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Reload this Page CAR Magazine - Maybach at the crossroads
Maybach 62, 62S, 57, 57S
W240 Currently in production (2002 -
Rebirth of a brand with direct ties to the first Mercedes branded Daimler (1901) designed by Wilhelm Maybach. His son, Karl Maybach, started Maybach-Motorenbau GmbH using a Mercedes chassis in 1919

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CAR Magazine - Maybach at the crossroads - 03-21-2007, 02:47 AM



Maybach is going back to the drawing board to fix sluggish sales. The true sales figures for the Maybach brand have over the past 18 months become one of the best-kept corporate secrets at DaimlerChrysler. On the internet, there are currently 60 new and used cars being advertised across Europe - among them a barely run-in ’06 model with 5000 miles on the clock offered at a 55 percent discount.

According to trade estimates, last year’s production totalled a rather pathetic 280 units. Had the Maybach adventure not been quietly absorbed by the overall balance sheet of the Mercedes Car Group when the marque was launched, annual losses would by now be little short of frightening. But as things stand, chairman Dieter Zetsche can safely maintain that ‘every Maybach sold is earning money.’

At this disappointing level, however, it seems almost impossible to justify any further investments. ‘I disagree,’ says Dr Z. ‘On the contrary: I would like to confirm that there will be a new Maybach.’ So, as you read this, engineers are plotting a new raft of Maybach models.


cont.....


One senior Maybach official told CAR Online: ‘The Excelero show car did more for us than all the tweaks to the 57/62 series combined. It’s an open secret that the four-door Ocean Drive convertible started life as a Maybach, but then we got cold feet and turned it into a Merc. In the not too distant past, we presented to our management a couple of promising concepts, among them a pillarless four-seater luxury coupe with rear suicide doors. But at the moment, most of our work is unfortunately undercover - you just can’t fire thousands at Chrysler and at the same time spend millions on a new Maybach.’

cont...

Another sleeper which may be resurrected by mid-year is a Maybach editon of the GL luxury SUV (above). Limited to no more than 1500 cars in total, this vehicle would only be sold in the US, Asia and the Middle East. The conversion boasts a Maybach grille, a revised rear end with new lights and tailgate, more brightwork, special bumpers, wider wheels and its own choice of colour and trim. Inside, there are singing-and-dancing first-class rear sleeper seats like in the 57/62, plus top-grade leather, more precious wood and all the ICE novelties you could think of. Put together in Vance, Tuscaloosa, alongside the M- and R-class, the Maybach GL is deemed to be the brand’s first real money-maker - cheap to build, expensive to buy.


A very interesting article IMO, nothing promising but interesting nevertheless. It shows just how lost the whole Maybach project is. Now that Mercedes will likely build a S-Class convertible and maybe even a CL Cabriolet there are 2 less possibilites for Maybach. This thing should have just been called a Mercedes from the get-go and no one would bat and eye at the slow sales pace. A GL derived Maybach is just an even bigger flop waiting to happen. A truly absurd idea. I really don't see what else they can do at this point except fold it back into Mercedes and take Mercedes upmarket to fight Rolls/Bentley with the production Ocean Drive and turning the next Maybach into a "600" style Mercedes (ala Rob). EDIT: There is mention of one promising version of the 57/62 before it expires.

The full article:

- ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

M
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Re: CAR Magazine - Maybach at the crossroads - 03-21-2007, 02:59 AM

Thanks for this Marcus

Quote:
Originally Posted by Merc1 View Post

Another sleeper which may be resurrected by mid-year is a Maybach editon of the GL luxury SUV (above). Limited to no more than 1500 cars in total, this vehicle would only be sold in the US, Asia and the Middle East. The conversion boasts a Maybach grille, a revised rear end with new lights and tailgate, more brightwork, special bumpers, wider wheels and its own choice of colour and trim. Inside, there are singing-and-dancing first-class rear sleeper seats like in the 57/62, plus top-grade leather, more precious wood and all the ICE novelties you could think of. Put together in Vance, Tuscaloosa, alongside the M- and R-class, the Maybach GL is deemed to be the brand’s first real money-maker - cheap to build, expensive to buy.

M
This SUV sounds horrifying. I wonder if BMW will jump on this with a limited production Rolls-Royce version of the X5 hmmmmm ...I think not.
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Re: CAR Magazine - Maybach at the crossroads - 03-21-2007, 03:05 AM

Quote:
Originally Posted by CAR Magazine
And he confirmed that the look of the Maybach is one of its biggest problems. ‘Although it took a while to sink in, everyone involved knows now that it’s not the brand which is at fault. It’s the current product in general and the design in particular.’
They took their time to finally work that out.
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Re: CAR Magazine - Maybach at the crossroads - 03-21-2007, 03:09 AM

It is so funny they should mention a landaulet version ...just yesterday I was daydreaming about what a landaulet Maybach might look like -- and now I see they actually are going to build one -- sounds amazing ..but who would buy it?
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Re: CAR Magazine - Maybach at the crossroads - 03-21-2007, 03:11 AM

Hopefully that SUV idea was just a passing thought to say the least. I'd kill to know what they have on the drawing boards, to see what the sketches/models look like! I keep thinking about and picturing something truly wild this this:







They need something arresting like the above, but prettier than either it or the Phantom. Brunno should be hired back to do this.

M
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Re: CAR Magazine - Maybach at the crossroads - 03-21-2007, 03:14 AM

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.’
From the article ...it is almost certain that the ODC is going to be developed into a new Maybach model -- that is good news I think.
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Re: CAR Magazine - Maybach at the crossroads - 03-21-2007, 03:15 AM

Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob View Post
It is so funny they should mention a landaulet version ...just yesterday I was daydreaming about what a landaulet Maybach might look like -- and now I see they actually are going to build one -- sounds amazing ..but who would buy it?
I'm not sure. It would be another amazingly engineering masterpiece without a following. The ultimate "who cares" car, and a very, very expensive one at that.

M
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Re: CAR Magazine - Maybach at the crossroads - 03-21-2007, 03:23 AM



The original 600 landaulets from the 1960s and 70s were almost all bought as parade cars for Heads-Of-State, Presidents, and Royalty.

The world is a very different place today, open-top cars are now considered a security risk.
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Re: CAR Magazine - Maybach at the crossroads - 03-21-2007, 03:38 AM

Incidentally CAR has a nice article on the 600 in the April Issue, you should check it out if you get a chance. The engineering on these cars was literally years and years ahead of anything else on the road at the time. They mentioned that is was by far the car of choice for African dictators.

M
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Re: CAR Magazine - Maybach at the crossroads - 03-21-2007, 03:51 AM

Thanks Marcus ...I will check it out, I love those old tanks as you know.
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