2022 Mercedes-Maybach S-Class S 580 4MATIC Interior & Exterior
7The 2022 Mercedes-Maybach S-Class is the Swabian definition of pure, ultimate luxury. After the opulence and expense of the double-M badge’s first reinterpretation led to mediocre sales in 2002 and again in 2012, the last generation was a complete success, taking a more pragmatic and modern approach at a more attainable price. Based on the standard Mercedes-Benz S-Class, over 60,000 Maybach-badged sedans left the factory in 2015 and a good 80 percent of those went to China.
The new Maybach, based on the latest W223 S-Class, is set to once again show what Mercedes’ luxury brand can offer the top one percent. And it will do so along the final iteration of an iconic engine: Mercedes’ last twelve-cylinder engine. The twin-turbocharged 6.0-liter V12’s last hurrah will be to the tune of 612 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque in the S680. If you’re a philistine, there’s also an S580, with a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 with 503 hp and 516 lb-ft. The Chinese market’s horrendous luxury tax, meanwhile, will limit the People’s Republic to a six-cylinder Maybach S480
All-wheel drive is standard in all Maybachs. Customers can also choose from two rear-axle steering systems – one that swings the back wheels up to 4.5 degrees and another that offers up to 10 degrees. The familiar Airmatic air suspension with adaptive damping and Active Body Control should deliver the kind of comfort Maybach customers expect.
In case the standard settings for these systems don’t, though, there’s a dedicated Maybach Mode, which sets the dampers to their softest setting and forces the car to set off in second gear. You’re unlikely to spill your champagne when your chauffeur activates this setting. Oh, and speaking of champers, there’s a refrigerator in the rear and a pair of flutes to accommodate your favorite bottle of bubbly – we recommend Veuve Clicquot. You’ll enjoy the crisp brut while taking advantage of the additional legroom that comes with the Maybach-specific 3.4-meter (133.9-inch) wheelbase (19 centimeters, or 7.1 inches longer than a standard S-Class).
From the exterior, you’ll identify the Maybach by its longer rear doors, a polished aluminum B-pillar, a custom hood with a silver bar, and a huge grilled inspired by the 2016 Vision 6 Concept. Because this is 2021, the Maybach logo in the C-pillars lights up. As for V12-specific touches, there are chrome grilles in the front intake to the V8’s black finish, as well as dedicated 20- and 21-inch wheel options.
Let's start with the S580 (so there's still room for improvement). It doesn't seem to bother the Maybach at all that we get in at the front left instead of the rear right. Anyone familiar with the new S-Class will have no problems here, as at least in row one, the differences are almost non-existent. That’s good, because you can hardly build a cockpit much nicer or of higher quality.
As expected, the XXL-Benz cruises along smoothly and almost silently. The V8 responds to throttle commands elegantly but firmly. A gentle rumble reaches the ear. Potency is undoubtedly present, but that's all you're supposed to hear. Like the cabin, the driving experience itself is very similar to what we know from the new S-Class. And yes, that's excellent news.
The steering is smooth and very coherent. Roll behavior and suspension comfort are in a class of their own. Yes, of course it's soft in here. And it also bounces noticeably over longitudinal waves, but all that with an excellence and coherence that contributes to complete relaxation. Chauffeur veterans may notice the differences in Maybach mode, but the car feels no more or less like a flying carpet than in Comfort mode.
Read more: https://www.motor1.com/reviews/513966/2022-mercedes-maybach-s-class-first-drive/
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