If the automotive world is in the middle of an electrified revolution, no one told Maybach. On September 23rd, in the shadow of the historic Fort Michelangelo in Civitavecchia, Italy, Mercedes-Benz unveiled something that feels like a defiant gesture to the EV era: the Mercedes-Maybach V12 Edition, a 50-unit farewell tour for the company’s twelve-cylinder flagship.
This isn’t just another S-Class with a fancier badge. It’s a curated celebration of more than a century of Maybach craftsmanship and V12 power, reaching all the way back to the Zeppelin models of the 1930s. And like those stately machines, this car isn’t about restraint. It’s about going all-in.
The Heart Still Beats Twelve Times
Under the hood lies the familiar 6.0-liter twin-turbo V12, delivering 612 horsepower and 664 lb-ft of torque. In a car that weighs as much as a country house, it still punches out 0–62 mph in just 4.5 seconds before hitting an electronically limited 155 mph. That’s not just quick—it’s absurd, considering the quilted roof liner above your head and the silver-plated champagne flutes waiting in the back seat.
More importantly, the V12 is the point. It’s the mechanical crown jewel that Mercedes knows won’t be around much longer. The effortless surge of power, the buttery smoothness, the sense that twelve pistons are working in perfect unison to propel two tons of German steel—it’s the sort of excess that makes this car feel timeless.
Craftsmanship on Another Level
Maybach is selling exclusivity, and the MANUFAKTUR treatment here borders on obsessive. The two-tone exterior—olive metallic over obsidian black—takes ten days to paint. The 5-hole forged wheels are color-matched. The C-pillar badge is a miniature work of jewelry: chrome and 24-carat gold, diamond engraving, and a bold “12” lifted from the old Zeppelin’s hood ornament.
Inside, the obsession continues. Saddle brown Nappa leather stretches across every surface, paired with burr walnut trim—even on the steering wheel. The roof liner gets diamond quilting, while a “1 of 50” badge sits proudly on the console. Each car comes with accessories that sound more like heirlooms: a handcrafted key box, a bespoke key ring, and those Robbe & Berking silver flutes—because no Maybach is complete without a way to toast your chauffeur’s cornering line.
Old World Meets New Tech
Yes, this is a nostalgia play, but it’s also modern Maybach. Active noise cancellation, rear-axle steering, and E-ACTIVE BODY CONTROL suspension keep the big sedan serene and surprisingly agile. MBUX stretches across multiple OLED screens, ensuring the chauffeur never has to fumble with anything as gauche as a button.
A Golden Farewell
Mercedes-Maybach says only 50 examples of the V12 Edition will be built, and deliveries start this autumn. Pricing hasn’t been announced, but if you have to ask, you already know the answer.
For everyone else, this car stands as both a rolling tribute and a swan song. In an age where kilowatts and battery chemistry dominate the headlines, the Mercedes-Maybach V12 Edition quietly raises a glass of chilled champagne and reminds us what unfiltered excess feels like.
It’s not just a car. It’s the last word in twelve-cylinder luxury.
Source: Mercedes-Benz
