The 2027 Mercedes-Maybach S 680 starts at $247,000Olga Trehub IG @oliphotoproThere are luxury sedans, there are ultra-luxury sedans, and then there is the 2027 Mercedes-Maybach S 680—a vehicle seemingly engineered to make traditional first-class travel feel austere. The Maybach formula starts with Mercedes-Benz's already formidable S-Class, stretches its proportions, adds handcrafted finishes and layers on enough comfort technology to turn a traffic jam into a spa appointment.It also brings a price that begins in the neighborhood of $247,000 before options and custom finishes begin multiplying the total. Mercedes-Benz USA was still listing final 2027 pricing as "coming soon" at the time of writing, but calling this a $250,000 sedan is entirely reasonable—and likely conservative.The Mercedes-Maybach S 680 is offered with a 6.0-liter V12The S 680 earns its flagship status with one of the rarest engines remaining in a modern production car: a handcrafted 6.0-liter twin-turbocharged V12. It produces 621 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque, sends power through a nine-speed automatic transmission and uses standard 4MATIC all-wheel drive. Despite weighing 5,280 pounds and stretching nearly 18 feet long, Mercedes says it can reach 60 mph in 4.3 seconds.The Mercedes-Maybach's reclining rear seats heat, cool, and massageThose figures sound like the foundation for a performance sedan. They are not. The S 680's mission is effortless speed, not aggressive speed. Press the accelerator at 55 mph and the V12 does not so much announce itself as reorganize the horizon. There is no frantic downshift, no strained exhaust note, and little sensation of mechanical effort. The car simply accumulates velocity with the smooth, sustained force expected from 12 cylinders and two turbochargers.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe 2027 update makes the Maybach easier to distinguish from a conventional S-Class. Its grille is larger, framed by available illumination and topped by an optional illuminated standing Mercedes-Benz star. Star-shaped lighting signatures appear in the headlamps, while Maybach emblems, patterned trim and available 20- or 21-inch wheels add further visual separation. Our test car's blue-and-silver two-tone finish was striking without becoming garish, though subtlety is always relative when the hood stretches this far and the grille resembles the entrance to a private bank.Our test car featured 21-inch wheels and two-tone blue and silver paintMercedes treats the paintwork as craftsmanship rather than mere color selection. The two-tone finish includes a hand-applied dividing line, and buyers can choose from a vast 200-plus color catalog or commission a highly specific shade through the MANUFAKTUR Made to Measure program. Mercedes says the program encompasses more than 200 exterior paints and over 400 interior colors, along with custom leather, stitching and decorative details.Personalization options include customer contrast piping and headrest embroideryThat personalization extends deep into the cabin. Buyers can coordinate leather with a favorite briefcase, handbag or personal color reference, specify contrasting piping and request custom embroidery. Names, initials or corporate identifiers can be incorporated into areas such as the headrests or door sills. At this price point, "custom order" means letting you imagination – and your checkbook -- run wild.Our car's bright white leather immediately elevated the experience beyond the familiar black interior found in so many premium (and non-premium) vehicles. The new-for-2027 patterned seat stitching incorporated repeating circular elements that echoed Maybach's exterior detailing, while the blue-and-white exterior color combination created an almost nautical atmosphere. It felt less like sitting inside a sedan and more like occupying the enclosed deck of a modern yacht.Rear touchscreens can be used for streaming TV, playing games, or holding a video conference callThe rear cabin remains the centerpiece. The available Executive seats can recline up to 43 degrees and include powered calf and foot supports. Heating, ventilation and massage functions are joined by pillows that provide the sort of support normally associated with long-haul business-class seating. Power rear doors are standard on the S 680, because requiring the primary passenger to pull a door shut would apparently violate the design brief.AdvertisementAdvertisementA removable rear control interface manages seat settings, climate functions, audio and entertainment. Two 13.1-inch rear displays can stream content, support productivity functions and turn the cabin into a mobile conference room. A refrigerated compartment and available silver-plated champagne flutes complete the private-lounge effect, though the refrigerator consumes some trunk volume.Buyers can select four-seat Executive accommodations with a substantial center console or retain a three-person rear bench. The bench is not merely for carrying an additional passenger. In chauffeur-driven use, an owner may not know which side of the car will face the curb at every destination. A continuous seat makes it easier to slide across the cabin and exit through the safest door.Three display screens and plush white leather surfaces reflect the sedan's ultra-luxury statusUp front, the standard MBUX Superscreen integrates a 14.4-inch central display with 12.3-inch screens for the driver and front passenger. The passenger can watch video or play games, while eye-tracking technology helps prevent the driver from viewing distracting content.Mercedes' navigation system also produces one of the Maybach's standout features: augmented guidance arrows projected into the head-up display. The arrows appear to align with the real road, changing position and angle as the car approaches a turn. It is among the closest executions yet to the long-promised idea of navigation instructions placed directly onto an active digital windshield.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe S 680 is happiest on wide roads with majestic views. On Pacific Coast Highway above Malibu, its quiet cabin, commanding drivetrain and relaxed responses made the scenery feel like part of the equipment list. AIRMATIC air suspension with intelligent damping filters out surface imperfections, while rear-axle steering helps this enormous sedan maneuver with less effort than its dimensions suggest.Changes for 2027 include a larger grille that illuminates at nightSport mode exists, and the Maybach can negotiate a canyon road with surprising control, but driving it aggressively feels like sprinting through a luxury hotel lobby. The car will do it; the activity simply misses the point. Its true talent is maintaining serenity while traveling quickly, occasionally deploying the V12's immense reserve to pass slower traffic without disturbing the passengers.The driver-assistance suite reinforces that character. Adaptive cruise control, lane centering and automatic lane changing reduce fatigue in heavy Los Angeles traffic, though the driver remains responsible for the vehicle. Combined with massaging seats, powerful climate control and extensive sound insulation, the technology turns an unpleasant commute into something approaching a sensory deprivation chamber.The 2027 Mercedes-Maybach S 680 is not a rational purchase, but it is a highly coherent one. Every major element—the V12, the rear compartment, the hand-finished paint, the power doors, the reclining seats and the immense customization program—serves the same purpose. This is transportation designed to isolate its occupants from effort, noise and inconvenience.The Mercedes-Maybach S 680 looks right at home in Beverly HillsDriven among Beverly Hills traffic, as we did during this road test, the S 680 makes perfect sense. It looks appropriate without disappearing, delivers immense speed without drama and treats every occupant like the principal passenger. Plenty of vehicles cost $250,000. Very few communicate that price through every mile as convincingly as this Mercedes-Maybach.This article was originally published on Forbes.com