In 2026, We All Need the New Mercedes-Maybach S-Class

Does it feel like 2026 has already been going on for a year? Are your nerves rattled? Maybe your New Year’s resolutions are already in the trash? Well, you’re not alone. Us too. And so with all the chaos in the wider world at the moment, who couldn’t use a little escape, a little sanctuary?

Thankfully, as if on cue, Mercedes-Maybach has just delivered its new flagship S-Class sedan. This is not a little sanctuary, it’s an absolutely massive one.

And for all you gearheads who still believe a stately limousine really ought to have at least 12-cylinders, good news! With the arrival of this new Maybach, the S-Class once again gets a V12 engine.

Wait, What’s the Maybach S-Class?

It’s an S-Class — the gold-standard of German luxury cars — for people who think the S-Class is a bit too plain, too pedestrian. Or, as the company explains, the Maybach version adds “exclusivity and elegance” to the “cutting edge technology and perfection” of the S-Class.

What Sets the Maybach S-Class Apart From Its Mercedes Counterpart?

For lack of a better word: glitz. The front grille, which is now even larger, is illuminated along with the Mercedes star riding atop it. On the C-pillar, Maybach’s logo is lit up as well. (And no, this isn’t the first new Mercedes with a glowing grille, and it certainly won’t be the last.) New wheel options include a set with self-levelling Mercedes star centre caps. Inside the redesigned cabin, there’s more wood and leather than in your local country club’s lounge. Material options such as open-pore Amber Brown Herringbone Wood and Beach Brown interior are there to make occupants feel cocooned and pampered. The dashboard is still a smorgasbord of screens — technically dubbed the MBUX Superscreen — but if you find all the tech overwhelming, well… let your chauffeur handle it while you lie back in one of the two reclining thrones in the rear.

Tell Me About the Maybach’s V12 Engine Already!

Mercedes doesn’t offer a 12-cylinder option in the “normal” S-Class range. For that, you’ve got to step up to the Maybach. The 621 horsepower 6.0-litre biturbo V12 is handmade and exclusive to the range-topping Mercedes-Maybach S 680. It’s not available in every market, but bless our lucky stars, it will be available here in Canada. This land yacht isn’t about speed or power, it’s about waft, about the sort of effortless progress only a big V12 can provide. A 530 horsepower V8 is also available, but we think if you’re getting the big Maybach, you might as well get the big engine.

For those keeping track of the numbers, no, this is not the most powerful S-Class. That title belongs to AMG, of course. Its hot-rodded AMG S 63 E Performance sedan (cute name, eh?) churns out nearly 800 horsepower and over 1,000 lb-ft of torque. If you want to get your adrenaline pumping between board meetings, go for that one. If you want sanctuary, go with the Maybach.

There’s Another Reason to Get the Maybach Though…

The most persuasive reason to choose the Maybach? The new MANUFAKTUR Made to Measure individualization program. It goes beyond even the range of custom paints and leathers and trims customers can specify through the MANUFAKTUR program into something more open-ended. The new Made to Measure program offers, among other things, “access to hundreds of historic Mercedes-Benz and Maybach colours, hundreds of leather options for the interior, virtually countless colours for decorative stitching and various personalization options for the interior.” The latter are particularly intriguing (and we’ll report back when we find out more).

People like Vjekoslav “Vjeko” Crndic — a longtime exclusive consultant at the company’s massive 23,000 sq-ft Center of Excellence in Sindelfingen — are on hand to help Maybach’s top clients take full advantage of the Made to Measure program. He’s there to deliver impartial advice and assist on projects; he’s not on commission and has worked with some close clients for years. Asked whether he’d ever turned down a client’s request, he replied: “No, not really. In those cases, we might suggest that two colours usually work best, and that three colours might be a bit overwhelming in the long run. But ultimately, it’s the client’s decision. We’ll make it happen — as long as it’s technically feasible.”

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