Friday 10th February 2023

Mercedes introduces first Maybach PHEV

Nothing is more refined than electric travel, right? Especially when the chauffeur can plug it in...

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As sports car manufacturers wrack their brains and search their souls for how best to electrify future product, the luxury car makers are rubbing their hands with glee. All those years and all that investment in hushing internal combustion, and now the world is more than ready to accept silent battery power in their executive expresses - nothing could be better for total refinement. Rolls-Royce has already revealed its EV future, Bentley won’t be far behind, and now Maybach has this, its first plug-in hybrid model.

It's based on the S580e S-Class, which means a 367hp 3.0-litre turbo straight six with a 150hp electric motor. Total system output is rated at 510hp and 553lb ft; if required, this enormous Mercedes can reach 62mph in 5.1 seconds and 155mph. The electric top speed is 87mph, though likely of greater significance is the 62 miles of WLTP EV range, which will probably be around 40 in the real world. More than enough for a silent trip into town for the opera, or whatever it is Maybach owners do with their spare time. The S580e can also be charged, albeit optionally, at up to 60kW, so an empty battery can be full again in half an hour. While it seems unlikely that owners will sully uber S-Class ownership with public chargers, it’s nice to know the capability is there. An 11kW charger is standard.

Elevating this above the rest of the S-Class range are the familiar brand cues - badges, wheels, grille - as well as electric specific bits ‘discreetly integrated with typical Maybach expertise’; it points to the concealed charging socket on the left, the blue-accented headlights, or even the ‘battery charging state in the instrument panel’. Plainly this isn’t a drastic Maybach overhaul.

But don’t think Maybach plans on being left behind in the EV luxury race. This S580e is described as a “pivotal step in the transformation of our heritage brand into an electric future” by Daniel Lescow, boss of Maybach at Mercedes; once it’s on sale imminently in China, then Thailand, then Europe, we’re told to expect a full Maybach EV later this year. Presumably that will be based on one of the existing Mercedes electric saloons, an EQE or EQS, but it’s hard to predict too much with any confidence in the electric age. Don't be the farm against the first electric Maybach being an SUV…

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[Escort Si-130]

Looks a bit slabby from the side rear view

[04helipilot]

That will not fit into a standard charging bay (if it ever needed to) !

[Twinair]

Always found these a bit ‘inbetween’ in terms of styling and desirability…

Not really my kind of thing I suppose - glad you can buy one, if that’s really your ‘thang’…

I wonder if this will rack up nearly 500 comments of (mostly!) vitriol - like the ineos… (which despite its more utilitarian stance - I actually quite like the overall ambiance of)

[Puddenchucker]

The way Mercedes treats the Maybach name these days - posh versions of the S-Class & GLS - reminds me of the way Vanden Plas was handled by BL.

[Slowlygettingit]

God that is bland. If I was a plutocrat I’d want something more externally. Can see why the little rolls is everywhere in London.
And those god awful ubersuv’s.

[edoverheels]

Looks like a BMW?

[GreatScott2016]

These always remind me of Clarkson's disagreement with Cowell on TG. I remember JC hating it, and Cowell not caring what it looked like on the outside, the interior was superior to anything else on the market, and that was all that mattered. Each to his own, I guess

[MrGeoff]

GreatScott2016 said:

These always remind me of Clarkson's disagreement with Cowell on TG. I remember JC hating it, and Cowell not caring what it looked like on the outside, the interior was superior to anything else on the market, and that was all that mattered. Each to his own, I guess

I think that's the point to consider, the interior is where you spend the time. I recently drove the new BMW i7 and I have to admit it's not a looker on the outside but step inside and it's pretty special, everything just feel really nice and it's true, you don't see the outside when you're inside. The people who buy the Maybach will buy it because they're being driven and I reckon I'd enjoy being driven in that even if it isn't a proper looker on the outside.

[Harry H]

I'm sure I had those wheels on my Jag XJR back in the day.

[Randy Winkman]

Escort Si-130 said:

Looks a bit slabby from the side rear view

For me, LWB cars never look quite right because the rear doors are (understandably) slightly out of proportion.

[Filibuster]

Harry H said:

I'm sure I had those wheels on my Jag XJR back in the day.

Yep, although probably 4" smaller
The X300 was a more elegant car than this.

[ADP68]

What a bland thing. And that radiator grille is hideous.

[Filibuster]

Puddenchucker said:

The way Mercedes treats the Maybach name these days - posh versions of the S-Class & GLS - reminds me of the way Vanden Plas was handled by BL.

I think this works better than having a separate model like they did in the early '00s.
You want the sporty, get the AMG. You want the most luxurious one, get the Maybach.

But I get the feeling "normal" S-classes will be only bought by governments and limousine services...

Edited by Filibuster on Friday 10th February 11:58

[Sulphur Man]

Puddenchucker said:

The way Mercedes treats the Maybach name these days - posh versions of the S-Class & GLS - reminds me of the way Vanden Plas was handled by BL.

Absolutely. Or...Mercedes Ghia

[donkmeister]

Filibuster said:

But I get the feeling "normal" S-classes will be only bought by governments and limousine services...

In the UK, yes. I expect those who buy them privately would want the good engine choices at least... I remember Andrew Lloyd Webber's S600 was up for sale a few years ago.

However, in the US the S-class (and 7 series, and LS, and A8, and XJ) is almost exclusively bought as a self-drive posh executive saloon. I've heard US Merc owners (admittedly well towards the dhead end of the spectrum) say "you only buy an E-Class if you can't afford an S-class". The do-everything-estate-car doesn't seem to be so popular there as it's assumed if you can afford a posh car you will also have a truck for more utilitarian needs.

[draig]

Another Matt Bird article, right?
Aside from that it’s a no from me

[Rumblestripe]

Slowlygettingit said:

God that is bland. If I was a plutocrat I’d want something more externally. Can see why the little rolls is everywhere in London.
And those god awful ubersuv’s.

Oh I disagree. Were I to be somehow dropped into the realms of plutocracy I would rather enjoy the inconspicuous looks of this. Much better than the "LOOK-AT-ME-I'M-DRIVING-A-ROLLER" styling of the current RR.

[Julian Scott]

Puddenchucker said:

The way Mercedes treats the Maybach name these days - posh versions of the S-Class & GLS - reminds me of the way Vanden Plas was handled by BL.

I've been driven in both a 'proper' Maybach (a 62) and the previous incarnation, a so-called trim level. The latter was so much better, just as luxurious inside, perhaps more so, but so much less showy. As a (very lucky) passenger, I couldn't fault any part of the car.

Slowlygettingit said:

God that is bland. If I was a plutocrat I’d want something more externally. Can see why the little rolls is everywhere in London.

That's part of the charm, and (apparently) in response to customer comments. Discretion rather than overly showy. And this has a different market to the little Rolls Royce.

GreatScott2016 said:

These always remind me of Clarkson's disagreement with Cowell on TG. I remember JC hating it, and Cowell not caring what it looked like on the outside, the interior was superior to anything else on the market, and that was all that mattered. Each to his own, I guess

Exactly. Cowell (as annoying usual) makes the perfect point.

[langtounlad]

I was in NY late last year. In the upmarket business districts all the limousines were either 4x4 Escalades / Navigators or if they were a saloon, overwhelmingly they were Maybach versions. I thought the Maybach looked good against the backdrop of the skyscrapers. I quite like this new version also. Not that I'm in the market for such a vehicle.

[JJJ.]

It looks more like a Chinese copy of an S-Class. Then again, if you have money and are only interested in the interior why not...