Spy shots and video of the 2021 Mercedes-Maybach S-Class.

In the early 2000s, Mercedes-Benz was not very successful in launching Maybach as a standalone brand. Poor sales of the unsuccessful Maybach 57 and 62 sedans led Mercedes to sell Maybach in 2012.

However, with the introduction of the current S-Class, a new strategy was developed to utilize Maybach as an ultra-luxury sub-brand of Mercedes. The expressive grille, elongated body and one of Mercedes' best interiors became a winning formula, especially among chauffeur drivers in China.

Next year, a new generation S-Class will arrive in Mercedes showrooms, which will also get a Maybach design. A prototype of the new Mercedes-Maybach S-Class has been spotted, revealing design details of the next super luxury sedan.

The car will have a uniquely long body compared to the long-wheelbase S-Class, which comes standard in the United States. The grille with vertical slats will resemble the stripes on a suit. This is becoming a standard feature of modern Maybachs. The grille does not look as tall as the current Maybach S-Class, and the headlights, shared with the updated S-Class, are slimmer and, along with the shorter grille, give the look a more streamlined appearance.

The current Maybach S-Class is powered by a turbocharged V8 engine and a turbocharged V12.

The S600 is expected to feature the same V8 hybrid engine as the recently introduced Mercedes-Maybach GLS600, with 550 hp; the V12 engine will also feature hybrid technology and will be available in models with the S650 or S680 badges. S650 or S680 badged models.

The Maybach S-Class will naturally be equipped with the latest Mercedes technology. It will also be equipped, albeit to a limited extent, with automatic driving functions. However, as early as 2024, Mercedes, and therefore Maybach, plans to sell cars with Level 4 automatic driving functions. These are expected to require minimal or no driver involvement in highway driving and parking, and given the 2024 launch date, the introduction of this technology may be timed to coincide with the mid-cycle refresh of the Maybach S-Class model.

The replacement Maybach S-Class will likely arrive in showrooms in late 2020 as a 2021 model.The current generation coupe and convertible will not be repeated, but a super-long Pullman body is planned.