Perhaps hoping to forestall the inevitable (read: Gunnar Heinrich's "Whither Maybach" editorial), the double-M luxury marque has announced a new Landaulet model. It's aimed squarely at those of us rich enough to want a car that demonstrates the cavernous class divide between ourselves and our chauffeurs. Set to retail at a cool €900k, the Landaulet is based on the 612 horsepower Maybach 62S. It's Unique Selling Point (other than monumental depreciation): a retractable soft top that allows passengers to enjoy a pleasant breeze through their perfectly-coiffed hair. To ensure that the owners of expensive hairpieces need not suffer undue humiliation, Maybach has equipped its Landaulet with an automatic wind diffuser which deploys at about 45 mph. Is the Landaulet worth the nearly half-million premium over a standard 62S? Of course not… and Maybach is a little disappointed that you would even ask such a vulgar question.
[Pixamo gallery here].
Could be useful if you want to haul a canoe or a rheem of carpet!!
Hhhu? Did they get this backwards, it is supposed to be the chauffeur that endures the elements not the passengers. This has got to be the stupidest thing I have ever seen and is probably most suitable as a third world dictator parade car.
Cupholders. What about cupholders!!!
Tacky!
A word never associated with anything Mercedes Benz brand until very recently.
Other than that this thing kinda reminds me of those Benzes the Furher himself used to be chauffeured around Germany in.
The fact that the prototype is white says volumes.
I *thought* that a Landaulet featured an open driver’s position and a closed passenger cabin, but Wikipedia says that design should be called a ‘Town Car’ and that Maybach has it right.
That is, Mayback has their *nomenclature* right. I still say they’ve got their styling all wrong.
This abomination looks more tasteless than a late-70s Chevy Blazers with half-top removed.
How worthless. Ill take an S65 AMG, SLR McLaren and for the rainy days, a Range Rover SC over this abomination.
This thing is begging for a high-profile assassination. Maybe in Serbia. Maybe an Archduke.
i am glad i am not the only one that finds the maybachs tasteless.
jerseydevil :
February 22nd, 2008 at 7:29 pm
i am glad i am not the only one that finds the maybachs tasteless.
Yes, I agree, but the Maybach Exelero concept is so magnificently tasteless that it’s brilliant.
Add a little bulletproof glass and Its the NEW POPEMOBILE !!!
I saw this at NAIAS…I couldn’t help but think that “Landaulet” sounded like a model GM would have built back in the 70’s…
In all white it reminds me of the future cars from Woody Allen’s “Sleeper”. All space age curves and lumps.And wasn’t this vehicle BIG enough to swallow that roof tumor? but besides all that . . . whenever I see one of these it will take me back to being a little boy and watching that crappy 50’s Superman TV show that had those Nash sedan / convertible hybrids. Even back then, in the 60’s they seemed so out of date and exotic.
Yuck. It’s enough to make a person want to tax the rich … to save themselves from their horrible taste!
Coming soon to a rap video near you!
Fire only when you see the white in their eyes, but other than that it is open season.