Ultra-luxurious Mercedes-Maybach S600 appears in LA

A new flagship model based on the S-Class and badged Mercedes-Maybach S600 has been unveiled at this week’s LA Motor Show. It’s 200mm longer than a long-wheelbase S-Class, offering more space than the old Maybach 57 model.

Inside is what Mercedes describes as “the highest level of customisation and personalisation of Mercedes-Benz”, with luxury leathers, metals and woods. Under the bonnet is a 6.0-litre V12 with 530bhp and 830Nm of torque.

There will also be an S500 V8 Maybach and a V6 S400 4MATIC. The car is due on sale in the spring with S600 models expected to make their way to the UK. Prices are said to be £10,000 to £15,000 higher than Mercedes charges for a long-wheelbase S-Class, which would put the S600 version in the £130,000 ballpark.

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The Mercedes-Maybach is extensively redesigned, with a higher roofline than the S-Class LWB – contributing to a 150kg weight gain – and Maybach badging inside and out. The interior is as luxurious as you might expect, with not a single visible piece of plastic anywhere in the cabin. Every exposed plastic surface in the S-Class is coated with leather in the Maybach, from the window frames to the bottom of the seats and even the panel at the end of the dashboard.

While the new Mercedes-AMG performance brand will work its magic across the range, it’s unlikely that there will be Mercedes-Maybach versions of other Mercedes cars.

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“We have no further plans for other Maybach models,” said Mercedes sales and marketing boss Ola Källenius. “This model has its own body shape and the highest levels of exclusivity. An A45 AMG works with the A-Class, but it’s not the same with Maybach.”

Mr Källenius was coy about the prospect of an even longer-wheelbase Pullman version of the Maybach in light of the Pullman S-Class we know is on the way, saying “wait and see – this is all we are announcing for now”.

The prospect of a Mercedes-Maybach SUV was also raised, and the response was that Mercedes is “not ruling anything out – the common denominator is that it has to be the utmost expression of luxury”.

Is there a need for this top-of-the-range S-Class model? Let us know in the comments below...