Bargain ‘Bach? 2016 Mercedes-Maybach S600 Priced at “Just” $190,275

It’s not every day that we can say we’re shocked by how little a hyper-luxurious car costs, specifically when it includes anything with “Mercedes” or “Maybach” in its name. Nowadays isn’t a normal day, then, because the new 2016 Mercedes-Maybach S600, which we just drove for the 1st time, is coming in at, a-hem, “just” $ 190,275.

That is $ 22,450 far more than the smaller 2016 Mercedes-Benz S600 on which it is based, but the value difference shrinks to about $ 13K when you add functions to the S600 that are standard on the ‘Bach. But wait, there’s more! The shipping charge has come down to the exact same $ 925 necessary in most other Benzes, which is about a third of the $ 2750 Maybach utilised to charge to drop off its 57 and 62 limousines. At $ 2,806 per added inch of length (the Maybach’s 8 inches longer than the S600), the Mercedes-Maybach’s not specifically a low-cost upgrade, specially when you contemplate that a $ 5000 bottle of champagne is almost certainly considered a regular buy for the car’s target buyer. Good thing, then, that the S600 can be fitted with a refrigerator amongst the rear seats—the residence fridge is for those $ 10,000 bottles, anyway.

Far a lot more crucial to prospective clients are the spoils, and you will get a lot of ‘em with the Mercedes-Maybach S600, which includes several of the more desirable possibilities on the S-Class. Normal goodies incorporate special wood and decorative materials, Mercedes’ nifty Intelligent Drive driver-assistance package, Magic Physique Handle (a.k.a. “Bumps-be-gone!”) adaptive suspension, infrared night vision, a panoramic sunroof, the S-class’s warmth and comfort option packages, a heated windshield, a head-up display, Burmester “High-Finish 3D” surround sound audio, the Executive rear seat package, rear-seat entertainment, and, of course, the S-class’ fabulous perfume atomizer. Naturally, the Mercedes-Maybach will be offered with many alternatives to tailor the car to its owner’s liking, and alas, raise the value to far more expected levels, but those have yet to be completely outlined or priced.

As if it matters to the one percent, the S600’s pricing is competitive with the $ 197,825 Bentley Flying Spur V-8 and the Rolls-Royce Ghost, both of which offer you a greater sense of occasion, if not very the identical levels of technological sophistication. Given the state of the ever-audacious pricing policies of luxury carmakers—and Mercedes in particular—you couldn’t have convinced any a single of us right here that that the huge ‘Bach would come in a cent under $ 200K, but here we are. Will Maybach succeed beneath Benz’s wing where it failed (nearly) on its own, specifically with out the size and glitz of its competitors? Nicely, if not absolutely everyone wealthy enough to personal one particular desires to appear so lucky rich—it might just stand a opportunity.

Bargain ‘Bach? 2016 Mercedes-Maybach S600 Priced at “Just” $190,275

Bargain ‘Bach? 2016 Mercedes-Maybach S600 Priced at “Just” $190,275

It’s not each and every day that we can say we’re surprised by how small a hyper-luxurious automobile charges, especially when it involves anything with “Mercedes” or “Maybach” in its name. Today isn’t a regular day, then, because the new 2016 Mercedes-Maybach S600, which we just drove for the very first time, is coming in at, a-hem, “just” $ 190,275.

That is $ 22,450 a lot more than the smaller 2016 Mercedes-Benz S600 on which it is based, but the price tag difference shrinks to about $ 13K when you add features to the S600 that are common on the ‘Bach. But wait, there’s a lot more! The shipping charge has come down to the same $ 925 necessary in most other Benzes, which is about a third of the $ 2750 Maybach utilised to charge to drop off its 57 and 62 limousines. At $ 2,806 per added inch of length (the Maybach’s 8 inches longer than the S600), the Mercedes-Maybach’s not precisely a low-cost upgrade, specifically when you take into account that a $ 5000 bottle of champaign is most likely regarded a typical buy for the car’s target purchaser. Very good issue, then, that the S600 can be fitted with a refrigerator in between the rear seats—the residence fridge is for those $ 10,000 bottles, anyway.

Far much more essential to prospective buyers are the spoils, and you will get a lot of ‘em with the Mercedes-Maybach S600, like a lot of of the a lot more desirable possibilities on the S-Class. Common goodies contain special wood and decorative components, Mercedes’ nifty Intelligent Drive driver-assistance package, Magic Body Control (a.k.a. “Bumps-be-gone!”) adaptive suspension, infrared evening vision, a panoramic sunroof, the S-class’s warmth and comfort alternative packages, a heated windshield, a head-up show, Burmester “High-End 3D” surround sound audio, the Executive rear seat package, rear-seat entertainment, and, of course, the S-class’ fabulous perfume atomizer. Naturally, the Mercedes-Maybach will be provided with a lot of choices to tailor the vehicle to its owner’s liking, and alas, raise the price to more expected levels, but those have but to be fully outlined or priced.

As if it matters to the one %, the S600’s pricing is competitive with the $ 197,825 Bentley Flying Spur V-8 and the Rolls-Royce Ghost, each of which offer a greater sense of occasion, if not really the very same levels of technological sophistication. Given the state of the ever-audacious pricing policies of luxury carmakers—and Mercedes in particular—you couldn’t have convinced any one of us here that that the large ‘Bach would come in a cent below $ 200K, but right here we are. Will Maybach succeed below Benz’s wing exactly where it failed (practically) on its personal, specifically without having the size and glitz of its competitors? Properly, if not every person wealthy sufficient to own 1 desires to appear so lucky rich—it may just stand a opportunity.

Bargain ‘Bach? 2016 Mercedes-Maybach S600 Priced at “Just” $190,275

2016 Mercedes-Maybach S600 1st Drive Review: The Lap of Luxury Defined

Initial Drive Assessment

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Driving and becoming driven in the lap of luxury.

Daimler is proud of its Mercedes-Benz S-class: The luxury sedan is not only a technology leader, it also outsells the Audi A8 and the BMW 7-series combined. What a contrast to the Maybach 57 and 62, which launched in 2002 and then languished largely unchanged for a lot more than 10 years. Based on the W140 S-class, the Maybach was already somewhat outdated even when new. And its sales were a disappointment—which we know simply because the firm unwisely revealed sales projections that the auto eventually missed by a margin roughly the size of the Grand Canyon.

In creating a hyperluxury sedan this time around, Daimler played it safe—and in the method it designed a much much better car. The new Mercedes-Maybach S600 is a Mercedes-Benz S600 with an further 7.9 inches of wheelbase and an unprecedented level of equipment. It will price just over half as significantly as the preceding Maybach, which retailed for $ 379,000 in 2013, although there will be an comprehensive possibilities list to bring its price way up from the roughly $ 200,000 base price.

Taken for a Ride

Even even though the new Mercedes-Maybach S600 is shorter than the old Maybach 57, and as a result far more maneuverable, it delivers a lot more room in the rear passenger compartment. The launch occasion for the press was created so we could invest ample time back there, since this is how several buyers will encounter the automobile. Both rear seats recline like business-class seats on an aircraft, and together with extending footrests, they make it effortless to work, watch a film, or simply fall asleep. Daimler claims it offers the quietest rear passenger compartment of any automobile in production. We believe it. However, we also believe that Daimler requirements to take a challenging look at the rear-seat entertainment program, which is slow and fiddly.

Powered by the familiar 6.-liter twin-turbo V-12, a 36-valve engine rated at 523 horsepower and 612 lb-ft of torque, the Mercedes-Maybach accelerates with alacrity. The organization claims a -to-60-mph time of 5. seconds. Preserve pressing the pedal, and a feeling that reasonably approximates a corporate jet at takeoff continues up to the 155-mph limiter.

There is no mistaking that this is a large automobile, yet the driving encounter is hardly diverse from that of a regular S-class. Our test car was equipped with an air suspension that reacts to camera-scanned road-surface data. Mercedes-Benz has refined this system to a outstanding level because our knowledge with a prototype, and it is very apt at recognizing speed bumps. But it is not totally unfallible, so we would discourage the chauffeur from sailing over speed bumps at highway velocities. It may possibly catch 4 in a row, but the fifth 1 could send the valuable passengers and their silver-plated champagne flutes flying.

Maybach-Exclusive Touches

Besides the aforementioned champagne flutes, Maybach-exclusive interior attributes contain bespoke wood trim inspired by the S-class coupe as effectively as hand-stitched leather on the door panels. A complete-length center console with deployable function tables is optional. For all this, even though, Daimler could do more to differentiate the Maybach from the typical S600. The vehicle was rushed to market place on a tight schedule, and it would benefit from a couple of far more Maybach-specific characteristics.

The changes to the exterior are rather a lot more convincing. Aside from the additional length, the front and rear fascias are primarily based on these of the regular S-class (which absolutely everyone foregoes in favor of the AMG package in the U.S.) but get an added dollop of chrome. The greenhouse is restyled with a rear-quarter window in the C-pillar, an nearly Bentley-esque flourish. And there are exclusive colors and massive 20-inch bowl-shaped aluminum wheels that are not available on any other S-class.

Buyers who miss the space of the old Maybach 62, fear not: At the Geneva auto show, Daimler will launch the Mercedes-Maybach S600 Pullman. But no matter whether you go Pullman or not, the upper-luxury segment has just met its new technologies leader—after all, it is primarily based on the S-class, itself a technology leader.

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2016 Mercedes-Maybach S600 1st Drive Review: The Lap of Luxury Defined