Report: The end of Maybach could give life to a Mercedes S-class convertible

Mercedes-Benz Ocean Drive Concept

After dropping Maybach, Mercedes-Benz my now have the excess to invest more in its S-Class lineup, which could mean a convertible S-Class in the next year or two.

Mercedes-Benz has yet to confirm this fact, however, executive that spoke with AutoWeek at the New York Auto Show did not deny it, either. Perhaps the Ocean Drive concept that was released five years ago bearing a Mercedes-Benz badge instead of a Maybach one is a prelude of what is to come.

“When we were coming to the decision with Maybach, we had to decide if we should make a successor. Should we expand below the (Maybach) 57 and 62, which VW has done with the Bentley Continental and BMW has done with the Rolls-Royce Ghost? For Mercedes to do that, that comes very close to the S-class portfolio,” says Joachim Schmidt, Mercedes-Benz Cars sales and marketing executive vice president.

The US will be getting a redesigned S-Class for fall next year, but Schmidt provided no details as to how the S-Class will be expanding.

“Now that Maybach is winding down, we can put some more energy into the S-class,” said Steve Cannon, CEO of Mercedes-Benz USA. “You can connect those dots any way you want.”

By: Alexandra Koken

Source: Autoweek