As a marketing man I have to ask what has Daimler done to further Maybach's reputation? In the Space from 2003 Rolls-Royce has progressed from on Individual model to the expansion of 3 more from the same platform (BMW Count the extended wheelbase Phantom as an individual model) Maybach showed promise with the Exelero Concept and then announced it had no future, Now they have come out with the most pointless car ever the Maybach Landaulet. a car that is useless as a chocolate fireguard. the super rich might be enthralled with the subject and it might look good in rap videos and warmer climates but it is not a car for everyday use. Surely resources could have been better spent?

Maybach has to further it's intentions regarding it's future. Rumours that had turned out be true was the Ocean Drive Concept was intented to be a Maybach but was changed to Mercedes branding as many Daimler execs considered Maybach to be beyond saving. Maybach could be the 21st century model as perceived by Lexus on it's introduction- modern luxury with technology instead of referring back to tradition knowone except enthusiasts know about. They could be the 21st century luxury manufacturer if the products are different from Rolls-Royce and Bentley who trade on history . Sadly no one has seen this.

Sadly Smart is on a similar road. Although I was not @ Geneva (But on a higher calling) Their was only one car apparently Every major Daimler exec was going over but the Toyota IQ. With the marketing might of Toyota behind it involving no Gap With High School Musical good looking kids which turn off many prospective customers.
Toyota have gone for a technological approach similar to Apple and their products.

Could Toyota have the answer Smart has always failed to find when everything comes down to one thing - It's the marketing Stupid!

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With no new models in the pipeline and a paltry 146 units sold in all of 2007, there has been plenty of speculation that Maybach could be running at a loss and eventually dropped from Daimler’s portfolio. Considering rival brands Rolls Royce and Bentley are experiencing record sales and growth, walking away from Maybach was an idea suggested by Daimler’s CEO Dieter Zetsche as recently as March.

However, in his latest interview with Automotive News, Zetsche has revealed that Maybach is not running at a loss and the brand won’t be dropped anytime soon. He revealed that there is support for Maybach from within Daimler. Although it won’t make a positive return on investment, Zetsche said “it doesn’t matter” because Maybach has proven that it can build a car to compete with Rolls-Royce and Bentley.

The other positive is that development costs for Maybach were relatively low because both the 57 and 62 models are largely based on the last-generation Mercedes S-Class. As for a new model, Zetsche has previously stated that a decision has not been made yet, but will come in the next two years.

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This is very true ...and some of us have discussed it at length in the past. The trouble is, this is not like Lexus (a blank canvas without heritage or culture). This is Maybach: the most illustrious name in the history of the German motor industry. DaimlerChrysler was trying to make a strong link with the heritage of the brand -- I commend them for not going Retro at least.

^^ Yeah that is a very good point. This is why Maybach needs something stunningly beautiful or different to get some attention. I can see why they aren't going to kill it and I actually believe them when they say it isn't losing money. Hell its all W140 chassis and W220 hardware mainly. I think we'll see a facelift early next year. I still think the 57S is the best car of its type. Only the last of the Arnage "Final Editions" are more desireable to me. Where Rolls really kills Maybach is with the Phantom Drophead Coupe and Bentley with the Brooklands. These 3 would be the perfecct ultra-luxury garage for me.

M