2006 Maybach 62S 6.0L V12 5AT (612 HP)

Vehicle Overview

Maybach introduced the 62 S in 2006 as a natural evolution of the 57 S that was unveiled a year earlier at the Geneva Motor Show.

Mercedes-Benz was far from having the success it hoped for in the revival of the Maybach brand. Even though these cars were fitted with the most advanced technologies the carmaker had in its parts bin and were offered exclusive options such as dimming panoramic roofs, sales were slow even for a luxury automaker. The problem was that customers perceived the vehicle as a more expensive S-Class, not as a completely different one. And they were right in many aspects. After all, the overall proportions and the general look were not far from its W140 stablemate, with which it shared its platform. As a result, Maybach struggled with three-digit sales figures. The 62S was just another way of boosting numbers, but that didn’t happen.

The 62S was offered with either a monochrome silver or black color scheme, and it sat on standard 20″ light-alloy wheels made just for the 57S and the 62S versions. In addition, the front grille sported 11 chromed vertical slats instead of 23 as on the regular 62 model. At the back, the rear apron was redesigned to accommodate the oval exhausts instead of the round ones as on the non-S versions.

Inside, Maybach installed two bucket seats at the front and two reclining ones in the rear, like in the rest of the 62 range, but added more options. These included different leather upholstery and lamb wool carpeting for an even more refined atmosphere. The automaker also offered the vehicle with either piano-black or carbon-looking trims instead of wood.

Under the hood, the bi-turbo 6.0-liter V12 powerplant developed a massive 612 PS (603 hp) and 1000 Nm (737 lb-ft) of torque, sent to the rear wheels via an AMG-Speedshift, five-speed automatic gearbox.