Mercedes-Maybach’s S680 proves the V12 has some legs still
It honestly feels like we’ve barely had time to settle into the updated S-Class, and yet here we are again, being reminded that luxury, at this level, is never a fixed idea. Mercedes-Benz has already redefined what its flagship saloon should be, but the truth is, the standard S-Class, for all its merits, has never been the final word on luxury.
When Mercedes wants to stretch luxury beyond restraint and into full expression, it turns to Maybach. Enter the S680.
The headline is the engine. While the standard S-Class has long moved on from twelve cylinders, the Mercedes-Maybach S680 keeps the V12 alive, a 6.0-litre twin-turbo unit which we still hold in high regard, delivering 463kW and 900Nm, reserved for select markets where emissions regulations still allow it. Elsewhere, the range relies on electrification. The S580, for example, uses a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 paired with an EQ Boost mild-hybrid system, producing 395kW and 750Nm, with an additional 17kW and 205Nm available in short spurts.
The plug-in hybrid S580e pairs a 3.0-litre inline-6 with an electric motor, offering up to 100km of claimed electric range.
Inside is Maybach’s most obvious statement. The interior features open-pore grained oak, soft lighting, deep materials and smooth digital surfaces. Notably, it’s leather-free for the first time, with personalisation handled through the Manufaktur programme. Fourth-generation MBUX arrives here too, in a Maybach-specific interface design. The comfort doors, executive rear seats, refrigerated compartment and silver-plated Robbe & Berking champagne flutes remain, expected niceties at this level.
On the outside, the details are more subtle. The Maybach wordmark is subtly illuminated within the grille frame, the double-star headlamps pick up touches of rose gold, and the forged wheels, finished in silver, feature a Mercedes-Benz star that stays upright regardless of wheel position. Bentley has done something similar, and it still impresses me. The Maybach emblem on the C-pillar and, optionally, the bonnet star can be illuminated in selected markets.
The Maybach S680 makes a convincing case for bespoke luxury and is a nod to nearly a century of V12 heritage. If a few of those are coming to South Africa, the conversation about who gets one should be interesting.
