The Noise
The Mercedes-Maybach S-Class will be the world's quietest production saloon car. Special seals and careful positioning of the back seats in relation to the side and rear windows minimise wind noise. This innovation was helped by extensive testing in Mercedes-Benz's new aeroacoustic wind tunnel. This novel bit of tech allowed the Maybach engineers to study the perfect door structure under wind load and work out the optimum design for noise-reduction.
The Seats
Mercedes is marketing its new model as a chauffeur-driven car. And so while they've maintained comfort in the front compared to the normal S-Class, the rear is where they've focused the big changes. The enlarged wheelbase allows for greater rear leg room, while the standard-fit executive seats provide enhanced comfort. The maximum backrest angle is 43.5 degrees and there are leg rests so you can recline happily. What's more, there is a "chauffeur position" available: this allows an unoccupied front passenger seat to slide further forward than otherwise possible to increase the leg room for the passenger behind.
If that doesn't sound like enough, it's also possible to upgrade to the Rear Seat Comfort Package. That'll mean multicontour seats and a back massager built in. The Exclusive Trim Package is fitted as standard. High-quality wood trim surrounds the back seats as well as adorning the doors and nozzle coverings. The tweeter grilles and fibre-optic cables are chrome-plated and the front centre armrests are made from Napa leather, embossed with Maybach crests.And you'll have extra room to recline. The Maybach's 5.5 metres long with a wheelbase of 3.4 metres. That leaves it a full 20 cm longer than the extended-wheelbase S-Class Saloon.
The Driver
Since Mercedes is expecting a chauffeur to be driving their new car, they've included special voice amplification technology to improve communication from the front seats to the back. Microphones in the interior mirror pick up speech, which is then amplified through the vehicle's sound system.
The Roof
A panoramic sliding roof comes as standard but if you feel like an upgrade, it can also be equipped with "Magic Sky Control" technology, letting you switch the glass from light to dark and back again.
The Air
As an optional extra, you can even improve the air inside the car. That means better filtration systems, ionisation and a specially-designed scent called Agarwood.
The Drinks
Again, these are optional additions, but if you're buying your new vehicle with an eye to throwing a party of two or (if you just like to kick off Tuesday mornings with a drink in hand) Mercedes can include specially branded, silver-plated champagne flutes.
The Engine
It will come in at least two engine sizes (though, no guarantees that both will be available in the UK). That's the S500 and S600. The S500 will have a V8 biturbo engine and will consume fuel at a rate of 31.7mpg. The S600 - the premium model - will have a V12 engine with an output of 530hp and fuel consumption of 24.1mpg. Both will accelerate from 0-62mph in 5 seconds exactly and their top speed is limited to 155mph.
The Price
This is the big one. Starts at the $165,000 , with massive potential for customisation (and massive potential to as much as triple that figure).
So, to bring that all together - it's powerful, quiet, leather-clad, spacious, chauffeur-driven, auto-massaging, specially-perfumed, champagne-ready real-world repellant.