Skip advert
Advertisement

Mercedes-Maybach SL spied as grand touring convertible goes even more upmarket

The SL will soon get the Maybach treatment with plenty of glitz

Maybach has been turning its hand to the upper echelons of the Mercedes range with the Maybach GLS, S-Class and EQS recently, but soon it’ll be the turn of the SL – and we’ve spotted it testing for the first time. 

Earlier this year, Mercedes-AMG teased what would be the beginning of its new, ultra-exclusive Mythos series with the Purespeed Concept. We can confirm, however, that the Maybach SL won’t be part of the Mythos brand, because the original teaser image for the Mythos series highlighted a sleek speedster-like profile, with sizeable humps behind the cabin. We can see from these spy pictures that the Maybach will opt for the SL’s standard body instead. 

That’s not to say the Maybach SL won’t look and feel premium, though. Despite the camouflage, we can see this car will get Maybach’s traditional design touches, such as intricate, multi-spoke wheels, a bigger grille and more subtle exhaust tips. A reshaped front bumper and side skirts are expected, as is a pronounced Maybach bonnet emblem. 

Advertisement - Article continues below

No charging flap is visible at the rear of this prototype, so we don’t expect the Maybach SL to come with the plug-in hybrid system of the Mercedes-AMG SL 63 E Performance. Instead we should see a twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 with 577bhp. Pricing for the Mercedes-AMG SL 63 in Ultimate trim kicks off at £179,605, but we suspect the Maybach will easily eclipse the £198,345 price tag of the plug-in hybrid SL 63 S E Performance Ultimate. 

The interior should receive the same 12.3-inch digital driver display and an adjustable 11.9-inch infotainment screen in the centre console as the regular SL. The Maybach SL should still offer a more premium environment, however, thanks to a greater scope for customisation, including different materials and finishes. 

Maybach introduced a concept for its take on the EQS SUV in 2021 and in 2022 Mercedes’ Chief Design Officer Gorden Wagener posted a teaser image of the Maybach Concept SL. The Concept EQS SUV proved to be almost identical to the production model, so when the Concept SL is revealed, expect Maybach’s production version to follow it very closely. 

Does a Maybach GT car make sense? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section...

Skip advert
Advertisement
Senior news reporter

A keen petrol-head, Alastair Crooks has a degree in journalism and worked as a car salesman for a variety of manufacturers before joining Auto Express in Spring 2019 as a Content Editor. Now, as our senior news reporter, his daily duties involve tracking down the latest news and writing reviews.

Find a car with the experts

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Mercedes-AMG SL Golden Coast edition features ‘exceptional luxury and performance’
Mercedes-AMG SL Golden Coast - front

Mercedes-AMG SL Golden Coast edition features ‘exceptional luxury and performance’

The Golden Coast lives up to its name with plenty of gold touches
News
11 Feb 2025
Mercedes-Maybach S-Class coupé given lifeline by patent filings
Mercedes-Maybach S-Class coupé - silver front 3/4

Mercedes-Maybach S-Class coupé given lifeline by patent filings

This could be our first look at an ultra-exclusive Mythos Mercedes
News
20 Jan 2025
Monterey Car Week 2024: full show round-up and all the exclusive, luxury and performance cars
Pebble Beach Tour d'Elegance

Monterey Car Week 2024: full show round-up and all the exclusive, luxury and performance cars

Some of the most iconic car brands lined up to unveil new metal in Monterey
News
20 Aug 2024
New Mercedes-AMG SL 63 S E Performance review: plug-in GT is most powerful SL ever
Mercedes-AMG SL 63 S E Performance - front tracking

New Mercedes-AMG SL 63 S E Performance review: plug-in GT is most powerful SL ever

Mercedes has done a remarkable job of fitting its plug-in hybrid powertrain into the SL, while retaining a pretty polished drive
Road tests
19 Aug 2024

Most Popular

Chinese cars can’t match their European rivals when it comes to engineering
Opinion - Shanghai Auto Show

Chinese cars can’t match their European rivals when it comes to engineering

This new brand of cars might have battery tech on their side, but European buyers want much more than that
Opinion
25 Apr 2025
Leapmotor B05 family hatch on route to the UK with sub-£30k price and 400-mile range
Leapmotor badge

Leapmotor B05 family hatch on route to the UK with sub-£30k price and 400-mile range

The Stellantis-backed brand will launch a Volkswagen ID.3-rivalling small car with almost 20 per cent more range
News
23 Apr 2025
Buying a modern used car for under £10k is almost impossible
Opinion - £10k used cars

Buying a modern used car for under £10k is almost impossible

Phil McNamara discovers that it’s harder than ever to find a good-value car at the affordable end of the market
Opinion
24 Apr 2025