Large yachts cannot always put on the port, and there are elegant tenders for gourmet excursions in Monaco, Mykonos or Miami Beach. The Mercedes-Maybach SL 680 can be inspired by this idea-a luxury runout for short forays into real life.
Maybach is known for opulent limousines with long wheelbases, data protection curtains and chauffeur-controlled elegance. But things are different with the Maybach SL 680, the most exclusive way to experience an SL. Chauffeur or not, yacht or in other ways, sometimes you just want to grab your wheel yourself and let the wind drive under the sun under the sun, look at the sea or the mountains. So far, owners of luxury cars could have reached according to their Porsche 911 Turbo S Cabrio, an Aston Martin Vanquish Volante or a Bentley Continental GTC. The Standard Mercedes SL, perhaps too everyday or thanks to the AMG development, never quite fit into the letter. When the call came to serious driving, the Maybach name returned, but only for the back seat.
The Maybach SL 680 now offers a luxurious toy for the elite in the world, an elegant “tender” for sun -called drives. Differences from the lavish AMG improvement SL and increases the bar with an extravagant luxury package and increases the basic price to at least € 225,850. At first glance, the monogram edition is unmistakably part of the Maybach family, whereby a bonnet with mm logos takes over, which is reminiscent of Louis Vuitton and even extends to the fabric roof. It is anything but subtle.
Maybach logos fill the front air intake, while the MM details adorn the sides and the back. Inside, exquisite materials and lush seats mentally transport passengers into the Côte d’Azur or Miami Strand. Wherever possible, the Maybach SL is aimed at attention, especially when opalit white is ready with this monogrammed contrast hood.
The morning sun glows in front of Lake Como while the breeze whips past, and from under the bonnet there is little more than a low, luxurious murmur until they open it. Then it roars to life and delivers a mighty and intoxicating drive. However, one thing is missing – a V12. Under the customer-specific body is the same four-liter V8 twin turbo, which you can see from AMG and produce 430 kW / 585 hp and 800 Nm torque.
It is a power package in every environment, even if the Maybach badge earns a dozen cylinder. 0–100 km/h only lasts 4.1 seconds, and the top speed is mashed at 260 km/h, an deliberate step to withdraw it from the Standard -AMG SL.
For a roadster of this luxury, however, we cannot help but dream of a flagship V12, an engine that is available elsewhere in the Mercedes setup, and one that ideal for this ultra-exclusive toy. Why the same 585 -PS melody as smaller AMG versions was used remains Affalterbach’s secret -but let’s be honest: Maybach SL drivers have more important things that can be concentrated on. Like their surroundings. Or her villa. Or your yacht.
There is no luggage on board, not due to the modest 240-liter trunk or the 13.6 l/100 km long fuel consumption, but because the maximum payload is only 145 kilograms. Enough for a slim companion and a lighter picnic basket.
