Mercedes Maybach S 680 vs Audi S6 Avant e-tron: which is truly faster?

Off the line, the S6 Avant e-tron hits 100 km/h in 4.03 s versus 4.53 s for the Maybach S 680. The instant torque of 855 Nm from the electric motor makes the difference. At this point, the S6 Avant e-tron leads by 0.50 s and sits roughly 7 m ahead.

At 200 metres, the S6 Avant e-tron is doing 150 km/h against 153 km/h for the Maybach S 680. The gap is 0.29 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the S6 Avant e-tron crosses the line in 12.29 s versus 12.41 s. The 0.12 s gap represents roughly 6 m of track — barely a car length.

Past 400 metres, the situation changes. The S6 Avant e-tron maxes out at 240 km/h while the Maybach S 680 keeps accelerating towards 250 (i.e. 155 mph — industry threshold) km/h. At 600 metres, the gap has dropped to 0.08 s.

Around 529 metres, both vehicles are level. This is the inversion point: the Maybach S 680 overcomes its launch deficit thanks to a 10 km/h higher top speed.

At 1,000 metres, the Maybach S 680 finishes in 21.93 s versus 22.44 s. The 0.51 s delta in favour of the Maybach S 680 shows that top speed makes a clear difference.

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the Maybach S 680 is capped at 250 (i.e. 155 mph — industry threshold) km/h, the S6 Avant e-tron at 240 km/h. This isn’t a physical engine limit — it’s a manufacturer choice, usually for tyre safety or homologation reasons. Neither car reaches its true aerodynamic top speed.

Instant electric torque gives an advantage off the line. The higher top speed of the combustion engine gives an advantage over longer distances. The distance at which one catches the other depends on the top speed differential.

In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 6.44 seconds. The 0.50 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.