Mercedes updates the mega-luxurious Maybach S-Class
Thu, 26 Mar 2026
- Big upgrade for top-spec luxury limousine
- New exterior design
- Upgraded interior materials and tech
- Mild-hybrid for six- and eight-cylinder engines
The most luxurious of all the cars in the Mercedes stable just got even more swanky, with an overhaul of the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class.
A facelift and a grand update of engines and interior features aims to make the ultimate S-Class even more high-end, elevating it above the standard car and rivals like the BMW 7 Series and Audi A8. Rival cars in the hyper-luxury category will come from the likes of Bentley and Rolls-Royce.
Highlights include a new, larger grille (illuminated, as is the style of the moment), the availability of various leather-free luxurious upholsteries inside, and an expanded Manufaktur Made to Measure bespoke programme. There's also Mercedes' latest infotainment system, and refinements to the engine options with mild-hybrid six- and eight-cylinder units, as well as a more powerful version of the S680 V8.
2026 Mercedes-Maybach S-Class price and release date
No UK pricing for the new Maybach S-Class has yet been announced, but this is the very top of the Mercedes tree, so you can bet it won't be cheap, especially once you start ticking the myriad personalisation boxes. The current Maybach S-Class starts from around £175,000.
2026 Mercedes-Maybach S-Class styling, interior and technology
The changes to the outside of the Maybach S-Class start at the grille, which is 20% larger than before and has an illuminated surround and illuminated Maybach logo. The revised headlights now have rose-gold accents in them, and the C-pillar and Mercedes badge on the bonnet are illuminated too, although only in certain markets.
The car's forged wheels – available in various new designs including a 21-inch gold option – now feature a floating Mercedes star that stays upright even when the car is moving, and there are numerous new paint options.
Inside, there's a redesigned cabin with new materials, including a leather-free option for the first time, using Mirville textile – a blend of linen and recycled polyester – and Artico synthetic leather, as well as open-pore oak and amber-brown wood in a herringbone pattern. There are 199 LEDs in the upgraded ambient lighting system.
The car also gets the latest Mercedes Benz Operating System (MB.OS), with the Superscreen found in other models, incorporating central and passenger displays under a single sheet of glass. An AI-powered virtual assistant uses Google Gemini and ChatGPT to converse in natural dialogue.
In the back – where many Maybach customers spend most of their time – there are automatic doors, a redesigned centre console with bespoke holders for silver-plated champagne flutes, and a removable 10-litre refrigerated compartment. Two 13.1-inch rear displays with new remote controls and integrated cameras let you make video calls on the move.
2026 Mercedes-Maybach S-Class engines, performance and fuel economy
The various power options within the Maybach S-Class have been re-engineered, in part because of the need to meet the latest emissions regulations. There's widespread use of mild-hybrid tech across the six- and eight-cylinder options, and a revised V8 in the S 680. This now delivers 612PS with a 23PS boost from the mild-hybrid system, putting the V8's power on par with the V12 – which, in the markets where it's still available, also has 612PS.
The V8 in the S 580 now develops 537PS, with the extra 23PS mild-hybrid boost, and the output on the S 580 e plug-in hybrid has been upped by 75PS compared to the previous generation, and has an electric range of up to 62 miles.
There's also a new Airmatic air suspension system with predictive damping that adjusts to the road ahead and to road conditions, and a new Maybach driving mode has been added with a focus on driving comfort.
