MERCEDES-BENZ

Mercedes-Maybach SL 680 Monogram Series, 585 hp, tested: a yacht on wheels

When we talk about Maybach, the luxury sub-brand of Mercedes-Benz, we almost always think of cars of infinite length, mobile lounges with tinted windows, and pharaonic luxury in the rear seats. But the Maybach SL 680, the most exclusive expression of the SL model, proves that there are other options, as Daniel Lescow, head of the Mercedes-Maybach division, emphasized: "This is the sportiest and most exclusive model ever produced by our brand."

For luxurious summer trips to Monaco, Mykonos, or Miami Beach, there are many types of super-luxury boats. But the Mercedes-Maybach SL 680 is the natural extension of these luxurious vessels when their wealthy owners want to travel on dry land. While having a driver and surfing the waves in glamour is within the reach of only a small minority, sometimes we feel the urge to get behind the wheel and drive. Setting off with no destination in mind, preferably under a blue sky, with dreamy landscapes and a breeze caressing your face to reassure you that it's really happening. That's the terrain this Maybach treads.

Until now, the super-luxury compact roadster segment was reserved for little more than a trio of models: the Porsche 911 Turbo S Cabriolet, the Aston Martin Vanquish Volante, and the Bentley Continental GTC. The Mercedes SL has always been considered a bit bland or, conversely, too extreme in its AMG-tuned version. But now, with the Maybach version of the SL roadster, all that changes, and there's another respectable competitor trying to seduce just as attractive customers.

This two-seater convertible is the first Maybach model to feature the brand's signature chrome radiator grille, with thin vertical slats, featuring an A-shaped contour designed to shift the visual center of gravity downward. The grille surround and integrated Maybach lettering can be illuminated, while the front bumper features a chrome finish, which also appears on the windshield surround. Behind the seats, a dual air intake and a chrome fin on the hood enhance the vehicle's unique appearance, while 21-inch forged wheels (available in five-hole or multi-spoke designs) add a sporty touch.

The soft top is made of black fabric with integrated anthracite Maybach motifs. Its multi-layer construction is essential to ensure adequate acoustic and thermal insulation, but other measures also contribute to the mission of achieving the most relaxing and quiet interior possible: acoustic fleece, aluminum butyl surfaces, and acoustic foam. The exhaust system, meanwhile, features insulating materials with innovative inlays of recyclable fiberglass. In Sport mode, this exclusive exhaust opens a valve to bypass this chamber, while simultaneously emitting a more synthetic sound through the cabin speakers (ensuring that Sport mode sounds virtually the same with or without the top).

Driving the Maybach SL 680 through northern Italy...For the exclusive dynamic experience we participated in, the German luxury brand used two of the more than 50 paint colors offered to the discerning Maybach customer. Ambient White shines with the typical two-tone Maybach paint: Obsidian Black Metallic on the upper part and Opalite White Magno on the lower part. And Ambient Red, where Obsidian Black Metallic contrasts with an exclusive Garnet Red Metallic.

This is, therefore, the new toy for celebrities and millionaires, which will make them shine—alone or with a partner—even more on a sunny trip. To differentiate itself from the "standard" SL, the Maybach receives a luxury equipment package that raises its price to almost 300,000 euros.

The SL monogram, sculpted according to the customer's specifications, is instantly recognizable as a distinctive element of the Maybach family, as is the contrasting hood, inspired by Louis Vuitton design, covered with numerous MM logos, which also give the hood a unique character. These distinctive details are complemented by a series of Maybach logos on the front bumper air vents, erudite details on the sides and rear, and a cabin that transports us to the French Riviera or Malibu as soon as we step into this refined interior, crafted with ultra-exclusive materials, visible on the seats and throughout.

The interior strives to convey a feeling of lightness and spaciousness, but with greater exclusivity. To this end, the SL's rear child seats have been replaced by a leather-covered luggage compartment. The seats are softer than those of the standard Mercedes version, with additional padding on the backrest and seat bottom. The extensive use of sustainably tanned crystal white Nappa leather projects elegance, highlighting the seats with their new floral design, as well as the door panels, center console, and the space behind the seats. Galvanized backrests and silver accents also contribute to the elegant contrast, while the side panels of the seats are lowered for easier entry and exit. The "Airscarf" in the headrest, the massage seats, the soft top that can be raised or lowered in 15 seconds at speeds up to 60 km/h, and a central touchscreen that tilts to avoid glare: all useful features, but none exclusive to Maybach.

What makes this exquisite top-of-the-line version unique is the blessed return of mechanical switches for operating the electric top. This means that discerning SL 680 owners can avoid burning a finger by swiping and holding a virtual button on the infotainment screen, which will often be very hot from the sun, as is the case in all other "lesser" SLs.

The perfect setting...The sun shines brightly over Lake Como, not far from Milan, and the wind likes to ruffle the hair of the two lucky occupants of the Maybach SL. However, they are captivated by the purr of the 4.0-liter V8, which quickly turns into a battle cry when the driver decides to accelerate hard. Purists will argue that this engine needs four more cylinders to match the imposing bodywork, but the truth is that the most elegant Maybach is no slouch with this renowned V8 engine, which, after being crafted by AMG craftsmen, generates a maximum output of 585 hp and an equally impressive 800 Nm of torque.

There's no reason to complain in any driving situation with this two-tone, car-shaped sunroof, when the idea is to fully utilize the engine's sensational capabilities: it accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.1 seconds, and the top speed reaches 260 km/h. But for an ultra-luxury roadster like the Maybach, especially in this era of increasing electrification, the icing on the cake would be a dozen cylinders (and the characteristic sound that accompanies them), especially since this engine has not yet been discontinued.

It would be the perfect way to differentiate it from the SL, especially since the SL 63's maximum power is exactly the same. For those who enjoy a brief driving or navigating experience, this is a question that may not merit more than a brief grimace, but for collectors and more discerning customers, accustomed to buying only the best, it may cause more than a grimace. Getting to your destination (be it a luxury yacht or a panoramic penthouse on the French Riviera) shouldn't take long due to the lack of luggage space (240 liters fills up quickly...), and with the permitted load limit of no more than 145 kilograms, there's not much room for more than a well-stocked picnic of gourmet delights.

A magic carpet on wheels...As for ride comfort, there's little to no reason to complain. The sophisticated dynamics of the seventh-generation Mercedes SL combine with the smoothness characteristic of Maybach: in the semi-active suspension with hydraulic stabilizer, hydraulic elements replace conventional mechanical stabilizers and compensate for body roll movements in fractions of a second, while adaptive dampers adjust to change the car's personality according to the situation.

Maybach-specific valves for the hydraulic shock absorber system and softer steel springs (a 25 percent reduction from 80 to 60 N/mm at the front and from 45 to 34 N/mm at the rear) also allow the suspension to respond more sensitively, smoothly absorbing road imperfections, such as some of the winding, imperfect roads around Lake Como.

New front axle end bearings, softer hubs, modified elastokinematics (less aggressive camber, since track driving is not the issue), and Pirelli P Zero tires also contribute to the high level of driving comfort. Even a relaxed drive can allow for different driving styles, and to this end, the SL 680 offers four modes: Comfort, Maybach, Sport, and Individual. The first two offer a softer accelerator pedal and suspension response, while the last two set the tone for even more driving pleasure. The exclusive Maybach mode softens the accelerator urgency, steering sensitivity and suspension firmness, a step beyond Comfort mode, which is the mode in which the car starts.

Another advantage of programming the accelerator in Maybach mode is that, when pulling away smoothly from a standstill, there seems to be no sign of the occasional wet-clutch transmission jerkiness seen in other SL models. This also makes the 9-speed automatic transmission less prone to downshifts. Full priority is given to walking pace.

In short, the SL 680 (a term that might suggest it has 12 cylinders instead of 8) is slightly heavier (60 kg compared to the SL 63) and, as a result, its performance suffers (a half-second slower 0-100 km/h acceleration, partly due to the retuned transmission), offers two fewer seats, and intentionally sacrifices some of its sporty driving virtues. And for about 40,000 euros more: from the Mercedes' 259,897 euros to the Maybach's 292,358 euros. So why would a potential customer want to buy such an extravagant vehicle? Because they can. And, as with many things in life, even in the best of the best, quantity is often overrated. But quality and exclusivity...never.

Photos taken with the Sony FDR-AX43 UHD 4K Handycam Camcorder

Autonews