- Reviewers counted hundreds of Maybach logos across the exterior.
- Logos appear on the hood, roof, grille, cabin, and even headlights.
- Pricing starts at $224,900, easily rising past $250,000 when optioned.
For a few years, Maybach existed in a niche of its own, quietly producing opulent sedans that targeted the same clientele shopping for a Rolls-Royce Phantom. That all changed when it became a sub-brand of Mercedes expanding into the SUV and 4×4 world with outliers like the G650 Landaulet and the GLS 600.
Read: Maybach’s SL680 Monogram Is Like Louis Vuitton On Wheels
Now, it’s ventured even further with a new addition to its ultra-luxury portfolio: a high-end convertible called the SL680. And if there was any doubt about who made it, Mercedes is making absolutely sure you don’t forget.
Logo Overload. Seriously
Mercedes-Maybach unveiled the SL680 Monogram last year, and there’s no denying that it makes an impression. But as Car & Driver recently discovered when testing the exclusive droptop, the German marque may have gone a tad overboard with the number of Maybach logos it’s given the car.
After a few moments with the car, C&D took on the task of tallying just how many Maybach logos they could spot. The answer? An eye-watering 835. And that doesn’t even account for digital displays like the instrument cluster or the infotainment screen.
The vast majority of these logos are plastered across the black hood of the SL680, the folding fabric roof, and the blacked-out lower grille. There are also plenty spread throughout the cabin of the car, and one on the engine cover. It seems a few were even missed in this count, as there are also small Maybach logos incorporated in the headlights.
Taste or Tacky?
We understand what Mercedes was going for when designing the SL680 Monogram. Clearly, it decided to take a page out of Louis Vuitton’s playbook, which has sold handbags with dozens of LV logos for decades now.
But we’re not convinced that approach translates well to a premium vehicle, as it tends to cheapen what is meant to be a high-priced expression of automotive luxury.
The powertrain of the SL680 also leaves a little to be desired. It has the same 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 as the regular SL63 that delivers 577 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque and is mated to a 9G-Tronic automatic transmission.
Then there’s the price. American buyers will need to hand over at least $224,900 for the privilege of owning an SL680 Monogram, and that’s before options, which can easily push the price to over $250,000.
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