Mercedes did not rewrite the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class brief. It tightened it. The updated flagship keeps the stretched-wheelbase, rear-seat-first formula, then adds a larger grille, a reworked cabin, the new MB.OS software stack, and revised electrified powertrains.
Looking at the data, Mercedes aimed this update at the parts of ownership people feel every day: entry and exit, ride isolation, rear-seat control, voice interaction, and one-off specification. Production starts in April 2026 in Sindelfingen, and the hardware package shows a clear plan. Mercedes wants the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class to stay at the front of the ultra-luxury saloon field while software and comfort now carry as much weight as horsepower.
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Exterior changes push the Maybach message harder
The outside does not chase shock value. It pushes status with tighter surfacing and more lighting hardware.
- The Maybach grille grows by 20 percent and can add a luminous surround.
- Mercedes adds an illuminated Maybach wordmark in the grille, rose-gold trim in the headlamps, and lit C-pillar emblems in selected markets.
- New forged wheel options include a 20-inch polished wheel and a 21-inch MANUFAKTUR wheel with a gold finish. On silver-finish forged wheels, the center star stays upright through a ball-bearing setup.
- The Night Series can now pair with nautic blue metallic, adding a darker, more formal look.
From an expert perspective, that floating center cap does more than show off. It turns wheel motion into a theatre piece that works even at very low speed, which suits a chauffeur car far better than a track-style aero add-on ever could.
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Mercedes-Maybach S-Class 2027
The cabin now leans harder on software, rear control, and material choice
The bigger step happens inside. Mercedes brings MB.OS into a Maybach for the first time and wraps it in a much warmer visual theme than the regular S-Class gets. The standard MBUX Superscreen now places a 36.6 cm (14.4-inch) central display and a 31.2 cm (12.3-inch) passenger display under one glass surface, while the instrument display measures 31.2 cm (12.3 inches) and can use a 3D view.
Rear passengers get real command authority, not token screen furniture. Two 31.3 cm (13.1-inch) rear displays work with newly shaped remote controls, and integrated cameras support video calls. In addition, Mercedes keeps pushing sensory comfort with 199 LEDs, 10 lighting schemes, and 64 selectable colours, including Maybach-only tones.
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| Cabin area | Confirmed hardware | Why it counts |
|---|---|---|
| Front display stack | MB.OS with Superscreen, 14.4-inch center display, 12.3-inch passenger display, 12.3-inch cluster | Faster voice response, cleaner app handling, and regular over-the-air updates |
| Rear suite | Two 13.1-inch rear displays plus new remotes | Rear passengers can run climate, blinds, media, and seat functions without reaching forward |
| Ambient system | 199 LEDs, 10 lighting schemes, 64 colours | The car can shift mood and also cue climate and driver-assistance events |
| Materials | New beech brown theme, open-pore woods, leather-free option with Mirville textile and ARTICO | Mercedes broadens cabin choice without dropping perceived quality |
| Cold storage | Rear refrigerated compartment with 10-litre capacity | The car still puts the second row at the center of the brief |
Automatic comfort doors, Executive rear seats, silver-plated champagne flutes, and the rear cooler tell you exactly who this car serves first.
Powertrain work goes deeper than the spec sheet
The engine menu now does real technical work instead of adding a token battery and calling it progress. The new Mercedes-Maybach S 680 swaps to the latest M 177 Evo eight-cylinder in Europe and some other markets, where it produces 450 kW plus 17 kW ISG boost and 850 Nm plus 205 Nm boost. That equals about 603 hp plus 23 hp and 627 lb-ft plus 151 lb-ft.
Specifically, Mercedes says the revised S 680 now reaches the same output as the current twelve-cylinder car in those markets. The firm also keeps the V12 in selected regions, which tells you Mercedes still knows that some buyers at this price level want cylinder count for its own sake. Two Lanchester balance shafts count here because they cancel unwanted vibration, letting a hard-working V8 feel closer to a much larger engine at cruise and under light throttle.
The Mercedes-Maybach S 580 also gains strength, moving to 395 kW plus 17 kW and 750 Nm plus 205 Nm, or about 530 hp plus 23 hp and 553 lb-ft plus 151 lb-ft. The S 580 e plug-in hybrid adds a revised six-cylinder petrol engine, a stronger electric motor package, and an electric range of around 100 km (62 miles). Mercedes also says the updated plug-in setup raises system output by as much as 55 kW (74 hp) against the previous engine generation.
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| Model | Announced setup | Output | Technical point that counts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mercedes-Maybach S 680 | M 177 Evo V8 with mild-hybrid ISG in Europe and some markets | 450 kW + 17 kW / 850 Nm + 205 Nm | V8 takes over the top role in many markets while matching current V12 output |
| Mercedes-Maybach S 680 | V12 in selected markets | 450 kW | Mercedes still keeps a twelve-cylinder option where demand and rules allow |
| Mercedes-Maybach S 580 | Electrified V8 | 395 kW + 17 kW / 750 Nm + 205 Nm | More output with mild-hybrid response and energy recovery |
| Mercedes-Maybach S 580 e | Six-cylinder plug-in hybrid | Around 100 km (62 miles) EV range; up to 55 kW more system output than before | Short urban runs can happen with the engine off, while mid-range response improves |
Consequently, the suspension story may count even more than the engine story. Mercedes adds predictive damping to the new AIRMATIC setup by using Car-to-X road data from Mercedes vehicles ahead, sending that information through the brand cloud so the chassis can prepare for rough surface changes before this car reaches them. Mercedes also says it added more insulation and a Maybach-specific comfort drive mode, which lines up with the real mission here: keep rear passengers steady, quiet, and fresh.
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Definitions
- MB.OS: Mercedes' new operating system that handles infotainment, updates, and parts of the driver-assistance stack.
- Lanchester balance shafts: counter-rotating shafts that cut vibration in large engines.
- Car-to-X predictive damping: road-surface preview data that lets the suspension react early, not late.
Size and price still explain the appeal
Mercedes has focused this update on electronics, trim, and propulsion rather than on a full body-shell reset. By comparison, the current U.S. Maybach S-Class already carries the dimensions that make the package work: a 133.7-inch wheelbase, 215.3-inch overall length, and 49.1 inches of rear legroom. The regular S-Class sits at 126.6 inches of wheelbase, 209.5 inches of length, and 43.8 inches of rear legroom.
That gap tells the story. Maybach adds 7.1 inches of wheelbase, 5.8 inches of overall length, and 5.3 inches of rear legroom against a regular U.S. S-Class. Buyers do not pay six-figure money for numbers on paper alone, but these numbers explain why the back seat feels like a separate class of product.
| U.S. model context | 2026 S 580 Sedan | 2026 Maybach S 580 | 2026 Maybach S 680 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $130,700 | $207,150 | $244,400 |
| Wheelbase | 126.6 in | 133.7 in | 133.7 in |
| Length | 209.5 in | 215.3 in | 215.3 in |
| Rear legroom | 43.8 in | 49.1 in | 49.1 in |
| Power | 496 hp | 496 hp | 621 hp |
| Torque | 516 lb-ft | 516 lb-ft | 664 lb-ft |
| 0-60 mph | 4.3 sec | 4.7 sec | 4.3 sec |
| Rear-seat focus | Strong | Very high | Very high |
What now?
If you buy with a chauffeur in mind, wait for final U.S. trim and powertrain details. The real gain sits in MB.OS, rear-screen control, predictive ride tuning, and a cabin that now feels more like a private lounge than a dressed-up S-Class.
If you drive yourself, the current price ladder still counts. A regular S 580 starts $76,450 below a Maybach S 580, and both make 496 hp in U.S. trim today. That means the Maybach case rests on wheelbase, rear-seat space, cabin finish, and low-speed comfort more than on raw pace.
Pro-Tip: Judge this car by four numbers before anything else: wheelbase, rear legroom, rear-screen control, and market-specific engine availability. On the updated Mercedes-Maybach S-Class, those are the figures that will decide who signs the order.
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