Mercedes-Benz is paving its way to the Los Angeles and Guangzhou Auto Show in great style, as the German manufacturer released two teaser photos of its brand new extended wheelbase S-Class named Mercedes-Maybach, expected to make its official debut later this month.
The (even more) luxury-injected S-Class will act as a successor for the discontinued Maybach brand and will be sold under the Mercedes-Maybach S 600 moniker. In addition, the model is set to rival the likes of Rolls-Royce Ghost and Bentley Flying Spur.
Maybach is the fourth version of the new S-Class range after short and long wheelbase saloon and coupe. A Pullman version with 2+2+2 seats and a cabrio with four seats, two doors and textil roof will complete the range in the future.
Since the 2013 Mercedes-Benz S-Class recently became the best-selling S-Class ever, Mercedes-Benz thinks that this success is accompanied by a desire expressed by many customers for yet more individuality and exclusivity.
Mercedes‑Maybach is not an equipment line – it is a sub-brand that in future will deliver Mercedes-Benz vehicles in an even more exclusive form.
According to Mercedes-Benz officials, the Mercedes-Maybach S 600 will stand for a highly exclusive and individual version that will allow customers to stand out even further in this top segment.
Of course, discrete visual upgrades are expected, along with stretched rear doors and a modified grille which should cement the model’s position within the range.
However, most changes are expected to show-up on the inside. Mercedes-Benz didn’t say anything about the interior, but we should expect more legroom for the passegers located in the back, electronically-adjusting and reclining individual rear seats, as well as a richer level of customization and a wider palette of materials and trims.
As the S 600 badge suggests, the Mercedes-Maybach should be powered by a 6.0-liter V12 engine capable of delivering 530 hp and 830 Nm, although Mercedes-Benz didn’t mention anything about this yet. More details are bound to surface during the model’s official debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show.
Like the in case of the AMG versions which are more expensive than the normal version, Mercedes-Maybach S 600 will cost around €10,000-€15,000 more than the S 600 extra-long version. This means that we should expect a price level of around €165,000-€170,000 euro for S 600 Mercedes-Maybach.
Ola Källenius, executive vice-president of sales and marketing, said: “As with the AMG sub-brand, we have a pricing model on top of the standard S-class. I believe you will be surprised how much vehicle you will get for your money.”
However, the V12 bi-turbo engine will not be the only engine for the new S-Class Mercedes-Maybach. Two other versions will be available: S 500 powered by the twin-turbo V8 with 4.7 liter and 455 HP and S 400 4Matic powered by the twin-turbo V6 with 333 hp dedicated to the Chinese market. Surprisingly, a plug-in hybrid is not planned for now, but Kallenius does not exclude a such version in the future.
Source: Mercedes-Benz
