World Premiere! All-New Mercedes-Maybach S-Class Arrives with Three Powertrain Options and MB.OS Smart Architecture

On March 24, marking both the 140th anniversary of Mercedes-Benz inventing the automobile and the 105th anniversary of the Maybach brand, the all-new Mercedes-Maybach S-Class officially made its global debut.

This also represents the most extensive facelift and the most intelligent upgrade in the brand's history. The new model features comprehensively optimized exterior and interior textures, and Mercedes' proprietary smart architecture, and retains its prestigious flagship powertrain configuration.

At the same time, the official announcement confirms that the all-new Mercedes-Maybach VLS will launch in the near future to further expand the luxury product lineup. For high-end luxury car enthusiasts in Malaysia, this model is undoubtedly a highly anticipated flagship.

Exterior: A Reimagined Icon Defined by Enhanced Luxury and Advanced Lighting

The new car adheres to Maybach's signature design language, featuring significantly enhanced brand recognition and several prominent design highlights.

The most striking upgrade is the debut of an illuminated front fascia, where the oversized vertical intake grille, the "MAYBACH" lettering on the frame, and the iconic three-pointed star hood ornament are all lit for the first time — delivering a commanding presence during night driving.

The front profile features "dual star emblem" headlights accented with elegant rose gold trim. Inside the air intakes, chrome Maybach emblems are meticulously arranged and paired with classic monogram elements, creating a powerful sense of exclusivity.

The V12 variant is further distinguished by an exclusive grille badge, solidifying its status as the flagship model and highlighting its top-tier luxury positioning.

The ceremonial design details along the side profile are equally refined: the welcome pedals now feature an integrated projection function, which casts the "MAYBACH" lettering onto the ground whenever the vehicle is locked or unlocked — showcasing luxury in every detail.

The new car offers two wheel options: a 20-inch multi-spoke forged wheel and a 21-inch gold MANUFAKTUR custom wheel.

A hallmark of this craftsmanship is the floating three-pointed star emblem, which comes standard on all silver forged wheels. Utilizing a precision ball-bearing structure, the emblem remains perfectly upright at all times, regardless of the wheel's rotation.

Furthermore, the iconic two-tone paint continues to be hand-sprayed by master craftsmen to the most exacting standards. Each vehicle takes up to one week to complete, resulting in an irreplaceable, ultra-premium finish.

The new model also introduces the Night Edition package. In addition to classic black, white, grey and silver tones, a new metallic Ocean Blue paint finish has been added, offering owners even more personalised options.

The rear features segmented taillights with three embedded star emblem trims, perfectly echoing the signature design of the headlights. Complementing this is the newly designed two-tone rear wing trim, finished in a sophisticated blend of chrome and glossy black segments—a masterful combination of exquisite craftsmanship and commanding road presence.

Interior: Redefining the First-Class Experience with Intelligent AI Integration

The interior features a newly upgraded wraparound cabin, meticulously upholstered in premium Nappa leather. This exquisite material extends from the seats and steering wheel to the dashboard and window frames, delivering a dual-sensory luxury experience through its refined touch and visual appeal.

The centre console is fitted with expansive high-end trim panels, offering a wide range of bespoke material options. Newly introduced selections include charcoal grey open-pore oak and amber brown open-pore herringbone wood, both of which significantly elevate the cabin's premium ambience.

In terms of core technology, the new model is powered by Mercedes' proprietary MB.OS architecture. This system seamlessly integrates three functional domains — Advanced Driver Assistance, Smart Cockpit, and Performance — to create an efficient, unified, and sustainably evolvable digital ecosystem.

The front cabin features an integrated glass panel design, which seamlessly merges the 14.4-inch central display and the 12.3-inch front passenger display, creating a highly cohesive and futuristic visual signature.

The 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster features an exclusive Maybach-themed interface with an optional 3D display function, creating deep and visually stunning layers. The AI-enhanced Mercedes virtual assistant has been refreshed with an exclusive rose gold three-pointed star emblem, offering a more intuitive and seamless interactive experience.

As the vehicle's primary focus, the rear cabin is equipped with first-class individual seats that support an expansive adjustment range from 19° to 43.5°, effortlessly adapting to any preferred seating position.

Paired with the standard Chauffeur Package for extended rear legroom, the front passenger seat can tilt forward by up to 23°. This creates an expansive 1.4 metres of maximum legroom for rear passengers, perfectly catering to the demands of high-end business and long-distance travel in Malaysia.

The seats are also equipped with electrically extendable leg rests, seat heating, heated comfort headrests, and multi-mode massage functions. These are paired with a wide footrest that extends electrically from the rear of the front seat, ensuring an unparalleled level of comfort.

The rear entertainment system is fitted with dual 13.1-inch high-definition displays, complemented by a brand-new detachable independent touch remote. This allows for effortless control over cabin functions, including air conditioning, sunshades, and multimedia.

This high-end system was developed by a specialized Chinese R&D team and is powered by an on-device VLM (Visual Language Model), enabling smart interaction even without an internet connection.

By utilizing integrated cameras, the system can recognize passenger gestures and movements to automatically adjust cabin settings. This eliminates the need for voice wake-up commands or manual operation, creating a truly intuitive, "mind-reading" passenger experience.

The active ambient lighting system is powered by 199 LED sources, featuring 10 curated colour combinations and 64 independently adjustable colours, including the exclusive Maybach Rose Gold and Amethyst tones. This system also reacts to voice commands, climate control adjustments, and driver assistance prompts, creating a more intuitive human-machine interface.

For the ultimate acoustic experience, the Burmester® 4D Surround Sound System is fitted. This powerhouse consists of 35 high-performance speakers and 8 seat-integrated exciters, delivering a staggering total output of 1,690 watts. Upon activation, the exquisite acoustic tweeters rotate 360° out of the door pillars, working in perfect harmony with the seat oscillators to create a truly immersive, multi-dimensional soundscape.

ADAS and Powertrain: Flagship V12 Performance Meets Advanced Autonomous Assistance

In terms of intelligent driving, the new model is equipped with an all-new urban and highway navigation assistance system. Leveraging a comprehensive suite of sensing hardware and powerful algorithms, it achieves point-to-point driver assistance and intelligent parking assist in the Chinese market.

To enhance maneuverability, the system integrates rear-axle steering with a steering angle of up to 10 degrees in both directions. This optimizes the driving trajectory during parking, ensuring effortless handling in narrow spaces or dead ends.

The parking suite supports the detection of diagonal and unmarked spaces, complemented by a memory parking assist function. Furthermore, a wheel-risk warning feature is slated for a future upgrade for the S-Class, further enhancing day-to-day practicality.

The chassis has also received significant upgrades, featuring AIRMATIC air suspension and the PRE-SAFE® Impulse Side intelligent body control system. Both systems utilize a patented intelligent chassis road-surface memory function, which previews upcoming road conditions and adjusts the damping in real-time for a "magic carpet" ride.

When paired with the rear-axle steering system, the vehicle's turning circle is significantly reduced, achieving a perfect balance between ride comfort and handling agility.

Regarding the powertrain, the new model offers three distinct options. Notably, the V12 engine variant will continue to be available in the Chinese market, solidifying its position as one of the few remaining luxury sedans to retain a 12-cylinder flagship in an increasingly electrified landscape.

In addition, the lineup features the new M177 Evo V8 high-performance engine, delivering a maximum output of 450 kW + 17 kW and a peak torque of 850 Nm + 205 Nm.

The fully upgraded M256 Evo inline-six engine also offers ample power, characterized by a crisp and rapid response during overtaking and acceleration — meeting the power demands of different owners.

At this time, Mercedes-Benz has not officially announced the global launch timeline for the all-new Mercedes-Maybach S-Class, nor has it confirmed an introduction plan for the Malaysian market. However, as a perennial favorite in Malaysia's high-end luxury segment, this flagship is certain to become the primary focus for high-net-worth individuals and luxury car enthusiasts upon its local arrival. We will continue to monitor and provide updates as more information becomes available.