From the exterior the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class could be mistaken for any traditional big Merc. Aside from the size stretch and the new Maybach badges, Mercedes has included a few subtle changes to separate this from the normal S-Class. The rear door has actually been shortened in comparison to the long-wheelbase S-Class, and this has caused the rear quarter window to become body mounted, rather than door mounted. Mercedes says this causes the doors to meld seamlessly into the body. As an added bonus, this puts the seats slightly behind the door cutout, making the cabin feel like there is a bit more privacy. The Maybach logo sits prominently on that pillar to remind you of what level of luxury you are about to enjoy every time you slide into the cabin.

Other traditional S-Class staples like the new nose, sharp headlamps and the same shape and proportional slope of the roof remain. To add a touch more class to the outside the window surrounds and B-pillars are coated in chrome and there is an exclusive set of 20-inch alloys tucked into the fenders.

Exterior Dimensions

Length

5,453 MM (214.7 In.)

Wheelbase

3,365 MM (132.5 In.)


Interior

Let’s get to the real meat of this machine, the cabin. The entire reason you purchase anything with a Maybach badge is to be driven. Once you slide inside those new smaller doors and sink behind the C-pillar, you will start to notice all the new features and subtle details.

Slide into the soft sculpted bucket seats that are covered in perforated leather and let your head sink into the over-padded headrests and relax. You are surrounded by massive amounts of leather, wood, metal, and most importantly, space. That eight-inch wheelbase stretch is found exclusively in the back seats. If you are in the passenger-side rear seat, you can use a chauffeur mode to move the front seat away from you, and there is a footrest that extends rewards so that you can recline and perhaps take a nap. The rear seats are both heated and cooled, and of course there is a massage function available.

If you like to get work done while on the go, there is a set of tables that extend out from the center console that will fold to either side to provide a stable work surface. These tables are made of high-quality alloys to reduce their weight, while enhancing their look and feel. Each of these tables also features a leather insert on the top to make for a comfortable place to write or rest your hands. If those hands get sweaty, you can just adjust the four-zone climate control to suit your needs.

The front seats get some upgrades too. The front passenger has more legroom for starters, but the driver gets a few bonus goodies. The front armrest is wrapped in nicer Nappa leather, exclusive wood and chrome trim adorns the doors and the dash and fiber-optic cables in the cabin are used to create ambient light. When you need to speak to your rear passengers a special voice amplification system makes sure they can here you, and when they just want to relax and enjoy music a Burmester 3D surround audio system.

Perhaps the single most impressive feature of the cabin is its silence. Mercedes claims that thanks to a combination of new door seals, extra insulation and laminated glass, the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class is the quietest production sedan in the entire world.

Drivetrain

The Maybach version of the S-Class currently is slated to arrive in two distinct model levels, the S500 and the S600. The S500 -- currently not slated for U.S. consumption -- is the lower of the two models and it comes standard with a twin-turbocharged V-8 that rings in at 4.7 liters and produces 455 horsepower. The transmission for this engine is the new 9G-Tronic, nine-speed automatic. This is the first nine-speed in the world for the premium segment.

If you need more power and less gears, the S600 is more your preference. With a mighty V-12 strapped with a pair of turbos, the 6.0-liter engine is capable of producing 530 horsepower. This engine comes mated to the latest version of Mercedes’ seven-speed 7G-Tronic Plus automatic. Oddly enough, the S600 and S500 both hit 62 mph in five seconds, despite their power differences.

Drivetrain Specifications

Mercedes-Maybach

S 500

S 600

Number of cylinders/arrangement

8/V

12/V

Displacement (cc)

4663

5980

Rated output

455 HP @ 5,250-5,500 RPM

530 HP @ 4,900-5,300 RPM

Rated torque

516 LB-FT @ 1,800-3,500 RPM

612 LB-FT @ 1,900-4,000 RPM

Combined fuel consumption from (l/100 km)

8.9 S

11.7 SP

Combined CO2 emissions from (g/km)

207

274

Acceleration 0-62 mph (s)

5.0

5.0

Top speed

250 km/h (155 mph)

250 km/h (155 mph)


Prices

The Maybach-badged S600 will start at $189,350 here in the U.S. There will certainly be plenty of optional equipment and bespoke options that will help push the total price to nearly $300k.

U.S. Prices

Mercedes-Maybach S600

$189,350


European Prices

Model

Price

Mercedes-Maybach S500

€134,053.50

Mercedes-Maybach S600

€187,841.50


Competitors

Bentley Flying Spur

Once launched, the Mercedes-Maybach S600 will go where no S-Class has dared yet and compete against the Bentley Flying Spur, a vehicle usually challenged by the Rolls-Royce Ghost. Slightly refreshed for the 2014 model year, the Flying Spur received a revised front end and a pair of brand-new taillights on the rear, along with no less than 600 new interior parts. The limousine can be ordered in both four- and five-seat configurations, with the redesigned seats trimmed in premium-quality leather offered in 12 different colors.

Powering the Bentley Flying Spur is a turbocharged, 6.0-liter, W-12 mill that sends 616 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque to the wheels. The flagship needs only 4.3 seconds to sprint from 0 to 60 mph, a spectacular benchmark for a vehicle this size. Pricing for the 2014 Flying Spur begins at $205,825, but the vehicle’s extensive options list can take the sticker well into $220,000 territory.

Rolls-Royce Ghost

The Ghost received its first facelift for the 2015 model year, five years after making its official debut. The refresh brought minor exterior changes, such as reshaped LED headlamps, revised bumpers and enlarged air intakes up front. Inside, the redesigned front and rear seats, and new veneers and chrome inserts round off the update that goes by the name Series II.

Under the hood, the new Ghost carries the same twin-turbo, 6.6-liter, V-12 engine as its predecessor. Output remains unchanged at 562 horsepower and 575 pound-feet of torque, but that's not to say this luxury sedan is slow. The 0-to-60-mph sprint is achieved in only 4.7 seconds with help from an eight-speed, ZF automatic transmission, while top speed is electronically limited at 155 mph. To park a 2015 Ghost Series II in your driveway you'll need to fork out around $270,000 before options.

BMW 9 Series

While BMW has yet to officially confirm it, its Vision Future Luxury concept suggests Munich is planning to launch a brand-new flagship model alongside the next-generation 7 Series. Reportedly dubbed the 9 Series, the new limousine will likely slot right below the Rolls-Royce Ghost -- the British mark is owned by BMW -- and compete against Mercedes' upcoming, Maybach-branded luxo-barge.

Very little is known about the 9 Series as of November 2014, but we expect it to feature BMW's revised design language with few details to set it apart from the 7 Series. Naturally, the 9 Series will sport an elongated wheelbase and longer rear doors for easy access. Power will be provided by either a twin-turbo V-8 or a massive V-12.

Conclusion

The Maybach name died an inglorious death after years of half-hearted attempts to turn a Mercedes into a ultra-luxury car. Now Mercedes is back, but it's finally embracing the idea that an S-Class can be luxurious enough to wear the Maybach badge with this new sub-branding exercise. With the new Mercedes-Maybach S-Class buyers who would traditionally look to Bentley or Rolls Royce finally have a new car on the market that actually fits their preferences. It is filled with all the wood, leather, and metal you could ask for, has some of the best passenger-oriented luxury and technology features, and it all comes wrapped in a subtle Mercedes wrapper. This looks like it’s the real deal. The Maybach badge is once again relevant.