Mercedes has faced harsh criticism for demoting the AMG C63 to a four-cylinder, but deep down, it (probably) knows there’s no replacement for displacement. While archrivals BMW and Audi have long abandoned V-12 engines, and Bentley has retired the W-12, the ultra-rich can still buy an S-Class with a dozen cylinders.
However, the 6.0-liter twin-turbo powerhouse is reserved for the extra-long sedan, as the lesser S-Class versions, or any other Mercedes models, miss out on the mighty V-12. Now, there’s a new special edition to celebrate the company’s twelve-cylinder heritage. It pays tribute to the original Maybach models sold during the late 1920s and much of the 1930s, which had huge 7.0- and even 8.0-liter engines.
The Mercedes-Maybach S680 has been taken to an even higher level of opulence with real gold accents inside and out. The famous double-M logo on the C-pillar is now joined by a 24-carat gold medal ring with diamond engraving. Look closely, and you’ll spot tiny “V” logos, serving a nod to how the cylinders are arranged under the hood.
Beyond the flashy badging, there’s a striking two-tone paint scheme: olive metallic for the upper section and obsidian black for the lower half. A silver metallic pinstripe separates the shades, looking like it belongs on a Rolls-Royce Phantom. Mercedes says it takes about 10 days to complete the exterior’s special finish, or roughly twice as long as a typical two-tone Maybach S-Class.
Photo by: Mercedes-Benz
Even the forged wheels are painted in the same green as the body’s upper section. Whether the design works is debatable, as something more elegant with thinner spokes might have been better, but to each his own. As if that weren’t enough, the standard car’s extensive use of chrome at the front further enhances the glitzy vibe of Mercedes’ most lavish sedan.
Inside, Mercedes went all out by covering the headliner in diamond-quilted saddle brown to match the seats. Walnut wood trim extends onto the steering wheel, while a “1 of 50” badge on the center console highlights the car’s exclusivity. There’s even more bling in the back, where a golden inlay, taking up to seven days to finish, adorns the console between the seats.
In this configuration, the stately sedan tips the scales at 5,213 pounds (2,365 kilograms), yet it still rockets from 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) in just 4.5 seconds thanks to that enormous engine. Flat out, it’s electronically limited to 155 mph (250 km/h).
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Source: Mercedes-Benz
The 50 lucky buyers also receive a few extras bundled with the car. To sweeten the deal, Stuttgart includes silver-plated champagne flutes, a key gift box with a matching ring, and a trunk mat edged in saddle brown to match the interior.
The Mercedes-Maybach V12 Edition is available in select markets, and while pricing hasn’t been disclosed, it’s safe to assume it isn’t cheap. A standard Maybach S-Class already starts at $245,650 in the United States, before options. In Germany, pricing kicks off at a steep €270,289.
But this isn’t a swan song for the V-12. Mercedes has pledged to keep its largest engine alive for the long run, albeit only in “selected markets.” Technically, the Maybach S-Class isn’t the only twelve-cylinder car with a Mercedes heart, considering the Pagani Utopia packs an AMG V-12.
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