Maybach confirms strong US interest for its V12 powertrain. The flagship Mercedes-Maybach S680 delivers 621 hp. Europe doesn’t get the V12 anymore due to regulations. Maybach is making it clear that the twelve-cylinder engine isn’t going anywhere in the U.S., even as the rest of the industry races toward electrification and downsizing. The heavily revised Mercedes-Maybach S-Class sedan lost its V12 option in Europe with the latest update, but North America, China, Japan, South Korea, and the Middle East all keep the flagship powerplant on the menu. More: Maybach Is Building The Ultra-Luxury Vehicle Rolls-Royce Will Never Make Maybach boss Markus Bauer addressed the strategy at a media roundtable tied to the premiere of The Devil Wears Prada 2, a film in which the brand’s vehicles play a prominent supporting role. Bauer told reporters he’s pleased Maybach can keep offering the twelve in what he called the “strongest V12 market” in the world, which is the United States. As reported by Road and Track, Bauer explained the buyer math behind the decision. Once a Maybach customer wants a V12, it is “hard to convince them to buy a V8”. He also admitted that the V12 and Maybach “go very well together”, adding that their ambition is “always to offer the V12”. The Geographic Split Mercedes-Maybach S680 One might assume emissions regulations are what finally killed the V12 in Europe, but that’s only part of the story. Bauer acknowledged that European customers simply aren’t as fixated on cylinder count, with demand running well below what Maybach sees in North America. More: Mercedes-AMG Is Bringing Back The Noise, The Drama, And The V8 The twin-turbo 6.0-liter V12 engine continues to power the flagship Maybach S680 in many markets around the world, delivering as much as 621 hp (463 kW / 630 PS) and 664 lb-ft (900 Nm) of torque in North America. In regions with stricter emission regulations in place, the company offers a 603 hp (450 kW / 612 PS) version of the V12. The European-spec S680 matches this exact output, albeit with a mild-hybrid V8. The lineup of the luxury sedan also includes the S580, which is fitted with a less powerful version of the mild-hybrid twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8. Finally, the S580e has a plug-in hybrid system centered around a turbo 3.0-liter inline six engine. Mercedes-Maybach S580