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Video | Mercedes S-Class S580e MANUFAKTUR: £156,000 of luxury brilliance?
Rory Reid finds out whether this deluxe S-Class is the ultimate in refinement
Words by: Catherine King
Published on 10 November 2025 | 0 min read
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class is already one of the most luxurious cars you can buy, but the bespoke Manufacktur customisation programme makes it even more special. In this video Rory Reid spends some time in a plug-in hybrid S580e which has been given the Manufacktur treatment to find out whether its levels of comfort and exclusivity justify the cost.
The Manufacktur programme offers endless personalisation options with up to 20,000 shades of paint to choose from and boundless numbers of interior customisations. Discerning buyers can decide on every detail from the dashboard trim to the embroidery on the headrest cushions – you can pretty much guarantee each Manufacktur model will be truly one of a kind. In the back the S-Class is packed with tech including not one, but two screens, plus a central tablet to control them. Naturally the rear seats recline, and the addition of a footrest completes the business class level of comfort. But what’s the S580e like to drive? This isn’t the first time Rory has driven this generation of S-Class so his expectations are high as he gets behind the wheel of this version. He quickly discovers this car’s plug-in hybrid system is as silky smooth as the soft leather upholstery and it does not disappoint. Yet, the S-Class is no compact city car and at over five-metres long squeezing into tight parking spaces could be a challenge. To help alleviate this problem Mercedes has kitted the S-Class out with a whole suite of assistance features from 360-degree cameras to a fully automated parking mode. Can a car really be better at parking than an experienced human chauffeur, though? You’ll have to watch the video to find out Rory’s verdict. If you enjoyed this video give it a like and let Rory know your thoughts in the YouTube comments. You can also subscribe for more like it.
The Manufacktur programme offers endless personalisation options with up to 20,000 shades of paint to choose from and boundless numbers of interior customisations. Discerning buyers can decide on every detail from the dashboard trim to the embroidery on the headrest cushions – you can pretty much guarantee each Manufacktur model will be truly one of a kind. In the back the S-Class is packed with tech including not one, but two screens, plus a central tablet to control them. Naturally the rear seats recline, and the addition of a footrest completes the business class level of comfort. But what’s the S580e like to drive? This isn’t the first time Rory has driven this generation of S-Class so his expectations are high as he gets behind the wheel of this version. He quickly discovers this car’s plug-in hybrid system is as silky smooth as the soft leather upholstery and it does not disappoint. Yet, the S-Class is no compact city car and at over five-metres long squeezing into tight parking spaces could be a challenge. To help alleviate this problem Mercedes has kitted the S-Class out with a whole suite of assistance features from 360-degree cameras to a fully automated parking mode. Can a car really be better at parking than an experienced human chauffeur, though? You’ll have to watch the video to find out Rory’s verdict. If you enjoyed this video give it a like and let Rory know your thoughts in the YouTube comments. You can also subscribe for more like it.