True. I think it was Eni who wanted Smart branded as Mercedes-Smart.

M

I guess it is not an unprecedented idea Marcus. Aston Martin did it with their Lagonda model in the 70s -- Lagonda was also once a separate brand. Aston Martin aquired Lagonda in 1947.

I remember that car being on either Dallas or Dynasty in the 80's. Back then my friends and I had no idea as to what the hell it was. I really would like to see one of those in person. Even a picture of this car gives me chills, its so exotic looking.

I'm so confused about Maybach it isn't even funny. Bentley and Rolls have everything sewn up, large sedans, coupes, convertibles, and soon a smaller sedan for Rolls. There is no space for Maybach to fit is, unless they do something topless.

M

Mercedes brand has one of the biggest brand caches in the world.
From the beginning DB should done this - I've been supporter of this way for a long time:

Mercedes-Smart range: premium sub-compact cars (not city-midgests like today)
Mercedes-Benz range: core MB models
Mercedes-McLaren range: supercars (Porsche / Ferrari / Lambo fighters)
Mercedes-Maybach range: ultra-luxury cars (RR / Bentley fighters)
Mercedes-??? range: commercial vehicles (trucks, buses, vans, etc)

This would be a perfect brand portfolio - blessed with Mercedes aura (via name & engineering). Of course product should follow premium orientation - without shortcuts in quality, and without advantages like "lets-make-a-toy-cars", & "lets-make-an-ultraluxurycar-on-an-old-Sclass-platform".

And this would work much better than a marriage with Chrysler.

But ... today it's too late for such a strategy. Smart produces toy, and failures (Roadster, For4). Maybach is lost & confused, McLaren underestimated, MB still fighting with past mistakes.

Doomed company - mostly due non-focused management & investors.

Noo..it's not too late. Dumping Chrysler would be the perfect time to REFOCUS.

Things might look bleak right now Marcus ...but that could change quite quickly if DCX are clever. I think Bentley's Flying Spur is what they should really be targeting -- this is the real big money market. It might be cheaper than the MM57/62 but it is no less prestigious actually. Many extremely rich people who could afford any car they wanted have bought Continental GTs and Flying Spurs -- they have the prestige but are not too flashy ....the Maybach and Phantom do suffer from being perhaps a bit too 'in your face' for many potential buyers.

^^
ROLF!! Or an Arnage version VW Touerg. I agree with you the idea is totally ridiculuos. Jumping on the SUV trend is some what a desperate action manufacturers do these days iin hope to increase their sales.. I pray to God that we won't see some hideous SUV creation from MB.
Although the Maybach sales are dropping faster than the value of Enron shares dropped in 2003 don't expect MB to can the Maybach brand anytime soon. BMW has RR and Audi has Bentley, there is simply no way that MB will let them rule the world of exquisite luxury cars all alone.

Personally I don't think there is no idea for MB to create an ultra luxurious MM car to compete with the Phantom are the Arnage. They are simply too well established car models and are almost unbeatable. The best products for the brand would be totally unique ones like a gigantic four door coupe, 4 door cab or maybe even a four door SUV coupe with a presidental feeling like the G-wagon. They simply need to re-define the brand like BMW has done with RR.

Quote:
Originally Posted by CAR Magazine
At the same time, Mercedes is moving further upscale with premium products like the S65 AMG and the proposed four-seater CL cabriolet. Considering these implications, Maybach’s best bet is a stylish and powerful four-door, four-seater coupé - kind of a bigger CLS for the very rich.’

This is what I have been praying Maybach bring for quite some time now. It will be the ultimate four door. The proposed diret injection v12 with 600hp and 740tq sounds out of this world. Now I am confused a bit though: is this CLS-ish Maybach the cheaper version they are talking about, or it is part of the ultra lux, ultra expensive ones?

All in all, they have realized that the bland styling is to blame, and apparently they have a solution in mind. This hopefully means a shorter than planned lifecycle for the current generation of cars (10 years originally).

I think that Maybach just needs brand identity. That's the problem; it looks like a tarted up S-Class. Give it some uniqueness, and I think that'll solve a few problems.

IDENTITY!