2026 Mercedes-Maybach SL 680 Monogram Sequence First Look: The Finest SL Ever?

On today at Monterey Automotive Week, Maybach debuted a brand new two-seater convertible for the primary time within the new millennium. Dubbed the SL 680 Monogram Sequence, the newest and biggest from the world’s premier German luxurious model—if we low cost Bentley and Rolls-Royce being owned by VAG and BMW, anyway—rounds out the lineup in a section that prospects have apparently been clamoring for Maybach to fill.

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Mercedes-Maybach invited me to preview the brand new SL in Malibu the week earlier than Monterey kicked off in earnest, in precisely the form of a sun-drenched setting the place presumptive gross sales figures will congregate. Even at first look, the SL 680 carries the torch of conventional luxurious and opulence that made Maybach well-known, but additionally continues to point out how the Mercedes-Benz affect grows stronger and stronger. So, most of my questions for the Maybach group available centered round precisely how the SL 680 differentiates from the SL 63 AMG, and now the AMG GT, all of which trip on the identical shared platform.

I not too long ago drove a mannequin 12 months 2023 SL 63 AMG on a quintessential California street journey from Los Angeles to San Francisco, then Monterey, and again. The 800-plus miles of cruising, metropolis life, and canyon carving left me fairly shocked that, for what I had regarded as a grand tourer, the AMG SL undoubtedly leans towards the sportier aspect of the equation. Wasn’t that the GT’s job right here in 2024? I figured the GT ought to trip firmer and the AMG ought to soften up the suspension and steering for extra of the old-school cruising ethos.

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Now we get the reply: The Maybach would be the greatest grand-tourer primarily based on that SL chassis. Positive, the identical twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 lurks beneath the hood, placing out the identical 577 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque by means of the identical nine-speed automated transmission and all-wheel drive system. However in any other case, the Maybach variants acquired a major engineering makeover to go together with the extra apparent beauty enhancements.

The anticipated chrome design particulars stood out the second I rounded a big rock and the pink SL caught my eye, however then a re-assessment revealed additional work to easy out a few of the mannequin’s few angular points. The nostril and aspect sills now sync up, whereas the rear diffuser transitions to physique coloured to emphasise extra flush traces all through the design. A black consumption grille with delicate Maybach lettering in virtually calligraphic illumination—virtually unattainable to seize in brilliant daylight—transitions to a extra placing black hood, on this case that includes Maybach logos stamped in Graphite Gray after the unique paint will get hand sanded for added depth.

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The Maybach SL will are available solely two shade schemes, the “Pink Ambiance” on show in Malibu in addition to a “White Atmosphere” that technically employs Manufaktur-specific Moonlight White Magno pearlescent paint. Each hoods match in Obsidian Black Metallic, and the precise tone I acquired up shut and private with, witnessing some delicate shade shift in numerous lighting, is known as Garnet Pink Metallic.

The grille and black hood then lead by means of to the matching convertible prime, in black material additionally with Maybach logos in all places—a theme develops, for these curious whether or not this SL is, in reality, a Maybach in any respect. That’s, if the chrome windshield encompass would not sound the alarm. However even when the superfluous shiny trim by no means hits residence for my private style, the black used for the grille, hood, mirrors, and convertible prime elements mixed to create a horizontal waterline which, together with a few of the rounder nostril and tail design parts, truly emphasize the SL’s general enchantment.

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Michael Teo Van Runkle/SlashGear

I am not a convertible man, generally, however a part of why I discover the Maybach SL’s design coalesces higher than the AMG comes all the way down to the choice to stay with two seats solely moderately than a 2+2 format. Behind the entrance seats, a pair of carpeted parcel cabinets that most likely lurk beneath each different SL’s leather-based seat cushions now hews extra intently with actuality: No one, even babies, suits nicely within the backseats of an SL. It is no dealbreaker, being precisely the case with the Porsche 911, which technically satisfies the outdated familial calls for even when everyone concerned is aware of the actual fact.

Switching to a devoted two-seater format truly solves certainly one of my foremost complaints concerning the SL that I drove as much as the Bay Space and again. Specifically, that the standard M-B seat controls mounted on the door now function “good” programming to stop the entrance seatbacks from cramming into the rear seat cushions. However at 6’1″ with lengthy legs, I needed to completely max out my legroom and the good function, which angles the seatback ahead because the seat cushion slides rearward, left perhaps two inches on the desk. And each inch counts after 5 – 6 hours on the street.

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Therefore simply concerning the very very first thing I needed to check when the time arrived: Did Mercedes-Maybach engineers revise that programming? Positive sufficient! Within the Maybach my knees lastly reached the proper angle, even when the seats themselves prioritize swaddling in luxurious greater than the completely good buckets of that AMG, which hugged me into place a bit extra soundly because of extra sporting bolsters.

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Quilted stitching on the Crystal White Nappa leather-based contributes to the extra luxurious cushioning—and do not forget the Maybach lettering under the headrests, which additionally function the brand. Ventilated, in fact, and heated, in fact, and, in fact, sustainably-sourced leather-based abounds. However I additionally famous just a few different cues to the step additional upmarket, together with new pedal caps and monogrammed ground mats—de rigueur, duh.

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However I additionally rode as much as Malibu on that weekday in a chauffered Maybach S 680 four-door, the truest assertion from the model since Samuel L Jackson presumably specced his 57S (for five.7 meters lengthy, if my reminiscence serves). And the inside of the convertible occupies a rung of the ladder just under the four-door, which featured swooping wooden trim inlays and a relaxing champagne fridge and ventilated every thing and reclining rear seats full with pillows and adjustable headrests and leisure screens. A lot so, in reality, that I fell slumbering within the backseat (and never due to the non-existent champagne, this was a workday thanks very a lot).

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After that extra totally featured expertise, I suppose that I anticipated a bit extra from the SL. A number of too many surfaces in piano black plastic carry over from the AMG, and I seen fewer variations within the steering wheel and gauge cluster than I figured Maybach may spring for on a brand new mannequin. Stroking the haptic controls on a extra textural floor, not less than, or extra substantial roundels for the local weather vents. Possibly even some wooden grain.

In the meantime, I do know the drivetrain so nicely that when the Maybach product supervisor started explaining that the exhaust and engine tuning prioritizes low-end grunt, my thoughts balked. That is precisely what the SL AMG already delivers, so discovering much more of that limitless depth in some way requires a leap of creativeness. However I made certain to ask whether or not the nine-speed automated acquired completely different programming for smoother shifts—since Maybach mode made gearshifts virtually impossibly imperceptible throughout my nap. Yep, and the all-wheel-drive system additionally now biases extra evenly moderately than towards the rear as on the AMG, too.

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All-out efficiency turns into much less of a consideration for a Maybach, or not less than in my thoughts. Low-end shove with out requiring a downshift suits into the combo, sure, however flapping by means of gears on the paddles appears antithetical to Maybach luxurious. As an alternative, I needed to know the way Maybach adjusted the suspension to match the cruiser consolation ethos.

Once I first noticed the 21-inch multispoke wheels, moderately than greater or flashier rims, I knew instantly that an engineer (lastly) gained an argument with a designer. Smaller wheels signify my greatest hope for the Maybach SL, actualy, as a result of taller sidewall rubber instantly creates extra compliance. Balancing optics versus soft dynamics requires that tradeoff, moderately than merely counting on shock damper valving to do the job alone.

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But Maybach nonetheless revised the rear spring charges and damper valves, to permit a wider variance towards the extra floaty finish of the spectrum. Completely different software program programming for all of the drive modes will contribute, too, however even the inventory camber angle prescribed by the manufacturing unit for tire alignment ought to make a distinction. The steering ratio has been equally fiddled with, and rear steering comes normal to enhance maneuverability in tighter areas.

Maybach reps declare all of the revisions by no means sacrifice the motive force’s capability to agency up the suspension when the time comes, so the SL chassis’ sportier aspirations by no means fly straight out the window. And extra exhaust grumble low down within the rev vary doubtless helps to masks any misplaced sensation in full-gas mode. However then once more, these highlights of the SL’s extant expertise is not going to shine by means of till Maybach permits me to truly test-drive the brand new mannequin.

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On the trip up, drifting away within the liminal dream state of a chaufered Maybach and having no teaser pictures to preview, I imagined the SL 680 otherwise. My thoughts’s eye pictured one thing extra in keeping with earlier idea automobile designs, extra radical within the vein of Maybach’s most expressive extra. One thing artwork deco and greater and virtually extra Cadillac or Rolls-Royce than Mercedes. As an alternative, I wound up fiddling round and capturing pictures of an SL convertible that is undoubtedly not the chauffeur’s Maybach. As an alternative, maybe actually for the primary time, this new M-badged mannequin will likely be for the motive force.

In actuality, I recognize seeing a real grand-touring SL again within the lineup to quell any confusion or sibling rivalry. The idea appears nicely fleshed out, and all my questions went requested and answered with none of the quibbling or company jargon that usually seems baked into public relations briefing handbooks for engineers, product managers, and designers dealing with the unenviable process of fielding journalist inquisition.

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However, the truth that the SL 680 will solely arrive in two shade schemes essentially hints at some hesitancy, maybe from the advertising division. Will the purchasers who clamored for this actual package deal truly take the leap of religion for the—presumably expensive—beginning sticker? The potential to broaden potential choices sooner or later, within the occasion that gross sales meet or exceed expectations, ought to solely require a bit extra effort. So in a sure mild, Mercedes and Maybach alike determined to merely whet a toe as a type of introductory salvo.

Within the fashionable period of McLaren Particular Operations, Ferrari Tailor Made, Maserati Fuoriserie, and Lamborghini Advert Personam, although, does Maybach not count on individualization to suit into buyer visions for the SL? Even when this is not the primary convertible Maybach ever—most not too long ago, the 2017 S Cabriolet with 4 seats and much more grand touring aspirations, plus allow us to not overlook the G 650 Landaulet SUV, both—the prospect that prospects will need a one-of-one construct appears extra than simply doubtless.

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Regardless, as I then rode again residence within the S 680, as soon as once more dozing into the etherlands the place daydreaming meets REM sleep, I attempted to ascertain the best SL 680 Monogram Sequence purchaser. Absolutely, that buyer owns just a few automobiles, and a good quantity already depend a Maybach or two within the steady by now. We’re not fairly on the identical degree of sizable leap of creativeness that the EQS Maybach required as a totally electrical luxurious SUV final 12 months, however a V8 moderately than a V12 nonetheless additionally looks as if one thing of a letdown hole.

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And Maybach already plans to ship zero SL convertibles to China, which whereas a giant market, is just not a convertible market. I can clearly image an SL 680 Monogram Sequence cruising the stoplights and retailers of Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, although, on a scorching summer season day. Or blasting alongside the stainless asphalt of a Center Jap metropolis. The marketplace for European gross sales—exterior of Monaco, anyway, which is simply one other Rodeo Drive by now—appears considerably extra restricted. However then once more, perhaps enlargement into one thing of a extra culturally related realm suits into Maybach’s scheme for the SL. In that case, even with out realizing the presumably intimidating price ticket, these pink and white convertibles appear ripe for the taking.

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