They weren't kidding when Mercedes officials hinted at a Maybach version of the soon-to-be-released E-Class luxury sedan. This prototype has just come out of the skunk works in Stuttgart and is way too big to be something like the Chinese E-Class L.
All of the stretching happened between the B-pillar and the rear axle. The W213 is already going to be slightly longer than the outgoing model, so you should be able to stretch your tired calf muscles after a long day of giving orders or taking the mistress shopping.
If this is indeed a Maybach model, it should cost over €100,000 and offer only two seats in the back, both being surrounded by high-tech features.
The bespoke Maybach models are gone. But now, Mercedes has turned the name into a brand, just like AMG but with better stereos and leather. You can't explain this type of car purely on the number of speakers or how thick the carpets are. You have to experience it.
The next-generation E-Class will look relatively similar to the S-Class while also sharing its platform and some of the engines. It's in this department that we are experiencing the most unknowns.
The cheapest and least powerful Mercedes-Maybach model is currently the S400 sold in China. As most of you know, that name denotes the fact that it uses a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6, not a V8 or a V12. That pretty much guarantees the E-Class will do the same thing.
The E400 will give the ultra rich about 333 PS, and it will be followed by the E500/E550 with 450 horsepower, most likely coming from a 4.0-liter V8, not the old 4.7-liter. Will there be anything below that? We really don't know, but the 9-speed auto should be the norm.
Mercedes has hinted that it's developing a modular family of inline engines, the first of which is a 2.0-liter diesel with 180 horsepower that will be installed on the standard 2016 E220 d. But people with money don't want small four-cylinder engines, so this engine change won't affect the Maybach E-Class for many years.
Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida. Full profile
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