- Filed under: Aston Martin, Maybach, Mercedes-Benz
Project Alligator. That's the internal code-name for a potential collaboration between Mercedes and Aston Martin on everything from drivetrains to platforms. CAR's September issue gets into all the details, which includes such tasty nuggest as the possible use of AMG's 6.2-liter V8 in the next Vantage, porting over Mercedes' future eight-speed auto 'box into Astons, sharing platforms between both automaker's high-end models (think SL and beyond), cooperating on the development of diesels and hybrids, and using Aston's future products to keep Maybach alive and maybe even help the wayward ultra-luxury brand thrive with up to five new models. But it gets even bigger. A collaboration between the two could place M-B in a good position to buy Aston Martin if its new owners, including Prodrive's David Richards, decide to exit the automaking biz. As CAR points out, however, the only potential loser from Project Alligator coming to fruition is Mercedes' other partner, McLaren.
[Source: CAR]
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- Filed under: Concept Cars, Coupes, Sports/GTs, Euro, Supercars, Daimler, Maybach
Click above for a high-res gallery of the Maybach Exelero
Big-bucks enthusiasts annoyed that they're not the only ones at the club with a Veyron can now ensure that they arrive in total exclusivity. That's because the one-off Maybach Exelero, commissioned by Fulda to act as a high-profile demonstrator for its tire line of the same name, is now for sale. The Exelero isn't some delicate flower of a show car. Based on the Maybach 57 and powered by a 700-horsepower version of that car's turbocharged V12, the Exelero reached 218 mph at Nardo. In many ways, Exelero represents what Maybach could have and should have been -- a place where daring styling and incredible performance could merge with extreme luxury to compete with Rolls-Royce and Bentley. Instead, while the marque's sedans clearly get the luxury part of the equation right, in terms of styling, they basically work in anonymity, looking like peculiar old S-Class sedans. There's nothing anonymous about the Exelero, though, and for €5,000,000 (around $7.8 million USD), you can drive the sybaritic supercar that Daimler should have given Maybach all along.
[Anamera via eGMCarTech]
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- Filed under: Car Buying, Convertibles, Sedans/Saloons, Maybach
Click above to view the Maybach 62 Landaulet in hi-res
Okay, it just hit us: eccentric. That's what the Maybach 62 Landaulet is, in a word. In fact, you could apply that to the whole Maybach venture. Like Dennis Hopper said in the Keanu-tastic action flick Speed, "Poor people are crazy, Jack. I'm eccentric." Daimler is evidently hoping that there are enough "eccentric" people in the United States to warrant bringing over the head-scratchingly-strange Maybach 62 Landaulet to the American market.
With trepidation and a considerable measure of revulsion, we've covered the emergence of the Landaulet from the initial rumor, through the preview before the car's unveiling in Dubai (where else), the first video footage, its North American debut and its eventual production confirmation. It's been a long and crazy wind-tousled process, and now comes confirmation that it's coming our way. Oh, and the price? Ultimately confirmed at $1.35 million. That's not a typo, and it's higher even than the highest estimates we received previously. In case you, like us, are wondering who would spend that kind of money on a convertible version of a car that ordinarily costs (an already exorbitant) $433,750, ask Hans-Dieter Mulhaupt, the VP in charge of the Maybach program: "The Landaulet is for a superrich individual who wants something that is extremely extraordinary and enjoys being driven in a car with acres of sky above them." There you have it: "extremely extraordinary", for a million-dollar premium. Check out the images in the gallery below...those are free.
[Source: Automotive News - subs. req'd]
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- Filed under: Etc., Maybach, Porsche
It's a brilliant marketing come-on, really. Who wants to climb into a GAZ-24, however appealing it might be to obscure-car guys, when you could sink into the all-enveloping sumptuousness of a Maybach 62? Need to get to Gorky Park quickly? A Porsche Cayenne outfitted with a meter and checkerboard detailing awaits at the curb. It's not just a fancied-up VW, still carrying the VR6 behind the Porsche crest, either. No, this Cayenne is a TechArt Magnum, packing enough horsepower to light Long Island. Shaking that covey of shifty-eyed men in the shiny black Zil won't be a problem. It's not known if the fare is commensurate with the price of the vehicle, however.
[Source: englishrussia.com]
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- Filed under: Daimler, Maybach, Earnings/Financials
Daimler will take the next two years to decide whether to invest more in its failing Maybach flagship marque or else shut it down. This comes from the mouth of Daimler and Mercedes chief Dr. Dieter Zetsche, who inherited the problem-child brand from his predecessor, ex-CEO Juergen Schrempp.
After ditching Chrysler, another deal that was orchestrated by Schrempp, Dr. Z may be inclined to shut down Maybach, too. By all accounts the ultra-premium brand has not been a sales success, barely reaching ten percent of its original sales forecast. In speaking with TheCarConnection.com, however, Zetsche insisted that Maybach's profitability "does not matter" in the face of demonstrating Mercedes' capability of competing with archrival BMW's pinnacle Rolls-Royce (and Volkswagen's Bentley), but that may prove to be all talk if Maybach doesn't present a solid business case. Zetsche confirmed that there are currently no plans on the table for new Maybach products - cutting short speculation over a new baby Maybach positioned between the current 57 and the Mercedes S-Class - and that even the outrageously-priced 62 Landaulet was unlikely to make much headway in turning the brand's fortunes around. We guess P.Diddy and his crew will have to find another ride.
[Source: The Car Connection]
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- Filed under: Convertibles, Sedans/Saloons, Maybach
click above to view more high-resolution images of the Maybach 62 Laundaulet
Lord help us, for the automotive industry has sunk to a new low. As if it wasn't bad enough that Maybach created an ode to conspicuous consumption like the 62 Landaulet, but now Mercedes' big, goofy brother has decided to put the thing into production.
Following a spat of rumors, Maybach initially unveiled the half limo/half convertible/half marshmallow in Dubai this past November, and then laid it on us in person at the Detroit show. It starts with the Maybach 62 S and then peeled off half the roof like a can of sardines and slathered whitewash all over the thing. Unfortunately, as we could see by the yellow Cayenne we showed you yesterday, money and taste don't always go together, and Daimler seems content to separate the former from those who don't have the latter. The reported list price rivals the concept itself for sheer lunacy: $1.19 million. That's an unfathomable $756k premium over the $433,750 list price for a 2008 Maybach 62 S, though we've found conflicting reports that it will start at £350,000 or around $685,000 USD. We'd like to speak to any potential customers considering buying a Maybach 62 Laundaulet about this bucket of extremely rare sand that we're offering for a very reasonable price.
We've added some new official high-res images of the 62 Laundaulet to our gallery of live shots from the 2008 Detroit Auto Show below.
[Source: Motor Authority]
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- Filed under: Concept Cars, Detroit Auto Show, Sedans/Saloons, Maybach, Lifestyle
click above for more high-res images of the Maybach Lanaulet
If you'd rather be driven by a chauffeur than get behind the wheel yourself, you might want to check out the Maybach Landaulet that made its North American debut in Detroit this week. The half sedan/half convertible allows for the driver's compartment to be completely closed while the passengers in the rear can enjoy open top motoring. The sky isn't the only luxury available - passengers are treated to supple white leather seating and a full entertainment system with a DVD player 6-disc CD changer, dual television screens, and even a compartment to hold a bottle of champagne and goblets. The rear seats also recline, meaning you can lie back, listen to some tunes, and enjoy the fresh air while you sip on your drink. We'd love a test drive ride, but in some place a little warmer than Detroit.
Continue reading Detroit 2008: Maybach Landaulet arrives in style
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- Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Etc., Bentley, Lamborghini, Maserati, Maybach, Rolls-Royce, Ferrari
Has Porsche's declined invitation spurred the lodge members behind the Detroit Auto Show to showcase their appeal to luxury brands? So that might not be the reason, but the NAIAS brain trust has put together a private soiree that will highlight the other exclusive marques, like Bentley, Ferrari, and Maybach.
NAIAS Senior Co-Chairman Carl Galeana said, "This unique event was designed for those individuals who favor high-end, luxury vehicles and wish to have a special preview of the elite vehicles on display." That isn't exactly true, because we favor high-end, luxury vehicles and we didn't get an invite. Which means this event is strictly for those that have a different working definition of "liquid" than we do.
So far, 200 plutocrats and Big Bank Hanks have been offered access to The Gallery. To also feature music and gourmet food, as well as the opportunity to meet company executives and designers, the invite-only event takes place the evening of Jan. 13 on the show floor.
[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]
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- Filed under: Videos, Maybach
The rumors, the announcement, the official photos...none of it was enough to believe a once sensible company like Daimler-Benz could have created something so outrageously, ridiculously impractical as a six-figure, all-white, high-performance, partial-convertible, super-luxury limousine. Seeing it on video doesn't quite make it believable either. (It's kinda like the Moon Landing to conspiracy theorists that way). But short of seeing it up close and in person - which we hope won't be necessary - this is just about as close as we'd want to get. Okay, we believe, we believe. Just make it stop.
[Source: YouTube]Continue reading VIDEO: Maybach 62 S Landaulet
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- Filed under: Etc., Safety, Maybach, Lifestyle
Picture this, you're stuffing your face full of gourmet food, giving your gullet a real workout, and you look up from your plate just in time to see your Maybach speed by. That last bite sticks in your throat, refusing to budge. Whoever absconded with your über-uglified super S-Class boots your driver out the door while rounding a corner. Now would not be a good time to recall that your €530,000 car is insured for a mere €300,000. Whoops. Vikotor Markov was enjoying a meal at the De Marco café when thieves swiped his Maybach 57. While introducing Mr. Chauffeur to Mr. Chlorfoorm is itself a dicey undertaking, Markov's 'Bach is the first to be swiped in Russia. The band of thugs that ambushed the driver and made off with the car is believed to be responsible for multiple luxury car thefts, including a passel of Bentleys. Perhaps it would have been wiser to just take the Metro.
[Source: Luxist]
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- Filed under: Aftermarket, Sedans/Saloons, Maybach, MINI, Brabus
Click on the images to view in high-speed and high-resolution
Remember the Maybach Exelero? The ultra-premium marque from Merceceds-Benz built it almost two years ago as a high-speed test vehicle based on its Maybach 57 luxury sedan, but unfortunately never offered production versions to the public. To the rescue comes Brabus, those whacky German tuners who give the go-fast treatment to everything produced by the three-pointed star, from the Smart ForTwo all the way up to this 730-hp limousine.
Like the Exelero, Brabus' monster is based on the Maybach 57 and was built in order to achieve the highest speeds attainable. To get there, Brabus tuned the Maybach's twin-turbo V12 to the same standard as the CLS-based Brabus Rocket speed record car: that means boosting power from 550 hp to 730, thanks to an increase in displacement from 5.5 liters to 6.3, coupled with a new crankshaft, pistons, cylinder heads... the works. The turbos were beefed up, and along with the intercoolers, a custom exhaust was installed and the ECU was reprogrammed.
The result is a top speed of 330.2 km/h (205.2 mph in American speak) achieved at the same Nardo test track in Italy where the Exelero was put through its places. A far cry from the 218.4 mph achieved by the Exelero, but not to shabby in its own right. And here you thought the S versions of the Maybach 57 and 62 were obscene enough....
Check out the images in the gallery below, and the press release after the jump.
[Source: Brabus]
Continue reading Brabus builds its own Exelero, hits 205 mph at Nardo
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- Filed under: Concept Cars, Convertibles, Sedans/Saloons, Maybach, Misc. Auto Shows
Click image for high-res gallery
var ach_62_Landaulet_Return_of_the_four_door_convertible_pic'; The rumormill looks to have been accurate. Maybach will publicly unveil the Landaulet at the Middle East International Auto Show later this month. Based on the Maybach 62 S sedan and powered by its 612-horsebower biturbo V12, the Landaulet's front seats are fully enclosed and separated from the rear passenger compartment by a removable divider. Back seat passengers, however, get a sliding soft roof that lets them take in the sun from the comfort of the trick Barcaloungers that pass for back seats in the Maybach. The chauffeur's area is is finished in black leather, while the rear is done in all white with piano black and gold-flecked black granite inserts. Also, the opacity of that glass partition separating the driver from the passengers can be electronically controlled.
When it's revealed in Dubai, it'll be billed as a concept. Despite that title, it's completely reasonable to expect that the rumored 20-vehicle production run is an absolute lock, given that the car's guaranteed to be sold at pretty much any price Daimler chooses to ask for it (read: they can make it profitable). For the oil-rich sheiks likely to be snapping them up, money is not a concern. They see things they like, they want them, and they acquire them. It'll be no different with the Landaulet. These people buy new widebody jets for personal use. You think a super-expensive car's going to give them pause?
[Source: Daimler]
Continue reading Maybach 62 Landaulet unveiled
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- Filed under: Car Buying, Euro, Maybach, Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes has a novel idea to simulate sales of its sluggish-selling Rolls-Royce competitor. Since it's not selling as well as the company had hoped, why not crank up the price? The Maybach 57 and 62 have both received a $3,500 price increase for the 2008 model year, bringing their total tallies to $341,750 and $392,750 respectively. The Maybach marque has not lived up to Mercedes' expectations, so the German automaker been quietly smothering franchises with pillows, reducing the count of Maybach stores to 29 from an original number of 71. While the brand seems to be floundering, rumors abound of expanding the model count by offering a GL variant and a smaller S600-sized (but not priced) model. For now, though, with only two models, exclusivity seems to be Maybach's stock in trade, and now it's got an even higher price to separate the wheat from the chaff.
[Source: Inside Line]
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- Filed under: Convertibles, Sedans/Saloons, Maybach, Misc. Auto Shows
Even in the post-Chrysler age, Maybach remains a bit of a thorn in Mercedes' side. Its vehicles have been far less than the sales success hoped for, prompting Daimler to buy back 29 Maybach dealers. Subsequently the parent company wouldn't be so eager to invest more into the ultra-premium brand, but reports are circulating the internet of a new version that would require significantly less investment than an all-new model that could breathe a little more life into the dying breed.
Landaulets were a popular bodystyle in the 1920's and 30's, one which Maybach may be resurrecting with a half-convertible version of the extra-long Maybach 62. With a convertible roof fitted from the B-pillar rearwards, the Maybach 62 Landaulet would let the sun shine in on its pampered rear occupants, while leaving the front section covered with a conventional roof for the chauffer.
Reports indicate that the Landaulet version is being prepared for launch at next month's Middle East International Motor Show, held mid-November in Dubai, where some eccentric and moneyed sheiks might still be interested in the unique vehicles.
[Source: World Car Fans]
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- Filed under: Car Buying, Maybach, Mercedes-Benz
Audi has Bentley, BMW has Rolls-Royce (check out our review of the $400k Phantom!), and Mercedes-Benz has Maybach. Both Bentley and Rolls-Royce have proven to be valuable upper echelon assets for their respective parent companies, but Maybach has never made it that far. Expected to sell around 600 units per year, the exclusive marque only managed to move 164 units in the U.S. last year.
Mercedes recently made a move to minimize its losses by reducing the number of Maybach dealerships in the U.S. from 71 to 42. Though many Maybach dealerships are attached to Mercedes-Benz dealerships, owners were still forced to spend around a half a million dollars to build special "studios" that pampered the ultra-rich who were interested in a Maybach.
In order to close a Maybach dealership, however, Mercedes offers compensation those dealers who invested in the brand. Unfortunately, the automaker is only paying out 25 cents on the dollar, meaning a dealer who invested $500,000 is only getting $125,000 back. Buying high and selling low is not the best investment decision, but then again, neither is buying a Maybach.
[Source: Automotive News, sub. req'd]
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Archive for the 'MAYBACH' Category
Thursday, September 9th, 2004
Details info:
Type : sedan
Amount of the Doors : 4
The Place Seatings : 4
The Place Seatings макс. :
Sizes and mass : Length x width x height, mm : 5730 x x
Type of the engine :
Preparation to air gas :
Design of the engine :
Наддув :
Amount cylinder : 12
Amount valve on cylinder :
Volume of the engine, sm3 : 5513
Maximum engine size, sq / ls : / 550
Frequency of the rotation under maximum power about/mines : 5250
Maximum turning moment, Nm :
Frequency of the rotation under maximum turning moment about/mines :
Class bad material :
Drive :
Gearbox :
Amount of the issues :
Front springs :
Back springs :
Front brake :
Back brake :
Buses :
Buses back travell about :
Runaway before 100 km/ch, sec. : 5.5
Maximum velocity, km/ch : 250
Consuption fuel in town cycle, l/100 km :
Consuption fuel in country cycle, l/100 km :
Consuption fuel average, l/100 km : 15.9
Volume of the tank, l. :
Type fuel :
Posted in MAYBACH | No Comments »
Wednesday, September 8th, 2004
Details info:
Type : sedan
Amount of the Doors : 4
The Place Seatings : 4
The Place Seatings макс. :
Sizes and mass : Length x width x height, mm : 6160 x x
Type of the engine :
Preparation to air gas :
Design of the engine :
Наддув :
Amount cylinder : 12
Amount valve on cylinder :
Volume of the engine, sm3 : 5513
Maximum engine size, sq / ls : / 550
Frequency of the rotation under maximum power about/mines : 5250
Maximum turning moment, Nm :
Frequency of the rotation under maximum turning moment about/mines :
Class bad material :
Drive :
Gearbox :
Amount of the issues :
Front springs :
Back springs :
Front brake :
Back brake :
Buses :
Buses back travell about :
Runaway before 100 km/ch, sec. : 5.5
Maximum velocity, km/ch : 250
Consuption fuel in town cycle, l/100 km :
Consuption fuel in country cycle, l/100 km :
Consuption fuel average, l/100 km : 15.9
Volume of the tank, l. :
Type fuel :
Posted in MAYBACH | No Comments »
