Order of operations applies in the luxury car world just as it does at the dinner table — you eat your entree before dessert arrives. Mercedes follows the same logic with its flagship sedans: the standard S-class leads, and the Maybach follows. The 2027 S-class made its debut in January with updated powertrains, a refreshed interior, and completely new lighting. The Maybach's update follows the same path, with a predictably heavier hand on the gilded details.
The most eye-catching exterior change is a grille that has grown by 20 percent, giving the car a more imposing face — one that trades subtlety for sheer presence. The Maybach name is now engraved across the top of the grille, and the entire unit is illuminated. The Maybach badge on the C-pillar lights up as well, and the optional three-pointed star hood ornament can also be specified with illumination — for an additional cost, naturally.
Mirroring the standard S-class, the Maybach's headlights now take the form of the Mercedes star graphic. Inside the headlamp housings, rose gold accents and a prominent Maybach logo add further character. It looks spectacular, though anyone who's had the misfortune of damaging similar units will appreciate just how expensive they are to replace.
Mercedes describes the interior overhaul as an effort to "deepen the signature Maybach cocooning experience." The dashboard now features the full-width MBUX Superscreen spanning A-pillar to A-pillar, driven by the Mercedes-Benz Operating System (MB.OS) — appearing in a Maybach for the first time. In the rear, 13.1-inch screens for the outboard passengers are now standard equipment, accompanied by a pair of remote controllers for managing infotainment, climate, and sunshades. A highlight of the updated rear cabin is a new center console fitted with two purpose-designed cupholders for the optional silver-plated Robbe & Berking champagne flutes. Understated it is not.
Under the hood, the Maybach follows the same powertrain updates as the standard S-class. The V-8 engine now produces 530 horsepower, up from 496, with peak torque standing at 553 pound-feet — 20 more than in the non-Maybach version. The 621-horsepower twin-turbocharged 6.0-liter V-12 carries over without changes, which is entirely fine given that the engine's 664 pound-feet of torque launched the previous five-thousand-plus-pound sedan to 60 mph in just 3.7 seconds in our testing.
The new Maybach S-class will reach U.S. dealerships in the second half of 2026. Pricing hasn't been confirmed, but the current S580 opens at $233,500 while the V-12 S680 starts at $270,750. Import tariffs on European vehicles may push the new model's price considerably higher.
