A Lichtenstein businessman named Josef Weikinger has put over a million kilometers (621,000 miles) on a Maybach 62 S he purchased new in 2004. Weikinger believes he holds the record for the most miles ever put on a 240-series Maybach.

Weikinger, the owner of a major solar panel manufacturing company, says he reached the milestone in September of 2009 while driving home from a business trip in Poland but he did not talk to the press about it until recently. He brought a camera on the trip for the sole purpose of taking a picture of the odometer rolling over but he was disappointed to find out the 62 S stayed stuck at 999,999 for the remainder of the drive. The odometer was later reset to zero by his local dealership.

The car was religiously maintained by the Mercedes dealership that sold it new, and service records show the most extensive work performed was replacing the original 6.0-liter V12 engine at 372,000 miles and installing a new transmission shortly after. Weikinger's own meticulously-kept records reveal he pumped approximately 44,000 gallons of fuel, indicating the limousine returned a rough average of 14 mpg.

Weikinger explains he put an astronomical amount of miles on his car because he would rather drive than fly.

"Flying is ideal if you are simply traveling between European capitals. It becomes complicated if your customers are spread out across the continent, especially if you need to carry around numerous pieces of luggage and heavy items like bottles of wine to give to clients," explained Weikinger in an interview with German Magazine Auto, Moto und Sport.

When Weikinger sold his Maybach, he immediately headed to the dealership to buy another one but was starkly informed the brand had been axed by Daimler. Frustrated, he bought a BMW 760Li that he hopes will be as reliable and comfortable as his Maybach was.

A week before last Christmas, Mercedes released pricing information for the redesigned S-Class in the United States. The entry-level specification - dubbed S 500 4Matic Luxury Line - carries a sticker price of $109,800 excluding destination charge and extras. Customers who want to stand out in the crowd are offered the longer and more luxurious Mercedes-Maybach S-Class, which starts at $184,900 for the S 580 4Matic.

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First of all, we have to decipher the numeric designation. Instead of displacement, horsepower, or torque figures, 580 refers to a 4.0-liter V8 with a couple of turbochargers and 48-volt mild hybridization because Mercedes works in mysterious ways. 4Matic needs no explanation whatsoever because the 4WD system was introduced in 1987 in the W124 series E-Class.

The Stuttgart-based automaker quotes 496 horsepower and 516 pound-feet (700 Nm) of torque, which is a little underwhelming in a car this heavy. But we’re missing the point here because Maybach-branded Mercs are focused on luxury and comfort instead of straight-line performance.

Airmatic air suspension and active road noise compensation are highlights in their own right, along with rear-axle steering that improves maneuverability on narrow streets and at low speeds. Seven inches longer in wheelbase compared to the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, the Maybach brings the point home with calfrest massaging and a neck/shoulder heating system.

As standard, the MBUX High-End Rear Seat Entertainment system treats the rear passengers with two 11.6-inch touchscreens, two wireless headsets, and an MBUX tablet. Heated armrests, a rear-seat airbag, phone charging pads, and the Air Balance cabin fragrance system are standard too.

Arriving at U.S. dealerships in the summer, the S 580 4Matic is a thoroughbred Maybach up front as well. The driver - or better said chauffer - takes his information from the 3D instrument cluster, augmented reality head-up display, and a 12.8-inch OLED multimedia touchscreen display.

If this list of goodies still doesn't flot your boat, fret not. As expected of the Maybach division, more exclusivity is available in the guise of expensive appointments that include 10 two-tone paint finishes with a dividing line, a four-seat configuration with a continuous rear center console, electronically-operated rear doors, heated and cooled cupholders, and champagne flutes.

The 2021 Shanghai Auto Show is last week’s news, but in the multitude of premieres, one managed to slip away – until now. This is the new 2021 Mercedes-Maybach S480 and is exclusive to the Chinese market, though some believe that it might actually launch in the West as the S450.

Why the S450 and not the S480? That’s because it uses the same engine as the Benz S-Class, namely a 3.0-liter gasoline unit with mild hybrid assistance. It generates a combined output of 362 HP (367 PS / 270 kW) and 369 lb-ft (500 Nm) of torque in both cars.

However, due the difference in size and weight, the Maybach S480 is slightly slower than the S450 in the 0-62 mph (100 km/h), with 5.8 seconds compared to S450’s 5.1 seconds. The new six-cylinder Maybach has a top speed electronically limited to 155 mph (250 km/h), and it returns the equivalent of 27.5 mpg US (8.56 l/100 km).

As you can expect, there is nothing entry-level about the new Maybach S480, because it’s still bathed in the finest materials available and comes with everything required from a luxury sedan. The model is listed on the official website from RMB 1,458,000, which equals to $224,655 at the current exchange rates, and it is the only Maybach S-Class available in China at the moment. Nevertheless, it is understood to be joined by S580 and S650 variants, which have a 496 HP twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 and a 621 HP bi-turbo 6.0-liter V12 respectively.

The new Maybach S-Class will arrive in the U.S. this summer, in the V8-powered spec, with an MSRP of $184,900, excluding the $1,050 destination charge.

Mercedes has just unveiled its highly exclusive all-new Mercedes-Maybach S680 4MATIC sedan, set to arrive in U.S. dealerships in the first half of 2022 with “supreme quality” materials, carefully hand-painted colors, and specific Maybach design elements. It will also come with a mighty 6.0-liter V12 biturbo engine.

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As the most powerful model in the Mercedes-Maybach lineup, the S680 4MATIC will put down 621 hp (630 PS) and 738 lb-ft (1,000 Nm) of torque. With the aid of the 4MATIC all-wheel drive system and a nine-speed 9G-Tronic gearbox, this luxury sedan will rocket you to 60 mph (96 kph) in just 4.4 seconds.

With 31% torque distribution to the front axle and 69% to the rear, the S680’s all-wheel-drive system is said to offer the best possible traction and driving stability while also delivering the highest possible level of ride comfort, which is obviously very important in this type of vehicle.

The Mercedes-Maybach S680 has been further enhanced with active road noise compensation, which reduces unwanted low-frequency noises using counter-phased sound waves. This feature comes courtesy of the new Burmester High-End 4D Surround Sound System.

There are, of course, many other highlights when it comes to the new S680, such as its Maybach-exclusive lettering on the front bumper and radiator grille but also its engine hood trim strip, illuminated seamless door handles, plus Maybach door sill panels in stainless steel, illuminated in the front and the rear.

Speaking of visuals, buyers can choose between a total of ten color combinations from the Mercedes-Maybach paint chart as far as the two-tone exterior is concerned.

As for the interior, the German luxury sedan offers Nappa Leather finishes throughout, including the headliner, dashboard, instrument panel surrounds, armrests, glovebox, window frames, pillars, sun visors, backrest pockets, and even the door sill panel inserts. You’ll also find a Designo backrest trim in wood, diamond stitching on the seats, available silver-plated champagne flutes, and a refrigerated compartment.

Then there are the available electronically powered comfort doors, where the driver can control the rear doors remotely so that they open and close with no human effort (even on gradients). Using the MBUX Interior Assist, the closing action of the doors can even be started or stopped with a simple hand gesture. Furthermore, the same hand gestures can be used to control the rear roller sunblind in the panoramic sliding sunroof.

According to Mercedes-Maybach themselves, the new S680 4MATIC will stand as a direct rival to the Bentley Flying Spur and Rolls-Royce Ghost. U.S. pricing, meanwhile, will be announced at a later date. In Germany, the model starts at a whopping €217,323.75, which is the equivalent of $265,450 at the current exchange rates.

After rolling out six all-electric EQ products in roughly two years, one would think that maybe the fine folks at Mercedes-Benz deserve a bit of a break. But rather than slow down, the German brand (figuratively) sped up, launching AMG-badged versions of the EQS and EQE sedans. Now, it’s Maybach’s turn, as Mercedes applies its ultra-luxury sub-brand’s unique focus to the EQS SUV.

The 2024 Mercedes-Maybach EQS680 SUV is a deeply opulent re-think of the standard EQS SUV that takes no small amount of inspiration from the last high-riding Maybach, the $170,000 GLS600. In some ways, though, it feels rather formulaic. Like that vehicle, Mercedes leaves the wheelbase well enough alone – it remains at 126.4 inches on a body that spans 201.7 inches from nose to tail.

Like all recent Maybach models, two-tone paint is available with a hand-drawn pinstripe. The Mercedes three-pointed star takes its rightful place on the hood, while a waterfall grille sits below the first of many (many) Maybach word marks. Tiny Maybach logos adorn the non-functional lower intakes, aping the Louis Vuitton pattern, and they appear again in the animated puddle lamps. The two wheel designs – 21s are standard, while 22s are optional – modify Mercedes’ traditional monoblock design and look glorious. Surprisingly, 23-inch wheels aren’t available, because the EQS’ wheel arches are too small.

The overall design of the EQS is unchanged (despite what the concept promised) but the detailing is what the Maybach badge stands for. Nowhere is that clearer than in the cabin, where Mercedes ditched the optional third row and added a fixed bulkhead behind two throne-like rear seats.
Endlessly adjustable and boasting a calf massager and heated shoulders (in addition to the usual array of heating, ventilation, and massaging, natch) the right rear seat also includes a pop-out ottoman. A fixed center console divides the two seats, but opt for the First-Class Rear (snigger), and the console is larger, connecting to the front center console in a floating bridge design.

While it presents an impressive visual statement, including a puddle lamp that projects the Maybach logo onto the carpet, the console also adds heated cupholders, four USB-C ports, two HDMI ports, and a housing for a tablet. And naturally, silver-plated champagne flutes and a removable refrigerator are available. Sadly, Mercedes did not have a bottle of Veuve Clicquot for us to test the drinkware. Two 11.6-inch displays, meanwhile, sit on the front seatbacks and allow access to the MBUX infotainment suite.

Speaking of MBUX, front-seat passengers will have access to the standard Hyperscreen, which now includes Maybach-specific skins. Those digital details mingle neatly with material changes for the flagship EQS – Nappa leather is standard and, in a nod to sustainability, was tanned using recycled and plant-based materials (such as coffee beans). The process is better for the environment and according to Mercedes, it saves about 100 pounds of salt per vehicle compared to conventional leather.

There are two Manufaktur wood options – brown birch and brown walnut – as well as a lacqured piano black that you can choose if you have no taste. The woods are warm and beautiful and match perfectly with the rich leather. Detailing overall in the cabin is stunning, with real metal accents and more Maybach logos than you can shake a stick at. Seriously, I counted over 30 inside and out.

The Maybach treatment extends beyond material and styling changes and in the EQS, that means more power from the twin electric motors. Total output is up to 649 horsepower and 700 pound-feet of torque (compared to the EQS580’s 536 hp and 633 lb-ft), which is enough to scoot this road-going yacht to 60 in a relatively leisurely 4.1 seconds. Mercedes-EQ fans will note that the power figure is identical to the AMG EQS sedan’s standard output. The 200-kilowatt DC charge peak matches the standard EQS, meanwhile, while the overall range is 372 miles (WLTP).

More important to the Maybach EQS’ passengers, of course, will be the modified air suspension, which benefits from a dedicated Maybach driving mode. Replacing the Comfort setting, Maybach mode focuses on improving ride quality “entirely” for the rear passengers, according to Mercedes. That includes limiting body movements and their impact on the rear chairs and adjusting an “oscillation node” to reduce the amplitude of any impacts.

Mercedes isn’t sharing pricing on the Maybach EQS, which will be built alongside the standard model at the automaker’s Tuscaloosa, Alabama, factory, but considering the GLS600 starts at $170,000 and there’s a $20,000-to-$25,000 price difference between equivalent GLS and EQS SUV models, a starting price near $200,000 seems reasonable here. North American sales should begin in late 2023 or early 2024.