THREE YEARS AFTER MERCEDES ELECTED TO PULL THE ULTRA-LUXURY MAYBACH FROM THE MARKET, THE BRAND RETURNS AS AN ANCILLARY AND EXHILARATING ADDITION TO THE S CLASS LINE

BY MATT SCANLON

In 2002, when Mercedes-Benz rolled out its Maybach 57 and 62 ultra-luxury sedan lines, there was every reason to believe that a willing market awaited for the $360,000-andup pocket limos, given the recession recovery sensibilities of the post-2002 stock market. Described in song and story, the models had ample publicity wind at their backs—including a sleeve of celebrity owners that in time included Rihanna, Madonna, and Kanye West—but a broad market simply never materialized, and only 3,000 cars were sold before Mercedes parent company Daimler AG announced in late 2011 that the brand would cease production two years later.

Well, yes and no. Perhaps after briefly examining the generally happy state of affairs for North American ultra-high income brackets, in 2014, the Stuttgart based maker elected to revive the name as an ancillary brand of the Mercedes S Class–one with an extended wheelbase, expanded legroom, and a variety of other finishing touches. Still squarely aimed at the Bentley and Rolls-Royce marques, but at a substantial discount over previous prices (entry fees now start at $190,000), the Mercedes Maybach S600 debuted on showroom floors in April, and seems for all the world like essentially the same explosion of excess that existed prior. We are, frankly, deviled in finding what exactly was sacrificed during the price reduction process.

Motivation comes courtesy of a 523hp, 6-liter twin-turbo V-12 (0 to 60 in five seconds flat), which one might reasonably expect to generate a significant amount of rumble, but Mercedes actually declares the Maybach to be in fact “the world’s quietest car.” (That placid sensibility ends, however, when one fires up the signature Burmester audio system.) There are, of course, too many luxury touches to detail here, but highlights include hand-stitched Nappa leather on just about every surface (including headliner and seat consoles)—offset by a variety of wood trim options—ambient lighting in the rear cabin, an air filtration system that infuses the interior with a proprietary Maybach scent, and a rear seat refrigerator…complete with silver plated champagne flutes.

Contemporary Motor Cars, Inc.
100 Oceanport Avenue, Little Silver / 732.842.5353
mercedesoflittlesilver.com