Glide along: Mercedes-Maybach SL 680 Monogram Series

There’s a lot to like about the Mercedes-AMG SL 63. Sport-Leicht purists might argue that it doesn’t fall in line with classics like the 190 SL of the 1950s, and the Pagoda of the ’60s. These were the cars that defined the series, and were lightweight, drop-top cruisers designed to wallow along highways and carve gently through mountain twists. The SL 63 is designed to destroy them. It is a V8 muscle car with aggressive looks and 577hp. But it’s also luxurious, with a leather-swathed interior, and comfortable massaging seats. You don’t sit in one and wonder where your money has gone.

But the folks across from AMG in Stuttgart’s Maybach division have thought otherwise. For the first driver’s car in Maybach’s history, the SL 63 has been chosen as the base, and it’s been transformed into the most opulent convertible money can buy. 

Thanks to the SL 63’s existing proficiency when it comes to pace, it is also the sportiest Maybach in the line-up’s history. A Maybach is usually a car to be driven in, and those who purchase them will typically sit in the back seats rather than up front. But the SL is a driver’s machine, thanks in part to its 4.0-litre biturbo V8 engine, which puts out the same 577 hp. In the SL 63, that engine is tuned for all out pace, with a raucous exhaust note that spits and gargles at you. It is still impressively quick in the Maybach SL, but its edges have been softened, and its exhaust note muted for a more refined, respectable symphony. The throttle response has been adjusted for a more subtle approach, and its 9G-Tronic automatic transmission glides through the gears. The overall feeling is more elegant and gentle, and this is reflected in the slightly slower 0-60mph time of 4.1 seconds vs the SL 63’s 3.5. 

On the road, the Maybach SL is noticeably gentler. Drive around town and the V8 is barely audible, while a comprehensive insulation and absorption package includes revised engine mounts, virtually eliminating road noise and vibrations. Best of all is the suspension. It has been entirely overhauled, revised to prioritise comfort above all else. While it can be tightened up in ‘sport’ mode, which is largely comparable to the SL 63’s ‘comfort’ mode, it is best enjoyed in the all new ‘Maybach’ mode. Deploy this and the dampers adjust to their softest setting, gliding over the tarmac in a way few cars can. It is a bit disconcerting at first as you lose steering feel and there is a disconnection with the road as a result. It instead floats over the tarmac, and for ultimate comfort, it’s the way to go.

All of this added plushness has increased the car’s weight from around 100kg to 1975 kg. This is noticeable when pushing on, and it has lost some of the uncanny dynamic ability of the SL 63. It isn’t a larger car in terms of footprint, but it somehow feels bigger. This is perhaps amplified by the chrome fin which extends the length of the bonnet down towards the upright Mercedes-Benz star. Both are visible from behind the wheel, making you more aware of the length of the front end and the mass underneath you. It bolsters the sense of occasion every time you step inside, harking back to long-bonneted Mercedes of yesteryear. 

"Our customers love something special," says Daniel Lescow, the Head of Mercedes-Maybach. "It combines a dynamic driving experience with everything that characterises a Mercedes-Maybach: excellent craftsmanship, exquisite design details and fine materials."

These details are immediately noticeable in the metal. The front, shark-nose grille has been redesigned with vertical chrome strakes, while the bonnet can be specced in black with a recurring Maybach pattern. A complex job, it requires a series of hand-sanding and lacquering. Elsewhere there is rose gold detailing in the headlights, chrome accenting throughout and horizontal exhaust trims, a Maybach signature. 

The interior has been overhauled too, with bright, crystal white nappa leather covering every surface, including the handy rear storage section behind the seats. The redesigned steering wheel has a lacquered wood outer rim, while silver chrome trim and stainless steel door sills add further points of difference. 

While the exterior can be customised through Mercedes’ Manufaktur programme, the interior is only available in white.

"When you drive it, and see that level of fine, sophisticated luxury surrounding you, I think it works very well," says Chief Design Officer, Gorden Wagener. "You sit in there, you see the hood with the centre split. You see the star. You see that white interior."

It is these details that Mercedes has combined to give it more in common with the luxury industry than the traditional car world. "When we did the SL and we launched it under the AMG brand, we had some customers that felt that it was too sporty, because the SL is typically a cruiser," says Wagener. "So they actually wanted to have it a bit more understated. This car is not as loud or brutal, because it's not an AMG, it's a Maybach. Maybach has always offered first class comfort in the rear, and now we are offering that first class comfort in the front. For me, the SL 680 is simply a great opportunity to truly create a luxury product."