Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Celebrated photographer David LaChapelle gets artsy with Maybach [UPDATE: Video added]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/08/celebrated-photographer-david-lachapelle-gets-artsy-with-maybach/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/08/celebrated-photographer-david-lachapelle-gets-artsy-with-maybach/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/08/celebrated-photographer-david-lachapelle-gets-artsy-with-maybach/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Maybach Zeppelin through the eyes of David LaChapelle - click above to view high-res NSFW gallery

While its enduring legacy will forever be crippling hyperinflation and the inability to fight the rise of Nazism, Germany's post World War I Weimar Republic has something of a positive, cultural heritage. In the late 1920s and early 1930s, theater, art, architecture (Bauhaus anyone?) and music all flourished in pre-Hitler Germany. Cabaret and promiscuity in general became so widespread that conservatives had to busy themselves banning jazz and passing laws against teenagers purchasing pornography. Long story short, Berlin was quite the place to be during the Jazz Age.

And not a bad place to shop for cars, either. Especially decadent, luxury cars. Like the dreamy Mercedes-Benz SSK. Or a stately Horch 430 Cabriolet Drophead Coupe. And even if we could forget the irrepressible 1931 Maybach Zeppelin DS 8, Daimler wouldn't let us. To wit, in order to publicize their brand-new Maybach Zeppelin, Daimler has retained the services of noted fashion/art photographer David LaChapelle and furnished him with both the new car and a lovely custard and black example of the OG 1931 Zeppelin. Here's how Daimler describes the collaboration:
"The renowned American photographer has chosen to collaborate with style icon Daphne Guinness to portray both vehicles in his signature fashion. With creative freedom entrusted to LaChapelle by Maybach, he created photos that whisk the observer to a world filled with luxurious extravagance that features LaChapelle's celebrated surreal tableaux."
Fair enough. There is actually something of a precedent here, as Andy Warhol created a 35-part series for Daimler in 1986 entitled, "Car." Coincidently, it was Warhol that discovered LaChapelle. As far as LaChapelle's photos go, we're showing you the much less interesting one here on the mainpage. There's a Not Safe For Work (nudity) gallery of the other stuff after the jump. Are they any good? Hard to say, but we are reminded of Hunter S. Thompson's description of Bazooko's Circus as, "what the whole hep world would be doing Saturday night if the Nazis had won the war... the Sixth Reich." See for yourselves along with a press release and a making-of video after the jump (NSFW).

[Source: Daimler]

Continue reading Celebrated photographer David LaChapelle gets artsy with Maybach [UPDATE: Video added]

Celebrated photographer David LaChapelle gets artsy with Maybach [UPDATE: Video added] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Dec 2009 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1931 Maybach Zeppelin1931 Maybach Zeppelin DS 81931MaybachZeppelin1931MaybachZeppelinDs82010 Maybach2010 Maybach Zeppelin2010Maybach2010MaybachZeppelinAndy WarholAndyWarholDaimlerDavid LaChapelleDavidLachapelleHorchMaybachMaybach 62maybach 62 zeppelinMaybach ZeppelinMaybach Zeppelin DS 8Maybach62Maybach62ZeppelinMaybachZeppelinMaybachZeppelinDs8Weimar RepublicWeimarRepublicTue, 08 Dec 2009 19:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Pics Aplenty: Maybach drops full slate of Zeppelin images]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/16/pics-aplenty-maybach-drops-full-slate-of-zeppelin-images/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/16/pics-aplenty-maybach-drops-full-slate-of-zeppelin-images/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/16/pics-aplenty-maybach-drops-full-slate-of-zeppelin-images/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Maybach Zeppelin 62 - Click above for high-res image gallery

Hi everybody! You're looking at the $612,000 Maybach Zeppelin 62. We've already given out opinion as to why the new Zeppelin range of Maybachs probably ain't worth the extra money. So never mind the economics of the car -- at least for a few minutes. What we have here is a big old gallery worth of images of the new ultra-exclusive top of the line Maybach in its natural habitat. That's right, running around the French Riviera. We'll get to sneak a peak at the new Zeppelin's interior come Geneva. Maybe even sit inside it if we can catch a security guard dozing on the job.

We've been hearing rumors of Maybach's demise for quite some time, but as soon as some pundit yells game over, Daimler's uber-luxury brand goes and releases another model -- like the kooky Landaulet. And we don't mean kooky in a derogatory way. We mean it in a "We're kooky and we'd love to pull up to a roller derby game in a white-on-white Landaulet with half a dozen of our closest friends" kind of way. Failing that, we wouldn't mind rolling 'round town in a Zeppelin. Especially if we're not paying.


Gallery: Maybach Zeppelin


Gallery: 2010 Maybach Zeppelin in SoCal


[Source: Daimler]

Pics Aplenty: Maybach drops full slate of Zeppelin images originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>daimlerMaybachMaybach 57Maybach 62Maybach ZeppelinMaybach Zeppelin 57Maybach Zeppelin 62Maybach57Maybach62MaybachZeppelinMaybachZeppelin57MaybachZeppelin62maycbachmercedes-benzpics aplentyPicsAplentyZeppelinMon, 16 Nov 2009 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Spy Shots: Maybach gets a nose job...sorta]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/13/spy-shots-maybach-gets-a-nose-job-sorta/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/13/spy-shots-maybach-gets-a-nose-job-sorta/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/13/spy-shots-maybach-gets-a-nose-job-sorta/#commentsFiled under: , ,

If at first you don't succeed, try, try again .As if it knows already that slapping the Zeppelin name on its slow-selling flagship limo wouldn't do the trick, Daimler is back at it with a very mild facelift to its Maybach line.

It's so mild, in fact, that the test mule was able to circulate undisguised, as we really had to compare side by side to see what had been changed. But if you squint your eyes and tilt your head just so, you can see that the Maybach in the spy shots has a slightly different bumper and grille, and is said to be carrying LED headlamps, with similar mods to the rear. Maybach may be giving the interior a slight refresh, too, but they can't expect the almost indiscernible facelift to help it gain any territory on arch-rival Rolls-Royce and Bentley, can they?

[Source: EVO]

Spy Shots: Maybach gets a nose job...sorta originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 Feb 2009 16:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>maybachmaybach 57maybach 62Maybach57Maybach62spy shots maybachSpyShotsMaybachupdated maybachUpdatedMaybachFri, 13 Feb 2009 16:33:00 EST<![CDATA[Lead Zeppelin? Maybach exhumes long-dormant nameplate for new super-lux model]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/11/lead-zeppelin-maybach-exhumes-long-dormant-nameplate-for-new-su/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/11/lead-zeppelin-maybach-exhumes-long-dormant-nameplate-for-new-su/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/11/lead-zeppelin-maybach-exhumes-long-dormant-nameplate-for-new-su/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click above to view the Maybach Zeppelin in high-resolution

One of these days, the guys at Daimler headquarters in Stuttgart will realize that, to make Maybach a success, the marque is going to need to do more than revive some old names and slap 'em on an oversized version of the old Mercedes S-Class. Until then, however, it's full speed ahead on the current course, as Maybach is poised to unveil Zeppelin editions of its current models.

Reviving the old nameplate of the original Maybach's top-spec model, the new Zeppelin is little more than a pricy trim package. €406,000 (about $525k USD by today's rates) gets you a Maybach 57 Zeppelin, while the larger 62 commands a €473,200 ($612k) sum. In exchange, you get some unique 20" dark chrome rims, the requisite special badges, dark red tail lights, vertical exhaust outlets, special leather upholstery ("California beige" with "Stromboli black" stitching), piano lacquer trim, a set of silver champagne flutes and a plastic fragrance dispenser.

Maybach says they'll only make 100 Zeppelin editions, but remember: that's a maximum, and we'd be surprised if they actually sold that many. Full details in the press release after the jump and photos in the gallery below.

Gallery: Maybach Zeppelin


[Source: Daimler]

Continue reading Lead Zeppelin? Maybach exhumes long-dormant nameplate for new super-lux model

Lead Zeppelin? Maybach exhumes long-dormant nameplate for new super-lux model originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 Feb 2009 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>geneva auto salongeneva motor showGenevaAutoSalonGenevaMotorShowlimolimousinemaybachmaybach 57 zeppelinmaybach 62 zeppelinmaybach genevamaybach special editionmaybach zeppelinMaybach57ZeppelinMaybach62ZeppelinMaybachGenevaMaybachSpecialEditionMaybachZeppelinplutocratWed, 11 Feb 2009 10:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Maybach leads luxury segment... in depreciation]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/03/maybach-leads-luxury-segment-in-depreciation/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/03/maybach-leads-luxury-segment-in-depreciation/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/03/maybach-leads-luxury-segment-in-depreciation/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



Anybody want to buy a used Maybach? Hello? The idea may sound entirely preposterous - an anathema, even, to the brand's nouveau riche market - but it may be the best way to get your hands on Mercedes' super-lux big brother. Of course that's the positive way to look at it, but the flip side is that, as demonstrated by recently released statistics, Maybach has the highest depreciation rates of any car on the market.

Over the course of the first year of ownership, a new Maybach 62S is assessed to lose a whopping $183k off its half-a-million-dollar sticker price. That's 39% off its purchase value in the span of a year, or roughly $500 every day. The Rolls-Royce Phantom, by comparison, loses "only" about $100k, or 24%. Slightly further down-market, things are even worse... by percentage, at least: a BMW 7 Series loses a tear-jerking 51%, and a Mercedes S-Class 47%. While depreciation is expected on a new car, this is bordering on depressing.

[Source: Automotive News Europe - Sub. Req.]

Maybach leads luxury segment... in depreciation originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 03 Feb 2009 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>depreciationmaybachresale valueResaleValueresidual valueResidualValueTue, 03 Feb 2009 15:31:00 EST<![CDATA[First Lagonda to be based on S-Class?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/05/first-lagonda-to-be-based-on-s-class/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/05/first-lagonda-to-be-based-on-s-class/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/05/first-lagonda-to-be-based-on-s-class/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



It sounds like a match made in heaven. A new duo of sedans styled by Aston Martin with Mercedes-Benz engineering prowess propping them up. Assuming that these two automakers can get their next super-sedans bolted together well enough, the first sedan from the recently-revived Lagonda brand and the next Maybach may be jointly designed by the two companies, which just recently began collaborating with each other. Early reports indicate that the two premium saloons would be based on the latest S-Class chassis architecture, with the Maybach brand getting the most luxurious accouterments and the Lagonda holding the sporty end of the stick.

Powertrain options for these two luxury vehicles would come from Daimler as a revised version of the V12 engine that currently powers the Maybach limos and which may even by hybridized. The jointly developed super saloons would theoretically cut the development time and budget for each by significant amounts, assuming that these two sets of management can find a way to work together. We have high hopes.

[Source: Autocar]

First Lagonda to be based on S-Class? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 05 Nov 2008 18:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aston martinaston martin lagondaAstonMartinAstonMartinLagondadaimlerdaimler aston martinDaimlerAstonMartinlagondamaybachmaybach lagondaMaybachLagondamercedes-benzmercedes-benz lagondaMercedes-benzLagondaWed, 05 Nov 2008 18:19:00 EST<![CDATA[Thus sprache Zetsche: Maybach not going anywhere]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/09/thus-sprache-zetsche-maybach-not-going-anywhere/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/09/thus-sprache-zetsche-maybach-not-going-anywhere/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/09/thus-sprache-zetsche-maybach-not-going-anywhere/#commentsFiled under: , ,


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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Click the image above for a hi-res gallery of the Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupe

If you've got it, flaunt it. The super high-end automotive market has been counting on that attitude for years, and it may now be coming back to bite them. It seems that sales of luxury marques such as Bentley, Maybach and Aston Martin have been on a downward trajectory over the last year. Despite the fact that there are a number of people who still have plenty of dough to purchase these expensive toys, public perception is causing some of them to hold back and keep those fat wallets in their pockets.

To combat the problem, some high-end brands are choosing to aim even higher. If ex-customers with a net-worth of less than $5 million find it socially unacceptable to make a purchase, Bentley has said it will begin marketing to those with at least a net worth of $25 million. Let us add that we've driven a few Bentleys and Rollers and can say with certainty that they are definitely conspicuous in a sea of CamCords and Mustangs.

Gallery: First Drive: Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupe


[Source: Advertising Age]

Super rich may avoid super expensive cars because of bad image originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Oct 2008 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bentleyhigh end carshigh-end carsHigh-endCarsHighEndCarsluxury carsLuxuryCarsmaybachrolls royceRollsRoyceThu, 02 Oct 2008 19:29:00 EST<![CDATA[The Maybach Exelero can be yours... for $7.8 million]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/06/the-maybach-exelero-can-be-yours-for-7-8-million/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/06/the-maybach-exelero-can-be-yours-for-7-8-million/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/06/the-maybach-exelero-can-be-yours-for-7-8-million/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


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.

Gallery: Maybach Exelero


[Anamera via eGMCarTech]

The Maybach Exelero can be yours... for $7.8 million originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 06 Jul 2008 13:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>5 million5000000 euro5000000Euro5Millionexelerofor saleForSalefuldamaybachone-offSun, 06 Jul 2008 13:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Maybach prices 62 Landaulet for America at $1.35 million]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/07/maybach-prices-62-landaulet-for-america-at-1-35-million/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/07/maybach-prices-62-landaulet-for-america-at-1-35-million/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/07/maybach-prices-62-landaulet-for-america-at-1-35-million/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


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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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]

Russian aristocrats travel in luxury cabs originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 06 Apr 2008 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>luxury taxiLuxuryTaximaybachmaybach 62maybach taxiMaybach62MaybachTaxiporsche cayenneporsche cayenne taxiPorscheCayennePorscheCayenneTaxirussiarussian taxiRussianTaxitecharttechart magnumTechartMagnumSun, 06 Apr 2008 15:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Daimler considers shutting down Maybach]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/17/daimler-considers-shutting-down-maybach/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/17/daimler-considers-shutting-down-maybach/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/17/daimler-considers-shutting-down-maybach/#commentsFiled under: , ,

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]

Daimler considers shutting down Maybach originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 17 Mar 2008 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cancel maybachCancelMaybachclose maybachCloseMaybachdieter zetscheDieterZetschemaybachno new maybachNoNewMaybachshut down maybachShutDownMaybachMon, 17 Mar 2008 13:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Maybach to put 62 Landaulet into production]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/23/maybach-to-put-62-landaulet-into-production/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/23/maybach-to-put-62-landaulet-into-production/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/23/maybach-to-put-62-landaulet-into-production/#commentsFiled under: , ,


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.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>62 s62SavailableconvertiblelandauletlistmaybachmillionpriceproductionWed, 23 Jan 2008 09:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Detroit 2008: Maybach Landaulet arrives in style]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/14/detroit-2008-maybach-landaulet-arrives-in-style/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/14/detroit-2008-maybach-landaulet-arrives-in-style/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/14/detroit-2008-maybach-landaulet-arrives-in-style/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


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.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DetroitDetroit 2008Detroit2008LandauletMaybachMaybach LandauletMaybach Landaulet ConceptMaybachLandauletMaybachLandauletConceptMon, 14 Jan 2008 11:13:00 EST<![CDATA[VIDEO: Maybach 62 S Landaulet]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/25/video-maybach-62-s-landaulet/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/25/video-maybach-62-s-landaulet/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/25/video-maybach-62-s-landaulet/#commentsFiled under: ,



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.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>62landauletmaybachsvideoSun, 25 Nov 2007 19:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Dubious pioneer: Russia's first stolen Maybach]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/21/dubious-pioneer-russias-first-stolen-maybach/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/21/dubious-pioneer-russias-first-stolen-maybach/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/21/dubious-pioneer-russias-first-stolen-maybach/#commentsFiled under: , , ,




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]

Dubious pioneer: Russia's first stolen Maybach originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 21 Nov 2007 09:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>57luxury carLuxuryCarmarkovmaybachmaybach 57Maybach57moscowrussiatheftvikotor markovVikotorMarkovWed, 21 Nov 2007 09:04:00 EST<![CDATA[Brabus builds its own Exelero, hits 205 mph at Nardo]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/20/brabus-builds-its-own-exelero-hits-205-mph-at-nardo/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/20/brabus-builds-its-own-exelero-hits-205-mph-at-nardo/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/20/brabus-builds-its-own-exelero-hits-205-mph-at-nardo/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


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]

Gallery: Brabus Maybach 57 @Nardo

Continue reading Brabus builds its own Exelero, hits 205 mph at Nardo

Brabus builds its own Exelero, hits 205 mph at Nardo originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 20 Nov 2007 18:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>57brabusexelerohighkm/hkphmaybachmphnardospeedtesttoptrackTue, 20 Nov 2007 18:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Maybach 62 Landaulet unveiled]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/01/leaked-maybach-62-landaulet/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/01/leaked-maybach-62-landaulet/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/01/leaked-maybach-62-landaulet/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


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.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingdubai auto showDubaiAutoShowLandauletmaybachMaybach 62 LandauletMaybach62Landauletmiddle east international auto showMiddleEastInternationalAutoShowThu, 01 Nov 2007 23:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Price of exclusivity rising: Maybachs get $3500 price increase]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/23/price-of-exclusivity-rising-maybachs-get-3500-price-increase/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/23/price-of-exclusivity-rising-maybachs-get-3500-price-increase/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/23/price-of-exclusivity-rising-maybachs-get-3500-price-increase/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



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]

Price of exclusivity rising: Maybachs get $3500 price increase originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 Oct 2007 08:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>maybachmaybach 57maybach 62Maybach57Maybach62mercedesmercedes benzMercedesBenzpriceprice increasePriceIncreaseTue, 23 Oct 2007 08:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter the rumormill: Maybach 62 Laundaulet headed for Middle East debut]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/15/enter-the-rumormill-maybach-62-laundaulet-headed-for-middle-eas/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/15/enter-the-rumormill-maybach-62-laundaulet-headed-for-middle-eas/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/15/enter-the-rumormill-maybach-62-laundaulet-headed-for-middle-eas/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

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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