The Most Expensive Sleeper Car In 2024

Gearheads have always had a fascination with sleeper cars, whether they are home-built projects with inventive engine swaps, or sold as new in full sleeper guise. For the uneducated, a sleeper car simply means it packs a performance-orientated punch, while boasting an unassuming exterior. The idea is you can cruise around without bringing any attention to your car, and then shock almost anything on the road, with a powertrain that completely contradicts the plain exterior.

While some sleeper cars are affordable, and others have been crafted in garages by tuners, this article focuses on the most expensive sleeper car available in 2024. It may come as no surprise that the most expensive sleeper car hails from Mercedes, a brand famed for their luxury cars, sharp performance, and steep prices.

The Mercedes-Benz S580 Is 2024’s Most Expensive Sleeper Car

Starting MSRP: $127,750

Sleeper Credentials

• Unassuming Exterior: Unlike AMG models, the S580 is void of any garish and telling body kits
• Potent Performance: The S580 and S580e pack around 500 horsepower
• Spritely Sprinters: Both S580 trims can dash from 0 to 60 MPH in under 5 seconds

The S580e Packs Over 500 Horsepower, While The S580 Can Sprint From 0 To 60 MPH In Just 4.3 Seconds

To qualify as a sleeper, a car doesn’t need to deliver much. Under the hood, it needs a punchy powertrain, and on the exterior, it simply needs to look unassuming. Without AMG packages and ideally with badges omitted, the 2024 Mercedes-Benz S580 delivers these qualities.

While gearheads and those familiar with Mercedes’ line-up will easily spot this sedan as an S-Class, it could still easily blend into regular traffic without drawing any unwanted attention to itself. What’s more, with badging removed, there’s no telling what’s under the hood – it could be a 3.0-liter lump or even a diesel engine. How would anyone know?

The last thing anyone would then expect is to see this huge luxury sedan shift from 0 to 60 MPH in under 5 seconds, and then continue on to an electronically limited 155 MPH with ease. That’s what the S580 and S580e are capable of though, thanks to around 500 horsepower each. With prices starting just south of $130,000, it stands proud as the most expensive sleeper car currently on offer in 2024.

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Here’s What Powers The 2024 Mercedes-Benz S580 Models

Engine & Performance Specs

(Specs courtesy of Mercedes-Benz)

Customers Can Choose Either A Twin Turbocharged V8 Or Turbocharged I-6 Hybrid Powertrain With The S580

It’s no good just looking unassuming though, a sleeper car needs some serious firepower too. Mercedes offers the punch of a supercar in two different flavors; V8, and inline-6 hybrid. The former is slightly less powerful, with just 496 horsepower to play with, compared to the S580e’s 503. The plug-in hybrid boasts more torque too, with 553 lb-ft to the V8’s 503.

However, when it comes to converting those figures into real speed, the twin-turbocharged S580 is crowned the champion, as it will dart from 0 to 60 MPH at a full 0.6 of a second quicker, and then they both continue on to an electronically limited 155 mph. Power for both cars is sent through a silky smooth 9-speed automatic transmission, and then dispersed to all four wheels, using Mercedes’ tried and tested 4MATIC drivetrain.

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Here’s How Much The Most Expensive Sleeper In 2024 Costs

Pricing Details

• 2024 Mercedes-Benz S580 4MATIC Starting MSRP: $128,150
• 2024 Mercedes-Benz S580e 4MATIC Starting MSRP: $127,750

Only $400 Separates These Six-Figure Super Saloons From One Another

Although the two options feature completely different powertrains, Mercedes has kept the pricing of the S580 and S580e as similar as possible. The V8-powered S580 is just $400 more expensive, with an MSRP of $128,150 which means this specific trim is technically the most expensive sleeper car of 2024, with the S580e trailing behind in a very close second place.

• AMG Line Package: $4,300
• Worth & Comfort Package: $3,500
• MANUFAKTUR Interior Package: $10,500
• Executive Line: $14,500
• 3D Technology Package: $3,000
• Burmester High-End 4D Surround Sound System: $6,800
• E-Active Body Control: $6,500
• Upgraded Alloy Wheels: From $200 to $1,950
• Upgraded Exterior Colors: From $1,750 to $6,500
• Upgraded Interior Trim: From $850 to $3,200
• Rear Spoiler: $550
• Night Package: $400

The Asking Price Of An S580 4MATIC Can Soar With Selected Optional Features

As can only be expected from a high-end luxury car, not only is the starting price appropriately steep, but the cost of optional extras can soon mount up too, if you’re not careful. Most notable are some of the packages that Mercedes offers.

Many customers will surely pick the popular AMG Line package, which retails at $4,300 and equips the S-Class with a more sporting presence; if it’s a sleeper you’re after though, it’s best to avoid this option, as it hints at the performance within. Instead, de-badging your S580 or S580e would be a worthy mod, in line with the sleeper aesthetic.

For those with deeper pockets still, the Executive Line and MANUFAKTUR Interior packages may be of interest, at $14,500 and $10,000 respectively. These packages represent the final word in luxury and will ensure your S-Class is lined in only the finest materials. Personalizing your S-Class with larger alloy wheels and cool exterior colors will set you back even more money, further reinforcing the S-Class as the most expensive sleeper car in 2024.

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The S580 Is Not The Most Expensive S-Class Available In 2024

Pricing Details

• 2024 BRABUS 930 S63 E Performance: $533,000
• 2024 Mercedes-Maybach S680 4MATIC: $234,300
• 2024 Mercedes-AMG S 63 E Performance: To Be Confirmed

Here’s Why The Maybach, BRABUS & AMG S-Class Aren’t Sleeper Cars

The BRABUS, Maybach, and AMG iterations of the latest S-Class sadly don’t classify as sleeper cars, although that isn’t because they lack anything on the performance side. Take the BRABUS, for example, the 930 in the name is a slight giveaway as to how much horsepower this means super sedan packs. It’s by far the most powerful S-Class on offer in 2024, although the Maybach and S 63 aren’t too far behind, with 621 and 791 horsepower respectively, to the BRABUS’s 930.

No, these models certainly have the grunt of a sleeper, but with aggressive body kits (AMG and BRABUS) and super-premium luxury accessories (Maybach), these cars just don’t have the ability to fly under the radar like the standard Mercedes model does. If they did, then with a price north of half a million dollars, the BRABUS 930 S63 E Performance would be the most expensive sleeper car of 2024 by a country mile. However, with carbon fiber panels everywhere, and 22-inch performance alloy wheels, it’s far too outlandish to be considered a true sleeper.

Sources: Mercedes-Benz USA, BRABUS, CarBuzz, TopSpeed