Autoblog

These cars are headed to the Great Crusher In The Sky

Jeffrey N. Ross — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 14:58:00 EST

Filed under: Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, Infiniti, Jeep, Kia, Lexus, Maybach, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Volvo

It happens every year. We bid adieu to some cars and trucks that will be missed, and say good riddance to others wondering how they stayed around so long. Whether they're being killed off for slow sales or due to a new product coming along to replace them, the list of vehicles being discontinued after 2012 is surprisingly long and diverse.

CNN Money has compiled a list of departing vehicles, to which we've added a few more of our own. In the slow sales column, cars like the Lexus HS 250h, Mercedes-Benz R-Class and the full Maybach lineup appear, while the Ford Escape Hybrid, Mazda CX-7 and Hyundai Veracruz are all having their gaps filled with more modern and more fuel-efficient alternatives. Obvious exceptions to the rule include models that still sell in decent numbers like the Jeep Liberty and the Chrysler Town & Country (which will eventually be replaced by a crossover-like vehicle).

Check out our gallery of discontinued cars above, then scroll down for more information.

Continue reading These cars are headed to the Great Crusher In The Sky

These cars are headed to the Great Crusher In The Sky originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 24 Aug 2012 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Maybach officially discontinues all models for 2013

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 11:01:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Maybach, Luxury

The word "Maybach" has joined the long list of synonyms for the word "kaput." Mercedes-Benz released the price list for the 2013 models of its super-luxury sedans, with the price column simply stating "Discontinued" for each one of them.

The 2012 models, should there be any left for 11th-hour buyers, maintain the increased MSRPs that Daimler slapped on them late last year after it was known the brand would be terminated next year. But you might still be able to wrangle that $100,000 rebate if you ask nicely, or in Russian, or have Rick Ross ask for you.

It shouldn't be too long before we see the ultimate version of the next generation S-Class, the S600 Pullman, that will replace Maybach. Intriguingly, it's said the Pullman will be offered with every S-Class engine, even the four-cylinder diesel.

Maybach officially discontinues all models for 2013 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 14 Aug 2012 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Daimler increases prices on 2012 Maybach models

Noah Joseph — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 18:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Maybach, Luxury

That Daimler can't sell enough Maybach superluxury sedans to justify the brand's existence is the worst-kept secret in the entire automotive industry. The numbers don't really make a dent in what its competitors sell, and they are but a drop in the bucket of what the company moves as a whole. That's what's prompted Daimler to seek out more cost-effective alternatives to the current Maybach line, and what's reportedly forced them to move to shutter the brand in the near future.

So you'd think that the prices on buying a new Maybach would be dropping considerably as a result. And you may very well get your local Maybach dealer to cut one heck of a deal to get one of their limousines out of the showroom. But you wouldn't know it from the latest pricing updates released by Mercedes-Benz USA.

Instead of slashing their prices in an effort to turn a profit before shutting down the brand, Daimler has actually increased the MSRPs on 2012 models. Not by much, mind you - about $4,000 across the board (save the $1.38m Landaulet, which stays the same). Of course, that probably isn't enough to deter someone willing to shell out this kind of money from buying a Maybach. But the sheer audacity of raising the sails on a sinking vessel is certainly an interesting tactic to save the ship.

Continue reading Daimler increases prices on 2012 Maybach models

Daimler increases prices on 2012 Maybach models originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 22 Dec 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mercedes-Benz killing Maybach in 2013, replacing with S600 Pullman

Damon Lavrinc — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 12:16:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Maybach, Mercedes-Benz, Luxury

According to an unnamed Mercedes-Benz source speaking with AutoWeek, the German automaker is killing off its Maybach line in 2013.

The unsurprising news comes after the brand was resurrected in 2002, but failed to meet sales expectations with its two core models, the Maybach 57 and 62. Further solidifying its fate, a deal with Aston Martin to aid in the development of future Maybachs fell through earlier this year.

According to the AutoWeek insider, the plan is to continue to sell both Maybach models through the end of 2013, after which the fifth-generation S-Class will go on sale. When that happens, three new variants of the S-Class will be available, including an all-new, range-topping S600 that brings back the Pullman moniker and may be better suited to competing with the likes of Bentley and Rolls-Royce.

Mercedes-Benz killing Maybach in 2013, replacing with S600 Pullman originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 25 Nov 2011 12:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bonhams to auction Lincoln fit for a pope... or an astronaut

Noah Joseph — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Convertible, Sedan, Auctions, Lincoln, Celebrities, Specialty

Not a lot of people have use for a parade car. The pope would, as would a group of astronauts returning from a mission in space to be showered with ticker tape. And if you think you deserve a parade of your own, this could be your vehicle of choice.

The venerable auction house Bonhams has got a very rare 1964 Lincoln Continental landaulet up for grabs at its upcoming event at the Quail Lodge during Pebble Beach weekend. Based on the Continental introduced in 1961, this enormous 21-foot-long beast of a car actually borrows its underpinnings from the Thunderbird - only it can carry a couple more passengers.

This example was prepared by Lehmann-Peterson coachbuilders out of Chicago in order to transport Pope Paul VI upon his 1965 visit to New York City to address the United Nations General Assembly and give mass at Yankee Stadium. It packs exterior step plates and handrails for ride-along security, a raised showcase seat in the back, a PA system, and a removable roof section, clear canopy and rooftop windscreen to shield the dignitary while basking in the adulation of the assembled masses.

Ford shipped the car off at a moment's notice to Bogota, Colombia, for another papal visit a few years later, where the high altitude required the car be fed by jet fuel provided by the Colombian Air Force. But in case that wasn't enough, the car was retasked to fête returning astronauts during the peak of the NASA space program. The heroes of Apollo 8, 11, 13 and 15 all rode in this limousine, and now it's expected to fetch between $250,000 and $350,000 when it hits the auction block on August 18-19 at the Quail.

Bonhams to auction Lincoln fit for a pope... or an astronaut originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 11 Aug 2011 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lexus LS 600h L Landaulet for Monaco Royal Wedding blows our minds [w/videos]

Steven J. Ewing — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Sedan, Lexus, Luxury

Lexus LS 600h L Landaulet - Click above for high-res image gallery

Staffers here at Autoblog have been fortunate enough to drive cars like the Porsche Panamera and Bentley Continental at our weddings, but it takes a very high-ranking person to get an automaker to build a special vehicle just for the knot-tying ceremonies. His Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco is getting married in just over a week, and when he does, Lexus will have this very special LS 600h L Landaulet waiting to handle chauffeur duty.

Yes, it's being called a Landaulet - you know, like the Maybach - but instead of the rear seat passengers being completely alfresco, there's a transparent bubble roof, in this case, one without any reinforcements or pillars. Lexus says that the roof was built by one of the world's leading transparent component-production companies in France. The entire Landaulet conversion was handled by Belgian coachbuilder Carat Duchatelet in close collaboration with Lexus, and it took just over 2,000 hours to complete. Even the Midnight Blue livery paint is a special touch - it was applied manually using several coats of bespoke, water-based paint.

After checking out the high-res gallery below, hit the jump to see four short videos detailing the LS 600h L Landaulet's production and read over the official press release.

Continue reading Lexus LS 600h L Landaulet for Monaco Royal Wedding blows our minds [w/videos]

Lexus LS 600h L Landaulet for Monaco Royal Wedding blows our minds [w/videos] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 24 Jun 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Maybach to get facelift in Beijing before brand gets the axe

Steven J. Ewing — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 13:31:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Maybach, Mercedes-Benz, Beijing Motor Show, Luxury

Maybach Landaulet - Click above for high-res image gallery

If a recent report out of the UK is to be believed, Maybach is set to get the axe in the very near future. However, as a last hurrah, all three models from the ultra-luxury division of Mercedes-Benz (57, 62 and Landaulet) will receive facelifts this year. The last round of top-zoot Maybachs will debut in late April at the Beijing Motor Show. Expect the changes to the lineup to be very minor - new grilles and LED lights should be about the only differences from the sedans currently on sale.

So, why kill off Maybach? Ever since the brand was resurrected in 2002, it has suffered from very slow sales. Not surprising, considering the high price tags, comparatively low content levels and the hard financial times the world has fallen on in recent years. Furthermore, parent company Mercedes-Benz has big plans to expand the S-Class range, which includes adding more upmarket versions which should fill the void of Maybach's current offerings. Look for the new S-Class to arrive in 2014, along with a fully updated version of the R-Class people-mover, as well.

Gallery: Maybach Landaulet

[Source: AutoExpress]

Report: Maybach to get facelift in Beijing before brand gets the axe originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 15 Mar 2010 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Zetsche: Maybach "not significant or relevant," but a facelift is coming anyway

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Maybach, Earnings/Financials, Luxury

2010 Maybach Zeppelin - click above for high-res gallery

Maybach's 2009 sales through the first eleven months of this year have declined about 20 percent. That's at the kinder end of the industry average, all the more impressive because the "cheapest" one starts at $358,000. The part that's not so kind is the actual number of sales: 88, versus 110 last year.

Mercedes-Benz boss Dieter Zetsche has told Autocar that there's a facelifted Maybach on the way, but his comments sound like those of a player ready to get out of this game. With an aside that he thinks luxury buyers are becoming more discreet, he admitted that Maybach's addition to the company "is not significant or relevant" and "there are no plans in the long run." Correct us if we aren't remembering correctly, but last we checked Dr. Z wasn't the kind of guy to leave dead weight hanging around.

This is just speculation, but assuming he spoke of Rolls-Royce when he said "there are only two players in this market and we are one of them," (apparently Bentley's Mulsanne doesn't move his needle) perhaps Zetsche sees the top tier luxury race needing only one Maybach hit or a Rolls stumble to even up. Rolls sales have fallen 18 percent this year, but that's from 407 to 330. On the other hand, Zetsche's unwillingness to commit to saying a new Maybach is on the way makes us think you should get one while you can. Or not. Hat tip to Williem D!

Gallery: Maybach Zeppelin

[Source: Autocar]

Zetsche: Maybach "not significant or relevant," but a facelift is coming anyway originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 Dec 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Thus sprache Zetsche: Maybach not going anywhere

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 16:31:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Maybach, Mercedes-Benz

Click above for high-res gallery of the Maybach 62 Landaulet

Seemingly nothing - not the credit crunch, not miniscule sales, not its own lengthy, lugubrious looks - can kill the Maybach. People who have wondered how long Mercedes will keep dishing out tiny servings of the enormous cars can wonder no more: top guy Dieter Zetsche has said Maybach is here to stay, and that the brand "is not losing money."

We don't know how a division that moved just 146 cars last year, even if they start at $372,000, isn't losing money. But the $1.35 million Landaulet should help things, and to be to be fair, Zetsche has said before that Maybach's profitability or otherwise is not the issue - the car is a suitable competitor to Rolls-Royce and Bentley. And Daimler has demonstrated patience: it waded through the rough times with the smart car division for ten years, and now has black ink and a hot brand to show for it.

Gallery: Maybach 62 Landaulet

[Source: Automotive News via eGM Car Tech]

Thus sprache Zetsche: Maybach not going anywhere originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 Oct 2008 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Maybach prices 62 Landaulet for America at $1.35 million

Noah Joseph — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 10:28:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Convertible, Sedan, 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.

Gallery: Maybach 62 Landaulet

[Source: Automotive News - subs. req'd]

Maybach prices 62 Landaulet for America at $1.35 million originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 07 Apr 2008 10:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Maybach to put 62 Landaulet into production

Noah Joseph — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 09:01:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Sedan, 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]

Gallery: Maybach 62 Landaulet

Maybach to put 62 Landaulet into production originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 23 Jan 2008 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Detroit 2008: Maybach Landaulet arrives in style

Drew Phillips — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 11:13:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Detroit Auto Show, Sedan, 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.

Gallery: Maybach 62 Landaulet

Continue reading Detroit 2008: Maybach Landaulet arrives in style

Detroit 2008: Maybach Landaulet arrives in style originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 14 Jan 2008 11:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Maybach 62 S Landaulet

Noah Joseph — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 19:03:00 EST

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

VIDEO: Maybach 62 S Landaulet originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 25 Nov 2007 19:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Maybach 62 Landaulet unveiled

Alex Nunez — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 23:58:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Convertible, Sedan, Maybach, Misc. Auto Shows

Click image for high-res gallery

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]

Gallery: Maybach 62 Landaulet

Continue reading Maybach 62 Landaulet unveiled

Maybach 62 Landaulet unveiled originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 01 Nov 2007 23:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Enter the rumormill: Maybach 62 Laundaulet headed for Middle East debut

Noah Joseph — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 11:33:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Sedan, 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]

Enter the rumormill: Maybach 62 Laundaulet headed for Middle East debut originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 15 Oct 2007 11:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Swiss Army Roof: Magna Steyr MILA Future

Noah Joseph — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 11:03:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Trends, Convertible, Geneva Motor Show, Technology

Click on the image above to jump to our high-resolution image gallery

Innovations in retractable hard-tops come from what could very well be the broadest range of sources in the industry. The complex retractable roof systems are sometimes designed and developed by the automakers themselves, sometimes by specialists like ASC, sometimes from design houses like Fioravanti (whose flip-top made it onto the Ferrari Superamerica), and sometimes they're even made by independent garages (like this Mustang we brought you earlier). This system, perhaps the most innovative to date, was designed by component manufacturer Magna Steyr and showcased in the MILA Future concept.

The roof is an ingenious four-in-one system that transforms from a fixed roof into a full convertible, a targa or a "landaulet" with the rear window retracted. The system is comprised of the roof section, the rear decklid (with integrated B and C pillar buttresses) and the retractable rear window glass, and is designed to optimize trunk space.

The concept was apparently displayed at the huge Geneva show a couple weeks ago, but with all the manufacturers' press conferences running with typical Swiss precision, we unfortunately missed it. You can, however, check out the images of the car in various states of openness in the gallery as well as the press release after the jump.

[Source: Magna Steyr via Carscoop]

Gallery: Magna Steyr MILA Future concept

Continue reading Swiss Army Roof: Magna Steyr MILA Future

Swiss Army Roof: Magna Steyr MILA Future originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 19 Mar 2007 11:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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