The Mercedes-Benz lineup has been revealed for the 2018 Auto Expo and one of the main highlights will be the Maybach S650 sedan. It will be unveiled to showcase the facelifted S-Class but from the perspective of displaying the most expensive of the lot before bringing in the lower priced models.
The facelifted S-Class was introduced in mid-2017 and is an updated version of the sixth generation car that was launched in 2013. With the new generation Mercedes moved to a new platform, design philosophy and obviously a new set of technologies to bring its flagship sedan into the new decade.
Arriving four years after the generation change, the facelift sees the S-Class gets a new grille, head lamps, tail lamps and re-profiled bumpers. Inside, the digital displays on the dashboard have been boosted in size while signature two-spoke wheel with wood inserts has been replaced by the latest generation three-spoke wheel. The feature list has been expanded both in terms of comfort, safety and for the first time, with autonomous driver technology.
It is a similar story with the Maybach models and more specifically the S650 variant that will be brought to India. It is a successor to the S600 Maybach (which this writer drove in 2015) and sports the same design updates as seen in the facelifted S-Class. The face is completely new thanks to the revised grille, tri-split LED headlamps and bumpers. In profile, this Maybach 650 is as long as its three-part name (5.4-meters) while at the rear, its re-profiled bumpers and tails lamps as a part of the update. Of course, it is hard to miss the double M badges on the side as well as Maybach badging and model specific wheels.
However, where the car gets really exciting is that it is powered by a 630bhp bi-turbo V12 petrol engine displacing 6000cc. With 1000Nm of tap, the S650 shares the powertrain with the S65 AMG and is one of the most powerful Mercedes cars on offer.
It is unlikely that there will be much of a price change from the current S600’s Rs 2.54 crores price tag when the car is launched.
