- Prices for the base S800 start at 708,000 yuan, or ~$98kl
- Local prices for the Mercedes S-Class start at over $200k.
- The flagship EREV variant churns out an incredible 852 hp.
China now has a cut-price Mercedes-Maybach S-Class rival that’s named the Maextro S800. Built through JAC and Huawei’s joint venture partnership, the S800 alludes to the grandeur of a European luxury sedan, only with a much more attainable price tag. So, it’s only natural that local buyers eager to cruise around in luxury have started to flock to it, though even JAC and Huawei themselves may be surprised by the demand.
It’s been revealed that in the first seven days of the car being launched, 3,600 orders had already been placed. Of these, approximately 1,600 were within the first 24 hours, and by 48 hours, there were 2,100 orders.
Read: Huawei’s Maextro S800 Looks Like Someone Put A Maybach, A Rolls And A Porsche In The Blender
A key part of the S800’s appeal is the price. The base version starts at 708,000 yuan or roughly $98,600 at current exchange rates. Those seeking even more luxury can buy the flagship version priced from 1,018,000 yuan (~$141,600). That’s still a lot of money, but it significantly undercuts a Maybach S-Class, which starts at 1,468,000 yuan ($204,600) locally before any options.
Chinese buyers seem to be getting a lot of car for their money. First and foremost, the S800 is big. It is 5,480 mm (215.7 inches) long, 2,000 mm (78.7 inches) wide, and stands 1,536 mm (60.5 inches) high with a 3,370 mm (132.7-inch) wheel base, similar dimensions to an S-Class. However, whereas the Merc has a relatively understated (for what it is, anyway) design, the S800 makes a more grandiose impression on the road.
Autohome
Then there’s the cabin. The S800 features a digital gauge cluster, a 15.6-inch infotainment display, and a 16-inch passenger display. It also has a wide head-up display, two wireless smartphone chargers, and an audio system with an incredible 43 speakers, Autohome reports. Maextro offers the S800 as either a four-seater, with captain’s chairs at the back, or as a more conventional five-seater.
Both BEV and range-extender versions of the S800 are available. The EV has a 95 kWh battery and two electric motors with 523 hp. The range-extender rocks a 1.5-liter engine that acts solely as a generator, a 65 kWh battery, and dual motors with the same 523 hp. A tri-motor version of the EREV is also available, churning out 852 hp.
