Maybach S 680 is driven by a V12 biturbo engine with almost enough power to tame a Viper Jet. And yet, no one talks about its power or seems to have heard it even! This quiet luxury is at the heart of the Maybach experience. Sit back and enjoy the ride.
M for meticulous
Maybach S 680 stimulates your noblest aesthetics with its slightest detail – the endlessly merging pattern created as the forged alloy wheels turn; the multiple M on the C-pillar (the second M stands for Mercedes, the current owners of the super luxury German brand created by Wilhelm and Karl Maybach in 1909), or the projection of Maybach logos forming a honeycomb in the puddle lamps and elsewhere; the impeccable blend of two-tone paint; or the graceful 5.48 m silhouette that brings to mind the lines of a luxury yacht.
Above and beyond the S-class
The press release from Mercedes had a page that dwelt on the difference between the Mercedes-Maybach S 680 and the regular S-class. Who else could permit you to commit the blasphemy of calling an S-class ‘regular’? That is the level of exclusivity of brand Maybach.
For first-class luxury, the Maybach S 680 has an extra-long wheelbase entirely dedicated to rear legroom – 18 cm longer than a long wheelbase S-class – and bespoke appointments like reclining executive seats, a built-in champagne cooler and hand-stitched leather. It also comes with the option of new, sustainable materials.
With regard to power and performance, while the S-class powerhouse is usually an inline-6 (S 500) or a V8 (S 580), the V12 biturbo churning out 621 hp and 900 Nm of torque is reserved for the Maybach S 680 – which can take this car from 0 to 100 in 4.5 seconds.
Spotlight is in the rear
There is something quite literal about this headline. Wherever the rear seat passengers’ hand reaches out, the cabin casts a light. If it is the seatbelt you are reaching for, the seatbelt extends itself to meet you half-way. Even if the driver reaches out for the glove box, a light guides the path.
The rear right seat is the power centre that is pampered the most. The passenger seat in front moves and folds away to make space for this seat to fully stretch and recline – almost like a first-class airline seat. Both rear seats have stimulating or relaxing massage settings. At arm’s length are cupholders that light up in red or blue, indicating your choice of heating or cooling, as well as a built-in refrigerator with handcrafted Robbe & Berking champagne flutes on the ready. Folding tables can be tucked away for lunch or laptop, whichever arrives first. In your comfortable recline, the rear doors may not be at arm’s length – but you only need to move a finger to open or close the ‘comfort doors’ with the press of a button. Why, the chauffeur can open or close the rear doors from the control screen in front – without having to get out.
Tech for the cabin
Maybach is not a Rolls-Royce in many ways – one is the way it adopts technology to create a cocoon of features that elevates both the drive and the ride. Besides a 14.4 inch OLED screen and driver info screen, the Maybach rear has a dedicated 12.3” screen fitted to each backrest. They offer the privilege of all-access cabin communication for the rear passengers.
The interactive MBUX is rather intuitive and comprehensive. Navigation can be a simple “Take me to the Louvre” because the Maybach does not accept written commands while on the move. The graphics are intricate and turn-by-turn guidance is made simpler by Augmented Reality that gives cues in real time. Opening (or closing) the sunroof is a simple slide of the finger on the roof console. By the way, voice command answers to “Hey Mercedes!”, not Hey Maybach – the Maybach purist could raise an eye brow to that.
Where comfort and tech meet, Mercedes’s favourite Burmeister streams 1750 W from 31 high performance speakers with space to tweak personalized experiences for the VIPs in the rear. There is something called 4D Sound – where you feel the bass on your body through the seat, creating a physical dimension of music! The ambient lights in purple or red are no less dramatic, against which the theatre of the whirling speakers on the A-pillars is set.
The camera offers 3D surround view and leaves no detail out. The surround visuals might appear out of proportion, but they are just there for the backdrop.
Driving in Maybach comfort
Maybach Comfort is a real option on the drive mode selector – defining a luxury that is further than the comfort mode or the sport. On this mode, the limousine chooses to roll out in second gear, skipping the jerk, jolt or power surge of the first gear in an ultimate show of extreme pampering. The magic ride dampers are nothing short of magic – potholes and bumps simply vanish as far as the Maybach passengers are concerned.
This is a long car but comes surprisingly close to maintaining German accuracy though there is an inevitable floating feeling in the way it casually handles curves! This is one of the few instances a 900 Nm output deserves to be described as ‘composed’ or ‘measured’. However, what is still surprising is the confidence with which the Mercedes Maybach S680 stays clear of pillars while spiralling up parking ramps!
Claimed fuel economy: About 5 km per litre in the city and 8 and a half on highways.
The essential Mercedes-Maybach S680
A million and a quarter (AED 1,271,000 to be exact) inclusive of 5% VAT – that is what you pay for exclusivity within the Mercedes range. The true value comes from three modern aspects that mark this timeless brand – stimulating and satisfying design; interactive cabin tech that is unusually meticulous for a carriage that focuses on ultra-luxury; and a powerful glide that seems to wipe away road imperfections. This is what makes the Maybach S680, more than a prize to acquire, a tribute to your journey as you move towards new milestones in Maybach splendour.
