Mercedes-Maybach SL, beware of graft rejection!

Associating the star convertible Mercedes SL with Maybach, the division of the manufacturer known for its luxurious limousines, is quite a strange idea.

The Mercedes-Maybach SL 680 Monogram Series is claimed by the German manufacturer to be the sportiest model in Maybach’s history. For it to be the sportiest model, there would need to be another one in the Maybach lineup, and to our knowledge, that’s not the case. Unless we consider the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class 680, a 5.5-meter sedan weighing 3 tons and containing more leather than the private bar of the Plaza Athénée. Its engine produces over 600 horsepower? So what, with less than 200 horsepower, any lightweight sports car would easily outperform it on the track or winding mountain roads.

So let’s consider this SL as the first sports car in Maybach’s history. With its two-tone red and black or white and black paint, alongside the omnipresence of the Maybach emblem, the model is visually striking. If you don’t like it, no problem, you can choose whatever colors you want. Inside, the combination of Nappa leather, chrome, precious woods, or carbon is a celebration of excessive luxury. But as usual with Mercedes, it’s well-executed enough not to be vulgar. Just for a laugh, because it technically serves no purpose, the inside of the headlights is finished with high-quality rose gold. Otherwise, under the hood, you have a 4-liter V8 generating 585 horsepower.

Then the question arises: But why a luxurious sports car? The answer is simple, because there is a clientele for this type of model. A clientele, wealthy of course, that seeks a two-seater sports car, but not too sporty so as not to scare themselves. A clientele that appreciates comfort and beautiful materials but does not want to be locked in a mundane sedan. A clientele that seeks distinction and has the means to obtain it. Because while the price of this car, which is currently just a concept, is not known, a SL 63 S E PERFORMANCE already costs 230,000 euros, so the price of a luxurious Maybach version is likely to be very steep.

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