Maybach expansion may include convertible, SUV
By most accounts, Maybach managed to move less than 300 units in all of 2006. These are low numbers even for an ultra-exclusive personal limo manufacturer. We can personally attest to the Maybach sedan being a very fine road car that is sumptuous and coddling, while simultaneously being capable of amazing alacrity when given the spur. Sure, it couldn't quite keep up with its corporate cousin CLK DTM, but it will more than hold its own against a Silver Spur or Phantom. But even a good car can get a bit stale, and although the line was expanded with the "S" models, the 57 and 62 won't personally guarantee the marque's future. As much as we'd love to see the Exelero reach production (so would The Governator), it's far more likely we'll be seeing a cabrio/landoulet version of the current sedan, and possibly an SUV, as well.
CAR Magazine, in fact, is reporting that the 57 and 62 sedans will go topless, with a power cloth top dropping to expose that huge passenger compartment. They also predict that a version of the corporate Mercedes-Benz GL will get a Maybachover to create the ultimate SUV. Picture a new nose and tail and those Concorde-like seats inside. They guess that these models could quintuple Maybach output by adding 25-50 ragtops and up to 1,500 Sport Utes. We see the cabrio as a must-have in light of the debut of the Rolls-Royce Drophead Coupe, even if Mercedes brings the Ocean Drive to fruition. The SUV seems like less of a necessity, but with a possible Bentley SUV in the future, this would make sense, too.
[Source: CAR Magazine]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
brackie 6:40PM (3/20/2007)
Is Maybach the most pointless brand next to Toyota? Who on earth wants to spend up to half a million dollars on a car that looks like an inferior version of a Rover 75? Its a nothing brand and won't ever be able to compete with the British big Three of Bentley, Aston and Rolls....Not to mention the eye watering depreciation...Rich people don't like bad investments and thats what this is.
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area_educator 8:46AM (3/21/2007)
Why would you even compare a maybach to a CLK DTM?
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Frank Filipponio 8:09PM (3/20/2007)
Sorry for the blind reference. I tend to make references to cars I know. The Maybach and the DTM were both owned by the same guy and when we hammered them down the freeway onramp, the Maybach was surprisingly fast, but the CLK was a rocket. Shot past the Enzo even. Same owner. The great thing about the Maybach is how much of a driver's car it is, and although cars like Benz's own S65 might make the Maybachs redundant to some, that back seat is amazing and exclusivity counts for something in this market as well.
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David 7:13PM (3/20/2007)
I agree with you brackie. Why in the world would anyone looking for a hyper-luxury sedan select one that makes the LS460 look like a work of art? Isn't it fair to think that people shopping in that market want some road presence.
I saw one of these in Vegas, operated by a limo company and it seemed absolutely appropriate since that's what the car looks like; the world's most expensive rental car.
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Namir 7:33PM (3/20/2007)
The AMG rims are really not working.
And I dont know if Donald Trump wants his rug flapping in the wind while being driven around in his maybach.
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DPC car videos 7:49PM (3/20/2007)
The AMG wheels make the Maybach look more like a Mercedes.
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Andrew 9:57PM (3/20/2007)
if i saw one of these with the top down, i'd hop in and pretend i was an rich arab oil tycoon. then fly off on my magic carpet to go knock off the nose on the sphinx! HUHZAA!!
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puty 11:46PM (3/20/2007)
Oh yipee, just what the world needs, YET ANOTHER SUV. Please.
Christ, how about a car that gets 100mpg and 0-60 in 6s... and costs less than the $400k Maybach.
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Barry 9:40AM (3/21/2007)
Surely that is in the April edition of CAR and is a prank?
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Jonathan 8:58PM (3/21/2007)
If only most knew what the Maybach was truly about!! It is a very misunderstood automobile and simply reading articles published on the Internet or in print simply does not even begin to explain it. I'm tired of a lot of the ignorant comments I see posted about the car. The lucky ones who can afford it are buying a true engineering marvel. There is so much more to it that what we can read on here; one must truly experience it first hand or talk (for hours!) with a Maybach expert.
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Jonathan 1:13PM (3/21/2007)
I'm tired of reading ignorant comments about the Maybach; there is so much more to this automobile than what you can ever read in any article in print or found online. One simply cannot even begin to understand what the Maybach is all about without having experienced it first hand and/or talking with a Maybach representative for hours. To the lucky ones that can afford to purchase one, they are buying a truly remarkable engineering marvel.
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DavidW 2:02PM (3/21/2007)
A handsome car made to look ghetto. Just what our generation will be remembered for. These will never be the quality classics of the 1960's-1970's Mercedes 600.
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The FedEx Man 2:26PM (4/11/2007)
The Maybach just lacks something. Its looks like a merc, not something worth 300K (in english money anyway - $500K? something like that). I mean a top of the range S-Class does nearly evenryhting that thing does and for a fraction of the pirce and if you want something that looks truely special go for the Rolls.
Smae goes for bentleys really (is it only me or are the new ones all looking like big VWs?).
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Very Rich Man 1:52PM (4/30/2007)
This maybach convertible is a collection object like mbl sound systems or patek philippe watchs
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