The 2021 Shanghai Motor Show continues to be talked about. This time the news is the Mercedes-Benz Maybach S-Class and the fact that it received the smallest engine in its range.
Originally released with only a V12 engine (these exclusive to this sub-brand) and a V8 engine, the German top of the range adhered to the “fashion” of downsizing, receiving a 3.0 l inline six-cylinder, but only for the Chinese market.
Designated as Mercedes-Maybach S 480, despite being indicated as exclusive to the Chinese market, some say that there is a possibility of reaching other markets, but as S 450.
The reason for this specific version for the Chinese market is related to the automobile taxation that exists there. As in Portugal, China also taxes the engine capacity and the difference in taxation between each level is substantial. The V8 engine of the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class, running at 4000 cm3, is in a step above that of this S 480, which is below 3000 cm3, justifying the option for this engine.
It is a way for Mercedes-Maybach also to maintain absolute dominance of the luxury segment in China. It is the main market for this model, with sales in the range of 8-9 thousand units per year, with the rest of the competition — Rolls-Royce and Bentley — only remaining at the dozens or just over 100 units sold per year.
Less engine, same luxury
Under the hood of the Mercedes-Maybach S 480 appears the same in-line six-cylinder already used by the Mercedes-Benz S-450 Class. 500 Nm.
With all-wheel drive, the S480 sees its extra weight and dimensions compared to the “brother” of Mercedes-Benz hinder it in the field of performance. In this way, the 0 to 100 km/h are fulfilled in 5.8s (compared to the 5.1s of the S450) while the maximum speed is limited to 250 km/h.
In the fields of luxury and equipment supply, the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class continues to be a reference, not “accusing” the fact that it has a much smaller engine than expected.
The only Mercedes-Maybach S-Class available, so far, in China, it costs 1 458 000 renmimbi (or yuan), around 186 268 euros.