Mercedes-Benz is trying again with
the Maybach. At about $200,000, the S600 is a regal and richly appointed
version of an S-Class.
By TOM VOELK/DRIVEN on Publish Date October 28, 2015.
Photo by Martin Campbell.
CHANCES
are you have not heard of Maybach (pronounced “MY-Bahk”). The brand
traces its luxury lineage to 1909, with Daimler-Benz buying the brand in
1960. It lay dormant until the 2004 model year, when two cars, the 57
and 62, made their debuts at an average of $420,000 each. Timed nearly
perfectly with the recession, the resurrection sank like Lehman
Brothers.
Maybach
is now positioned as the ultraluxury subbrand of Mercedes-Benz, much as
AMG is its performance label. More affordable now at $204,000 as
tested, it is a bargain compared with the Rolls-Royce Ghost and the
Bentley Mulsanne. Certainly, it will not be attracting Malibu and Santa
Fe shoppers, unless you are talking real estate.
Basically,
the regal 2016 Mercedes-Maybach S600 is an overachieving S-Class with a
wheelbase stretched nearly eight inches to aid pampering in the rear.
The back of my test vehicle had massaging seats that were warmed and
chilled. Infinitely adjustable down to power leg rests, Maybach is the
fastest and most luxurious La-Z-Boy on the planet.
Both
rear positions get retractable tables akin to those in first-class air
travel; you will half expect flight attendants to arrive with scotch and
warm cashews. The rear seats have video screens, wireless headphones,
climate control, window shades, vanity mirrors and cup holders that cool
and heat. Of course, there’s a refrigerator to keep the Champagne
chilled. Robbe & Berking silver-plated Champagne flutes have their
own storage space. Fingers on the center console grasp the vessel’s base
to eliminate tipping when your driver is aggressive on the way to the
board meeting.
That
is entirely possible considering that the 6-liter biturbo V12 engine
gracefully summons 523 horsepower and 612 pound-feet of torque.
Imperceptible yet decisive shifts come from a 7-speed automatic
transmission, with paddle shifters. The Maybach whispers from 0 to 60
miles an hour in about five seconds.
This
is a car to be driven in, but there’s something for the pilot. It is
unusually nimble and controlled for a large vehicle. Magic Body Control
uses cameras to scan the road ahead for potholes, then prepares the
suspension to react as the tires hit them. The ride is as serene as
knowing there’s 10 billion euros in the offshore account.
Because
the car gulped premium, the government rates its fuel economy at 13
miles per gallon in the city, 20 on the highway, even with the engine’s
auto start-stop feature turned on. It’s on the sluggish side for
impatient captains of industry. Fortunately, Jeeves can turn the
start-stop feature off.
Other
gripes? Mounted in the center of the trunk, the refrigerator eliminates
a strategic chunk of space. Mercedes’s Comand interface on the console
is improved with a track pad, allowing text input by writing with your
fingers, but the menu remains a bit confusing.
Up
front, planks of flawless lumber and quilted leather soothe eyes and
fingers. Fiber-optic ambience lighting snakes through the cabin. A glass
roof allows panoramic views of concrete canyons.
Maybach’s
real statement is value. Seriously. In the sky’s-the-limit sedan
segment, it easily undercuts competitors by $100,000. If you plan on
doing the driving, much of Maybach’s detailed richness can be had for
half price in a standard S550. But if you’re driven, both literally and
professionally, Maybach is the way to go.
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