Mercedes-Benz India has launched the facelifted Mercedes-Maybach S-Class at Rs 3.35 crore ex-showroom. It comes in one variant, the S 580e 4MATIC, and it is the first Maybach S-Class in India with a plug-in hybrid powertrain. Only 30 cars have been allocated to the first batch.
The car keeps its place as the chauffeur-driven flagship of the Mercedes range, sitting above the long-wheelbase S-Class, and the sub-brand now accounts for roughly half of all S-Class sales in India.
A six-cylinder plug-in hybrid replaces the V8
The S 580e pairs a 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-six petrol engine with an electric motor. The engine makes 443 bhp and the motor 161 bhp, and the combined output is 577 bhp with 750 Nm of torque. Drive goes to all four wheels through the 9G-TRONIC nine-speed automatic. Mercedes quotes 0 to 100 kmph in 4.8 seconds and a top speed of 250 kmph.
The 21.96 kWh battery allows up to 98 km of electric-only driving, at up to 140 kmph on battery alone. It charges at 11 kW on AC, which takes about two and a quarter hours from empty, and at up to 60 kW on DC, where 10 to 80 percent takes around 20 minutes. There are three drive programmes: Maybach, Electric and Battery Hold. The ARAI figure is 34.48 kmpl, which, as with every plug-in hybrid, depends on how often the battery is charged.
| S 580e 4MATIC | |
|---|---|
| Engine | 3.0-litre inline-six turbo petrol, 2,998 cc |
| Engine output | 443 bhp, 560 Nm |
| Electric motor | 161 bhp, 480 Nm |
| Combined | 577 bhp, 750 Nm |
| Battery | 21.96 kWh usable |
| Electric range | Up to 98 km |
| Charging | 11 kW AC, 60 kW DC (10 to 80 percent in about 20 minutes) |
| Gearbox and drive | 9G-TRONIC automatic, 4MATIC all-wheel drive |
| 0 to 100 kmph | 4.8 seconds |
| Length, wheelbase | 5,484 mm, 3,396 mm |
| Boot | 330 litres |
| Ex-showroom price | Rs 3.35 crore |
What the facelift changes outside
The Maybach grille is larger and now lit, with vertical chrome slats and an illuminated three-pointed star. The headlamps are new, with a three-pointed-star daytime running light signature and rose-gold detailing, and the lower intakes carry a Maybach-pattern mesh. The Maybach wordmark on the boot lid and the D-pillar emblem are illuminated too. Wheels are 20-inch forged units, and the MANUFAKTUR programme adds more paint and two-tone options.
The rear cabin is still the point
The executive rear seats recline to 43 degrees and are heated, ventilated and massaging. Between them runs a full-length business console with fold-out tables, wireless charging pads and temperature-controlled cup holders, and there is a refrigerated compartment. MBUX High-End Rear Seat Entertainment puts a 13.1-inch screen on each front seatback, with two wireless headsets, and the controller is now a pair of smartphone-style remotes rather than a tablet.
Up front the dashboard moves to the MBUX Superscreen, which puts the central touchscreen and a passenger display under one glass panel next to the driver display. Sound is by the Burmester High-End 4D system: 31 speakers, 8 exciters, 1,610 W and Dolby Atmos. The MANUFAKTUR Luxury Interior Package brings Nappa leather throughout and a MICROCUT roof liner, and the India page shows the cabin in Maybach Exclusive Nappa crystal white and silver grey pearl.
Safety and chassis
Air suspension and rear-axle steering are standard. The driver assistance list includes Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC, Active Steering Assist, Evasive Steering Assist and Active Brake Assist, with PRE-SAFE and up to 15 airbags.
Price and what it replaces
At Rs 3.35 crore ex-showroom the S 580e costs about Rs 47 lakh more than the outgoing S 580 4MATIC V8, which was listed at Rs 2.87 crore, and about Rs 97 lakh more than the long-wheelbase S-Class in its top form. The V12 S 680 is not part of the India line-up at launch.