Maybach transforms the SL into a sensuous two-seater grand tourer – blending handcrafted luxury with graceful performance and open-air intimacy.
When Mercedes and AMG decided to revamp the high-strung GT Coupe onto a shared platform with the SL-Class two-door, a serious question arose: would the GT soften up or the SL get sportier? Well, the SL definitely leans toward the firmer end of the grand touring spectrum, leaving the real answer to arrive from Maybach, which arguably built the very best SL variant possible by leaning further into the brand’s unique luxury ethos.
Most importantly, the Maybach SL 680 commits to a dedicated two-seat layout rather than a 2+2 with vestigial perches that are barely useful for even small children, pets, or parcel storage behind the front row. This decision creates significantly more legroom up front for the driver and passenger, key to increasing perceived spaciousness given the long and lowslung driving position. Meanwhile, the seats, upholstery, and trim all introduce a new level of sumptuous leather finishing at most touchpoints – though a few trim pieces still stick with a surprising amount of piano black plastic that contrasts heavily with the launch spec’s Manufaktur Crystal White Nappa leather.
Maybach boasts the new SL 680 slots into the lineup as its sportiest option, and that’s definitely true compared to enormous four-door sedans. But versus an AMG SL, this convertible delivers a far softer and smoother ride as befitting the interior enhancements. The first cue that hints at extensive engineering revisions from Maybach are the wheels, which come in a quintessential Monoblock design or a multispoke, but still measure only a restrained 21 inches. This allows more tire sidewall to help the suspension absorb rougher roads, while softer springs, longer travel shock dampers, and active roll bars further absorb bumps while keeping the cockpit in utter serenity.
Throw in buttery shifts from the nine-speed automatic transmission, and the twin-turbo V8’s 577 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque seem entirely manageable, emoting the calm capability of bulletproof German engineering. Dig deeper into the throttle in Sport mode, however, and this Maybach still leaps ahead with wellsprings of power from that familiar Bi-turbo engine. But a unique Maybach exhaust system also reduces NVH (noise, vibration, and harshness) with additional fiberglass textiles in the mufflers, imparting a more sonorous and pleasurable tone rather than a barking roar. And extra sound insulation throughout the body means even hard pulls come in relative peace and quiet, despite the AMG roots still allowing for a 4.0-second sprint to 60 mph on the way to a top speed of 161 mph – not bad for a soft-top convertible.
That top can drop in only 15 seconds at speeds up to 37 mph, and opening the roof to let in more sky while cruising in the luxurious Maybach drive mode only further emphasizes the subtly softer steering, copious suspension damping, and less touchy throttle response of an opulent grand tourer. This is Maybach’s first convertible since the 2017 S 650 Cabriolet, and though based on immediately familiar shared DNA, its exterior form also changes noticeably. The front grille and intakes feature plenty of minute Maybach references, swooping upward to a hood that bows more gracefully, with additional chrome elements along the side and rear to match.
At Maybach’s media drive program in Ibiza, every car arrived decked out in the Monogram Series launch spec’s choice between “White Ambience,” a two-tone Obsidian Black Metallic over Moonlight White Magno, or “Red Ambience” that features the same black and Garnet Red Metallic bodywork. An optional laser-engraved hood finishes off the package and matches fine anthracite patterning on the convertible top, though to some eyes, the extensive thematic elements may well go overboard in pure style terms.
Of course, plenty of individualization options are available – including, critically, over 50 other paint colors already available through Manufaktur Exclusive, each of which was inspired by precious stones and minerals. So, for those buyers in search of a slightly less gaudy spec than the two standard Monogram Series colorways, to more aptly match the SL 680’s absolutely splendid character, rest assured Maybach understands.
The Mercedes-Maybach SL 680 Monogram Series starts at $224,900 and will arrive at American dealers in the second half of 2025. As it stands, the Maybach will likely cost about double a base SL 43 AMG, and maybe 25% more than a V8-powered SL 63 AMG. The SL 63 E Performance and GT 63 Coupe should wind up slightly cheaper, but for the former, additional hybrid weight gains may eat into any advantages versus an internal-combustion SL, while the latter does away with much of the cruiser comforts.
As much as Maybach fans may have been hoping to see an even larger and plusher two-door, more in line with concept cars over the years or aiming to compete more directly with Rolls-Royce and Bentley, the SL 680 Monogram Series instead arrives as the cherry on top of the Mercedes and AMG lineup – quite literally, when finished in Red Ambience.
But where the sheer physics of shoehorning raw performance potential into the SL chassis resulted in somewhat compromised driving dynamics, the Maybach treatment introduces a newfound level of tranquility that results in the best open-topped version of this car on the market today.
Mercedes-Maybach SL 680 Monogram Series
- Engine: 4-liter twin-turbocharged V8
- Transmission: 9-speed automatic
- Horspower: 577
- Torque: 590 lb-ft
- Drive: All-wheel drive
- 0-60mph: 4.0s
- Top Speed (electronically limited): 161mph
This article appeared in our September 2025 Issue.
Introducing the August 2025 issue of duPont REGISTRY, #484, starring McLaren Automotive’s 2027 Le Mans Hypercar. To get your hands on a copy, either buy a single issue or subscribe.
Photos Courtesy of Mercedes-Benz AG
