You can never be too rich, it’s been said, nor drive something ever more plush. So it seems, anyway, based upon the continuing upgrades to the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class. Following up on the mid-cycle refresh of the “mainstream” S-Class, the German automaker takes things to new extremes with its flagship sedan – posing a challenge to the likes of Bentley and Rolls-Royce. More from Headlight.News.
For a brief moment earlier in this new millennium, what was then DaimlerChrysler attempted to join an exclusive group of the world’s most exotic luxury brands by reviving the long-forgotten Maybach. The experiment failed – but while the standalone brand was pulled from the market in 2013 it quickly returned as the most exclusive option for the iconic S-Class.
Now, just months after the plebian versions of that big sedan get a mid-cycle refresh, the Mercedes-Maybach is itself getting a once-over. And it moves ever closer to the marques it once hoped to directly compete with: Bentley and Rolls-Royce.
“For 105 years, the Maybach name has stood as the benchmark for automotive excellence,” said Mercedes -Benz Group Chairman Ola Kallenius. “With the launch of the new Mercedes-Maybach S-Class, this legacy continues with new levels of exclusivity and comfort.”
What’s new
Mercedes is in the midst of what Kallenius described as “the biggest product launch program in our history.” A full array of new and updated models, from entry-luxury to exotics, such as the new GT3, will be coming to market in 2026. In the case of the Maybach, the automaker describes the latest changes as the “most extensive update in (the) history of the Maybach S-Class, elevating luxury to an even greater level of exclusivity.”
As we’ve come to expect, the 2027 Mercedes-Maybach will be offered with V-12 power – though there will be two versions of the top-line S680, with a 621-hp 12-banger for the U.S. and “select other markets.” In most regions, however, it will feature a 604-hp V-8. The S580 will also go V-8, here making a more modest 530 hp.
The big upgrades can be found in the cabin where there’ll be an increased emphasis on technology, starting with three digital displays spanning nearly four feet of the instrument panel. Additional displays will be featured in the rear, a must considering many Maybach customers rely on chauffeurs. Add automatically opening doors and, of course, champagne flutes for those VIP rear passengers.
Revised design
The 2027 Maybach S-Class adopts a bolder appearance. Among the revised exterior design details:
- The Maybach name in the grille is now illuminated;
- That grille itself is about 20% larger than before;
- Wheels of up to 21 inches are now available, depending upon the trim and package;
- In a direct nod to Rolls, the Mercedes tri-star logo remains fixed upright in the center of those wheels, even at Autobahn speeds.
A sizable share of Maybach customers opt for bespoke packages and they’ll have more options this coming year, with a variety of paint colors, including the new Black Sparking and Verde Silver Magno. All told, there will be 150 separate paint options available.
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Technology
Inside, however, customers will be able to select from a palette of 400 colors, including new two-tone options. There’s a new ambient lighting package using 199 LEDs that can display 99 different hues. On a more basic front, the controversial center vents are gone and the IP’s digital displays – a 12.3-inch gauge cluster, a 14.4-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch passenger display – have a new, horizontal layout. Add a pair of 13.1-inch screens in the rear.
The 2027 update marks the first time the automaker’s smart infotainment technology, MB.OS, is available in a Maybach and powers the updated MBUX voice assistant. Not content to use just one AI system, Mercedes allows Maybach passengers to plug into ChatGPT 4, as well as Microsoft Bing Search and Google Gemini.
An Airmatic air suspension system, meanwhile, uses forward-sensing technology to predict the upcoming road surface and adjust the ride accordingly.
Outside the digital realm, there are massively multi-functioning power seats, with business jet-style capabilities in the rear. There’s also a rear fridge where one can chill the bubbly occupants will pour into their optional silver-plated Robbe & Berking champagne flutes.
Powertrain
Maybach buyers will have a wide range of drivetrain options, incuding:
- The Maybach S680 will offer a 0-liter turbocharged V-12 for the U.S. and other “select” markets making 621 hp and 664 lb-ft of torque. Mercedes claims it can propel the massive sedan from 0-60 in 4.3 seconds;
- For other markets, the S680 will get the smaller M177 Evo V-8. It will produce a bit lower 604 hp but is claimed to deliver identical launch times;
- In the S580 a version of the 4.0-liter Evo engine will be downrated at 530 hp and 553 lb-ft;
- A handful of markets will have access to a plug-in hybrid package pairing an inline-six with a single electric motor. This package will deliver 577 hp – up 74 hp from the prior PHEV package – and, using a 21.96 kWh battery pack, deliver up to 61 miles range in all-electric mode.
Pricing and availability
Look for Mercedes to begin taking orders in Europe this month. As is commonplace with the automaker, deliveries will begin on the Continent this spring and are expected to start in the U.S. sometime during the second half of 2026.
As for pricing, we’ll have to wait closer to the Maybach’s arrival before numbers are released. Currently, the line-up starts at $207,150 for the S580 in the States, with the S680 jumping to $244,400.
The Bentley Flying Spur, by comparison, starts around $254,000 for the V-8, the Hybrid starts at $190,200. As for Rolls-Royce, the Ghost comes in at a “base” $370,000.
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