Mercedes-Maybach S-Class

Model Overview

The Mercedes-Maybach S-Class is the flagship ultra-luxury full-size limousine under the Mercedes-Benz Group. Positioned above the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, it serves as the crowning pinnacle of the brand. Founded in 1921, the Maybach marque was revived in 2014 as the Mercedes-Maybach sub-brand, with its maiden offering underpinned by the S-Class. As of June 2026, the on-sale 2025 and 2026 Maybach S-Class range in the domestic market comprises six variants: the S 480 4MATIC, S 480 4MATIC Collector's Edition, S 580 4MATIC, S 580 4MATIC Night Edition, S 680 4MATIC, and S 680 4MATIC Night Edition. The official recommended retail price spans between RM1,468,000 and RM3,643,000. In March 2026, the next-generation Mercedes-Maybach S-Class limousine made its global debut in Beijing; marked as the most extensive facelift in the brand’s history, the newcomer debuts Mercedes-Benz's proprietary MB.OS intelligent architecture.

Design Language

The exterior styling of the Maybach S-Class centres on an aura of commanding presence and prestige. Up front, it sports the signature vertical waterfall radiator grille with closely spaced vertical slats, now 20% larger than its predecessor. The illuminated grille surround, illuminated "MAYBACH" script, and glowing bonnet-mounted three-pointed star emblem are introduced for the first time, matched by an illuminated Maybach crest on the C-pillar. The headlamps feature a "twin-star" motif highlighted with rose gold accents, while the two-piece tail lamps house three-point star detailing. Dimension-wise, the 2026 new-generation model measures 5,484 mm in length, 1,921 mm in width, and 1,510 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 3,396 mm. For the alloy wheels, the floating centre caps featuring the three-pointed star stay permanently upright courtesy of an integrated ball-bearing mechanism. The exterior palette offers 13 solid/metallic paint options and 6 two-tone paint schemes, with the iconic two-tone finish meticulously hand-painted by master artisans over the course of a week. Inside, the cabin features a wrap-around cockpit design, cloaked generously in Nappa leather extending from the seats to the window surrounds, complemented by new anthracite open-pore oak and amber brown herringbone wood veneers. For the first time, a non-animal leather option is offered, pairing ARTICO synthetic leather with "Mirville" woven fabric.

Powertrain and Performance

The Maybach S-Class is available in three powertrain configurations. The entry-level S 480 4MATIC is powered by a 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-six engine, producing a maximum output of 280 kW (380 PS) and 500 Nm of peak torque. The S 580 4MATIC packs a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine paired with a 48V mild-hybrid system, delivering 370 kW (503 PS) and 700 Nm of torque, completing the 0-100 km/h sprint in 4.9 seconds with a WLTC combined fuel consumption of 10 L/100 km. The flagship S 680 4MATIC is propelled by a 6.0-litre twin-turbo V12 engine, churning out an impressive 450 kW (612 PS) and 900 Nm of torque, dispatching 0-100 km/h in a mere 4.6 seconds. All variants come paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission (9G-TRONIC) and the 4MATIC permanent all-wheel-drive system. Furthermore, Maybach offers the S 580 e 4MATIC plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variant, with prices starting from RM2,016,000.

Chassis and Handling

Under the skin, the Maybach S-Class is fitted with AIRMATIC air suspension and the E-ACTIVE BODY CONTROL (Magic Body Control) active suspension system. The Magic Body Control system incorporates patented intelligent road surface scan technology with predictive memory, scanning road conditions in real time to proactively adjust damper stiffness. The suspension setup comprises a front double-wishbone independent suspension and a rear multi-link independent setup. The rear-axle steering system offers up to 10 degrees of steering angle in both directions, significantly reducing the turning circle and enhancing urban agility for such a sizeable limousine. Steering is handled by an electric power steering (EPS) rack, built upon a monocoque body shell. Bespoke drive modes further elevate cabin refinement, ride quietness, and sheer travelling comfort.

Cabin and Equipment

The cabin remains the crowning jewel of the Maybach S-Class. The rear Executive individual seats offer a wide backrest inclination between 19° and 43.5°; combined with the front passenger seat's 23° forward-tilt chauffeur position, rear legroom extends up to 1.4 metres. The rear seats integrate electrically extendable calf rests, multiple massage programmes, and heated neck cushions. The 2026 model boasts the 4th-generation MBUX infotainment system, featuring a seamless one-piece glass cockpit that houses a 14.4-inch central OLED touchscreen and a 12.3-inch front passenger display. Rear occupants get twin 13.1-inch high-definition displays supporting gesture controls and video conferencing. Specially spearheaded and engineered by the R&D team in China, the rear entertainment suite incorporates an on-device multimodal Vision-Language Model (VLM) that reads passenger posture via in-cabin cameras to dynamically adjust features. Audiophiles are treated to a Burmester® 4D surround sound system integrated with Dolby Atmos. The active ambient lighting setup features 199 LEDs, delivering a customisable 64-colour palette.

Safety and Advanced Driver Assistance

Beginning from the 2025 facelift, the Maybach S-Class comes standard across the range with the Navigation Pilot Max advanced driver assistance suite, offering lane-level navigation and hands-on highway assist. The sensor suite comprises 7 exterior cameras, 1 interior driver monitoring camera, 12 ultrasonic parking sensors, and 5 millimetre-wave radars. Driver assistance features include all-speed adaptive cruise control (Distronic), traffic jam stop-and-go assist, active lane keeping assist, active lane change assist, automated park assist, and remote parking assist. The 2026 new-generation model marks the debut of Mercedes-Benz’s in-house MB.OS software architecture, seamlessly linking the three core domains: ADAS, intelligent cabin, and driving performance. Safety-wise, the new-generation car is fitted with up to 15 airbags, including world-first rear frontal airbags and rear seatbelt airbags (Beltbags). In addition, it comes equipped with the PRE-SAFE® anticipatory occupant protection system, side-impact protection airbags, and heated front seatbelts.

Market Performance and Reception

China represents Maybach's largest single market globally. In 2025, the Maybach S-Class registered annual deliveries of around 11,310 units in the Chinese market, firmly topping the ranks among ultra-luxury vehicles commanding price tags above RM1,000,000. In the first seven months of 2025, retail sales of the Maybach S-Class hit 6,123 units, taking combined sales alongside the Mercedes-Benz S-Class to nearly 13,000 units and cementing Mercedes-Benz’s commanding grip over the executive limousine segment. The world premiere of the next-generation model in March 2026 coincided with both the 140th anniversary of Mercedes-Benz inventing the automobile and the 105th anniversary of the Maybach marque. Within its segment, the primary rivals to the Maybach S-Class include the Audi A8L Horch Founder Edition and the Maextro S800. Amid the sweeping wave of electrification and automotive digitalisation, the Maybach S-Class retains its revered V12 powerplant while embracing cutting-edge MB.OS tech, reinforcing Mercedes-Benz's strategy of delivering equal digital intelligence across both ICE and electrified lineups.