The absolute pinnacle of Mercedes luxury

2021 Mercedes-Maybach S 580 revealed as the biggest, most luxurious S-Class

The Mercedes-Maybach GLS-Class made a splash recently as the company’s ultra-luxury crossover. But if you’re a well-heeled individual looking for the true peak of Mercedes luxury, there’s no replacement for the 2021 Mercedes-Maybach S 580, the biggest, fanciest sedan the company can produce.

You’ll be able to identify the land yacht thanks to a number of styling tweaks. The grille gets slender vertical chrome bars, and the lower intakes feature a chrome mesh. Topping the grille is a Mercedes hood ornament. The hood is restyled, too, with a center ridge running front to back with a line of chrome trim. Besides these styling tweaks, the Mercedes-Maybach has had its wheelbase stretched a full seven inches, with the space going to rear passenger room. The stretch also included rear quarter windows. Just behind those windows are illuminated Mercedes-Maybach badges. The car can also be optioned with an array of exclusive wheels and two-tone paint. The two-tone paint jobs can take up to a week to complete.

Of course, the interior is what really sets the Mercedes-Maybach apart from the “average” S-Class. All examples come standard with Mercedes Designo leather upholstery, and even the headliner is finished in leather. Like other S-Class models, there is an air freshener function, and Mercedes has saved a special scent specific to the Maybach. The front seat backs are covered in wood trim to enhance the design. Rear occupants get individual 11.6-inch screens for entertainment, as well as a removable tablet for controlling various car functions. Passengers get to enjoy a 1,750-watt, 30-speaker Burmester sound system, which won’t be interrupted by outside noises thanks to additional sound deadening materials around the rear arches, thicker laminated quarter windows and active noise cancelling. Foam-filled tires and laminated glass around the rest of the car are options.

Powering the S 580 is a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 making 496 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque. Power goes through a nine-speed automatic transmission to all four wheels. The Mercedes-Maybach also has a unique drive mode specific to the model that smooths accelerator inputs, shifts early and starts the car in second gear for as smooth a driving, or riding, experience as possible. Four-wheel-steering is a standard feature on all Mercedes-Maybachs to aid maneuverability. Your choice of wheels can affect the amount of rear-wheel turning possible, with 4.5 degrees of rear steering with certain wheels and 10 degrees with others. Air suspension is also standard, but E-Active Body Control, which constantly adjusts suspension and can lean the car into a turn, is an option.

Pricing hasn’t been announced for the Mercedes-Maybach S 580, but expect it to be vastly more expensive than even top-spec Mercedes-Benz S-Class models. It goes on sale in mid-2021.

Image credit: Mercedes-Benz