Mercedes-Maybach introduces first plug-in hybrid, EV due in 2023

Mercedes-Benz’s ultra-luxury Maybach brand has introduced its first plug-in hybrid, and it’s already looking ahead to its first pure electric vehicle later this year.

The 2023 Mercedes-Maybach S580e is being rolled out in China first, followed by Thailand, Europe and “other countries”. We’ve contacted Mercedes-Benz Australia to confirm if we’re one of them.

It mates a 3.0-litre inline-six petrol engine producing 270kW of power and 500Nm of torque with a 110kW/440Nm electric motor, for total system outputs of 375kW and 750Nm.

The company claims electric range of up to 100km, electrical consumption of 22.9-25kWh/100km, and combined fuel consumption of 0.8-1.0l/100km – all on the WLTP cycle.

Given the ‘regular’ Mercedes-Benz S580e uses a 28kWh battery pack, we expect the Maybach uses the same.

The S580e will do the 0-100km/h dash in 5.1 seconds, up to a top speed of 140km/h on pure electric power or an overall top speed of 250km/h.

It has an 11kW charger as standard for three-phase AC charging, with 60kW DC charging capability an option.

It looks much like the standard S580, though look closer and you’ll find blue accents in the headlights, a door for the charge outlet, and a battery charging state display in the instrument panel.

Interior photos haven’t been released, but we expect the same luxurious accoutrements as the petrol models which include active road noise compensation, a 31-speaker Burmester sound system, and a total of five screens in the cabin.

Options in the petrol model include an augmented reality head-up display, power-operated rear doors, a full-length wood-surfaced centre console, refrigerated rear armrest compartment, and a Designo package that finishes almost every surface – even the headliner – in leather.

The Maybach version of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class is offered in Australia only in S680 guise, which is powered by a twin-turbocharged 6.0-litre V12 engine with 453kW of power and 900Nm of torque.

In other markets an S580 is available, using a mild-hybrid twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 producing 370kW and 700Nm.

Though it has slightly less power and torque than the plug-in hybrid, its 0-100km/h time is marginally quicker at 4.8 seconds.

The S680 is one of just two Maybach models offered in Australia, the other being the Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 SUV.

The Mercedes-Maybach name will be applied to an EV for the first time this year. It’s expected to be a production version of the 2021 Mercedes-Maybach EQS SUV concept, which has been spied testing.

MORE: Everything Mercedes-Maybach S-Class