Simply Abu Dhabi Magazine XXI

2 5 6 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I there’s little to nothing that would alert you to the fact that this carries a Maybach badge. Up there it’s all S-Class in look and feel with only a slightly more sluggish feel under the accelerator pedal giving away that you’re punting the extra weight around over the S600L. Aside from an exclusive paint process that includes rubbing back the surface of its first gloss coat before re- applying further clear layers which add depth to its bodywork, the extra chrome trim, a Maybach logo on the C-pillar, a badge on the boot lid and a unique, mildly tweaked grille, there’s nothing outwardly which tells you this is a pimped out penthouse on wheels. Oddly, the press material says the rear door is 66mm shorter than that used on the S600L which is not something the casual observer would notice, but when you climb in and recline into the sumptuous Nappa leather seats, it starts to make sense. Sitting behind the C-pillar line and being able to peek out through the tiny quarter windows behind the rear door gives an impression of a limousine and a feeling of supreme exclusivity. It’s a nice, if not a very expensive touch to engineer, which gives some idea of the attention and effort Mercedes has gone into making this the Rolls- Royce and Bentley chaser it most definitely is. Power comes from the 6-litre V12, twin-turbocharged engine used in the S63 AMGwhich punches out 530bhp and 830Nm of torque from just 1900rpm, so it’s not short of grunt under the right foot. It’s a seamless, near endless surge of power that’s so linear and quiet it feels like the Queen Mary on full steam ahead. It’s only if you’ve driven the shorter, lighter S63 AMG would you notice the power difference – and if you haven’t, then you’ll have nothing to worry about. For the record, both the V8 and V12 hit 100kmh in 5.0 seconds and top out at 250kmh. Let’s get down to the business end of the Maybach and what it’s like from the owner’s perspective, which is the kerbside, rear seat diagonally opposite the driver. It’s this specific seat because with no front passenger, the vacant front seat can be extended forward to give full legroom and the ability to stretch in an almost flatbed situation with a footrest in place.