Mercedes-Benz is bringing a product blitz to the shores of Pebble Beach as the company prepares to wow show visitors with a diverse fleet of vehicles. While four classic vehicles will be part of its entourage, the company is also using the event to make history, with the unveiling of the first-ever Maybach badged SL, an AMG GT3 racer, and a special one-off S680 sedan.
Maybach SL would be the first SL to get ultra-luxury treatment
We have seen Mercedes-Benz use the Maybach badge on other models including the S-Class sedan and the GLS SUV. However, the notable omission was the droptop SL which never received a Maybach model despite its status as Mercedes’s flagship convertible. The current model is marketed as an AMG model but the Maybach will see a shift in marketing with this new model being targeted towards luxury buyers that want comfort versus corner-carving prowess. The company didn’t release any images of the production version (pictured is a teaser image of the concept from two years ago) but look for it to have the core Maybach traits including a reworked front grille and a higher-quality interior.
It’s not known why it took Mercedes so long to make a Maybach model, but part of the reason could be sluggish sales with the SL suffering from a recent slide in sales due to increased competition from utilities. This increased pressure probably caused Benz to carefully look over sales numbers before making the decision to offer it since giving it the Maybach treatment would require a large investment which would need to be recouped with strong sales.
Mercedes-Maybach S680 Nordic Glow has the U.S. in mind, racing anniversary being celebrated too
Based on the long-wheelbase version of the S-Class, the model was developed specifically for the American market by the company’s Manufaktur division. It will feature edition-specific styling, and production is limited to 50 units. Mercedes-Benz didn’t reveal exact pricing or images for this car but look for it to not stray too far from the S680’s core formula except in pricing which will most likely be a sizable premium over the standard model.
In the meantime, the company is also celebrating its 130th anniversary in racing with an evolution of its GT3 racing car. Like the Nordic Glow, Mercedes is also making us wait to see more images of the car, but the company did say that it will draw inspiration from two formative eras of motorsport racing though it remains to be seen what it specifically means with that statement. It’s known that this will be a limited production model too with only 13 being built.
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.