Mercedes S-Class Maybach Facelift without V12 in Europe
February 11, 2026
The V12 engine will disappear from the Maybach S-Class with the 2026 facelift.
Until now, the V12 engine was only offered in the Maybach S-Class as the S 680. The long-wheelbase S-Class no longer offers a V12 engine in the V223 series.
The facelifted S-Class was presented on January 29, 2026. The V8 and the inline-six gasoline and diesel engines were revised and now meet EU7 emissions standards. The two plug-in hybrid models, the S 450e and S 580e 4matic, also received a significant update (increased system output).
At the end of March 2026, Mercedes will also present the facelift of the S-Class Maybach (Z223).
The Maybach S 680 V12 with the 6.0-liter (M279) engine and 612 hp will then only be offered outside of Europe (China, Japan, Korea, USA, Middle East). In Europe, the S 680 sedan, as a facelifted model, will only be available with special protection featuring VR10 armor plating.
Why is the V12 no longer offered in the EU? Is it due to EU7 regulations or customer demand?
A V12 engine runs very smoothly. But a V8 engine can evoke more emotion.
A look at the figures for 2024 shows that only 136 units with V12 fuel were sold in Germany. That's just 0.05%.
Even within the S-Class Maybach model range, the sales figures in Germany weren't promising. The majority wanted the V8.
In 2024
- 220 S 580e Maybach (inkl. 4matic)
- 612 S 580 4matic Maybach
- 136 S 680 4matic Maybach
- approved.
Even within the S-Class Maybach Z223 series, the V12 engine accounts for only 14%, lagging behind the 6-cylinder plug-in hybrid. The V8 is the most popular engine in Germany, with a 63% share.
Conclusion: Had sales figures within the S-Class Maybach Z223 series been significantly higher, Mercedes would certainly not have shied away from the effort required to make the M279 EU7 compliant.
Mit dem Facelift 2026 verschwindet der 6,0 Liter V12 BiTurbo aus der Mercedes Maybach S-Klasse (Z223) in Europa
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