Mercedes Pulls the Veil From its Maybach S600

2016 Mercedes-Maybach S600 (Credit: © Daimler)

Earlier this month we saw some teaser images and received preliminary details on the upcoming Mercedes-Maybach S600, but at the LA Auto Show, the luxury automaker let all of the details out of the bag. By the looks of things, the new super-luxury rig will hit dealerships in April 2015 carrying more than enough posh features to take on the heavy-hitters of the segment: Bentley and Rolls Royce.

When it arrives in dealers, the U.S.-spec S600 will carry a 6.0-liter, V-12 powerplant under its long hood, which will deliver 523 horsepower from 4,900 rpm and 612 pound-feet of torque from 1,900 rpm. This engine likely mates to a nine-speed transmission — Mercedes has yet to confirm this — that will help get the sedan to 60 mph in under five seconds and up to a electronically limited top speed of 155 mph.

2016 Mercedes-Maybach S600 (Credit: © Daimler)

On the outside, the Mercedes-Maybach, which is 8.1 inches longer than the normal S-Class, may look similar to an extended-wheelbase version of the S-Class, but a closer inspection reveals otherwise. First of all, the rear doors are 2.6 inches shorter than the extended-wheelbase S-Class, and the triangular window is now located in the C-Pillar. The smaller door and repositioned window give the Maybach’s rear seat a more private feeling than the long-wheelbase S-Class. Also standing out are double “M” emblems inside arched triangles on the C-Pillars and the exclusive 20-inch wheels under the Mercedes-Maybach.

2016 Mercedes-Maybach S600 (Credit: © Damiler)

Inside the cabin, rear-seat passengers enjoy an extra 0.5 inches of headroom and 6.3 inches of legroom over the standard S600, and are surrounded in premium leather and a panoramic sunroof overhead. Also included inside the Maybach S600 is a Burmester 3D surround-sound system with 24 speakers and 1,540 watts of power, handcrafted champagne flutes, electric roller sunblinds on the rear windows, and an AIR-BALANCE package with fragrance.

Needless to say, the Mercedes-Maybach walks the walk of a premium luxury sedan for high-rolling executives, but will it sell like a Mercedes or a Maybach? We’ll find out next year.