The proof has been provided: Mercedes-Benz is coming with a V12 version of the all-powerful Mercedes-Maybach S-class. In fact: it seems that this Mercedes-Maybach S 680 has been prominently displayed all this time!
This story is a bit different than usual. The Mercedes-Maybach S 680, as the top version of the top model from Mercedes is called, has not yet been officially presented. However, photos of a Maybach-S with V12 logos on the screen have surfaced on the brand’s media website, such as Motor1.com discovered. One of the photos actually shows the V12 engine in question, which definitively establishes that this previously announced variant is coming.
The joke, however, is that this is exactly the Maybach (note the license plate) that was shown on previous images of the extra-long and extra-luxurious S-class. The only difference is actually that nameplate, which was not yet visible on previous photos. So it seems that we have been secretly looking at an S680 since November, without even knowing it.
However, we do not know more than what can be seen in the photos at this time. The car is called 680 and probably has the 630 hp V12 that was also found in the previous edition of the Maybach, albeit under the name 650 at the time.
The fact that Mercedes is still working with a V12 in limousines is special, because this engine type is being abandoned by more and more manufacturers under pressure of strict CO2 requirements. Mercedes has already pushed the twelve-cylinder aside for the AMG versions of the S-class, but not yet for the Maybach variant.
The new Mercedes-Maybach S-class was presented with a V8, but recently we were also presented with a version with a six-cylinder. However, that S480 is currently only intended for the Chinese market.