Mercedes has a new luxury king in its range in the form of the 2021 Maybach S-Class, an ultra-posh take on the already pretty loaded S-Class primarily designed for chauffeured driving. The new Mercedes-Maybach S-Class features an 18 cm longer wheelbase, at 3396 mm, offering an even more spacious environment for the rear passengers compared to its predecessor. There’s also an “active noise compensation” system that sends counter-phased audio signals to cancel road noise before it reaches the occupants’ ears.

Depending on the market, customers will get to choose between the Mercedes-Maybach S580 4Matic, which is powered by a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 making 496 HP and has a 48-volt mild-hybrid system that provides an extra 21 HP, and the V12-powered S650, which will continue using the twin-turbo 6.0-liter unit with 621 HP, possibly combined with all-wheel-drive as well. Selected markets will also receive in the future a plug-in hybrid version of the new Mercedes-Maybach S-Class, featuring a 3.0-liter straight-six petrol engine paired to an electric motor for a combined 503 HP.

 

Every new Maybach S-Class will come with twin Executive seats that feature a new massage function for your calves, and the Chauffeur package as standard. Rear passengers can even adjust the seat surface, backrest, and legrest to create a continuous and comfortable reclining surface for sleeping. Another interesting detail is the addition of seat belt extenders, a feature usually reserved for Coupes and Cabriolet models. However, the seat belt extenders in the new Maybach S-Class emerge as soon as the MBUX Interior Assist recognizes a corresponding hand movement as an intention to reach the belt.

The MBUX Interior Assist also enables gesture control for the rear occupants, allowing them to open and close the roller sunblind and switch on the reading lights. It even detects when a rear passenger reaches into a defined area of the interior in the dark, automatically switching on a multispot light to help them see better.

 

The optional two-tone paint finish with the dividing line is applied by hand, with the whole process taking up to a week. And, for the first time in a Maybach Mercedes, the rear doors can be electrically operated at the push of a button. The new German limo rides on a specially developed air suspension with its own ‘Maybach’ mode, to make the journey even smoother than the regular S-Class. When turned on, the ‘Maybach’ mode tunes the accelerator pedal for a more gentle acceleration, starts off in second gear, and switches the 9-speed automatic into an even smoother operation. Active rear steering is also available to make the new Maybach S-Class more maneuverable and precise, turning the rear wheels up to 10 degrees.

 

The new Mercedes-Maybach S-Class also features a Level 3 driver assistance system, which will allow the driver to take his hands off the steering wheel in situations like heavy traffic or on selected motorways once the system becomes legal from the second half of 2021. Mercedes has identified China, South Korea, Russia, the USA, and Germany as the main markets for the new Maybach S-Class, with the growth rate in China being in double figures. The new model aims to continue the brand’s success, with sales set to begin before the end of the year.