A 2027 Mercedes-Maybach S-Class driVe through the South Of France

How does a company that’s built automobiles for over 140 years interpret contemporary car culture? Mercedes-Benz answers that question with Maybach, it’s top-tier marque that functions as statement maker. It’s a brand where car designers get to play and experiment with motifs, patterns, and iconography to push its definition of modern luxury forward. While Maybach production is intentionally limited, its creativity informs vehicles across the portfolio.

We tested out the reimagined Mercedes-Maybach S this summer, sailing along picturesque roads overlooking the French Rivera. On a cerulean summer day in the Côte d'Azur, the icy cool Maybach cabin offered a Mediterranean reprieve from the sizzling European summer. Soft pillowy headrests and massaging seats quickly reminded us that a car can take care of its passengers and still be fancy.

Like its British competitors Rolls-Royce and Bentley, Maybach history has roots in the golden era of coach bult cars. Maybach is closely linked to Gottleib Daimler and Mercedes-Benz’s automotive origins. Maybach namesake, Wilhelm Maybach, was a technical director at Daimler. He broke off from Daimler in 1907 and joined with his son Karl to form the separate company. The first Maybach was shown at the Berlin Motor show in 1921, and production of the first Maybach began in 1922. Early models included the Maybach 12 DS and the Zeppelin, classic coach built cars from the art deco era that are collected and valued at multi-million dollar sums to this day. I saw three stunning examples on my visit to Provence that reinforced this fine historic pedigree.

The company produced its last car in 1940. Like many German manufacturers, Maybach supported the German arsenal during World War II as an engine builder of Panzer tanks. Maybach faded from car culture in this era. Mercedes acquired Maybach in 1960 and used the Friedrichshafen factory to produce parts for special editions. In 1997, Mercedes resurrected the Maybach 57 name on a concept car reveal and finally introduced the co-branded Mercedes line in 2015, a move that reinforced Mercedes’ vision to operate and compete with pinnacle of high-end car manufacturers. 

My inaugural journey in the 2027 Maybach S-Class began in Bandol, a small village nestled on the coast between Marseille and Toulon. Bandol is best known for its elegant rosé wines that contain a high proportion of the Mourvèdre grape that age well over time. (A Maybach metaphor for all those rose gold accents?) After he filmed “On the Waterfront, Marlon Brando frequented Bandol when he was engaged to a local woman. I arrived by ferry from the seaside resort Zannier Île de Bendora, the gorgeous private island property Mercedes selected to reflect the Maybach vibe. I found a fleet of 2027 Maybach S-Classes ready to drive on the Bandol pier. 

The Maybach S-Class stood out immediately for its polished exterior looks. It’s a regal sedan that draws from original design cues – stunning two-tone paints, the double MMaybach Motor Werks emblem, and a distinct pin-striped grille. What also makes the exterior distinct from a standard S-Class is the use of light and shape. Rose gold elements are embedded in the headlamps and a floating Mercedes-Benz star hovers over the hood. In the darkness, the Maybach logo is illuminated on the substantial grille, and embossed Maybach pattern adds extra flare to the front end.

While the exterior projects grandeur, Mercedes strives for a “cocoon experience” on the interior. To enter the Maybach, the soft leather seat cushions envelop the body. (For Maybachian customers, Mercedes says it’s always leather.) From my driver’s seat perspective, the vehicle’s wide stance took up a large portion of the road. After several roundabouts, it felt natural to lean into its confident power. Under the hood are two engines an unapologetic 12-cylinder and the eight-cylinder engine I drove, built for European customers. Both are formidable options. The Maybach engine came alive coasting along hilly sections of the storied roads of the regions. For a big bold sedan, it’s easy to maneuver as the silky, steady performance relaxes the body.

The new Maybach embraces a techy 2.0 approach, adding the more sophisticated Mercedes MB.OS operating system and fourth generation MBUX projected on the super stretched screens. Like many high-end companies, shared platforms and over-the-air updates help the specialized brands keep up with the parent company’s ongoing tech advances. The in-car personal assistant was ready and waiting for its driver’s voice commands.

However, it’s as much a treat to ride in the rear seats of the Maybach. The rear cabin offers ridiculous leg room. The executive four-seat option is the only way to kick back and recline in true business-class style. Passengers can also access the small fridge to pop open a cool bottle of champagne. My test Maybach came with a pair of silver-plate Robbe & Berking champagne flutes. It’s not a stretch to picture two world famous newlyweds cruising off to St Tropez for their honeymoon, raising a glass to Just&T Married in this chariot of choice.

“Picture world famous newlyweds raising a glass to Just&T Married in this chariot of choice.”

How much for the Maybach glow up? Mercedes-Benz hasn’t released official pricing. If it stays in line with the current Maybach portfolio, it will start well north of $200,000, before custom elements are added. For many, the personalization is the point. What sets Maybach most apart from the Mercedes portfolio is its strong streak of individualism. The company’s custom Manufaktur program incorporates a new Made to Measure atelier that operates out of the Mercedes’ Sindelfingen factory. Customers have access to 150 shades of exterior paints and more than 400 color combos on the interior. Playing with options on the Maybach configurator is its own arts and crafts exercise. A New York Knicks fan in our group fantasized over orange and blue custom patterns to conjure up Jalen Brunson. Fun fact: Lebron James was a recent Maybach collaborator on a custom Maybach S 680 that featured his personal logo. To each is their own – and that is the point of a stately 21st century super sedan. What matters most to Maybach then and now is how its design sensibility makes you feel from the inside out—that sensation is splendid.