Maybach

After sixty years, the German luxury car brand Maybach was reintroduced at the Geneva show, with the new luxury car - set for release in autumn 2002 - on display only as a 'teaser' behind a glass wall. The Maybach brand exhibition looked at the legendary saloons which in their day constituted the elite in German automotive manufacturing.
Two intersecting Ms in a spherical triangle form the insignia of Maybach Manufaktur, which will be the new high-end luxury car brand within the DaimlerChrysler Group.

Mercedes-Benz and Maybach have always had a great deal in common. The first Mercedes, the Mercedes 35 PS of 1901, was the brainchild of Wilhelm Maybach, the long-time friend and colleague of Gottlieb Daimler and Director of the Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft (DMG). In 1919, his son Karl began developing exclusive luxury automobiles. He brought out his first model just two years later. By 1941, some 1800 vehicles had left the stables of Maybach Motorenbau.

A brochure on the luxury car brand produced in 1934 described its products as "cars of the greatest elegance and strength which you would give your last wish to own".

There will be two Maybach variants to choose from. The successor to the legendary Zeppelin is 6.16 metres in length and has a 3.83 metre wheelbase. The rear passengers enjoy the opulence of individual seats, which they can adjust into an extremely comfortable reclining position with automatically extending leg and foot supports. The rear compartment is also equipped with two flat-screen monitors, which are linked up to a TV receiver and DVD player.

The second Maybach variant, with a 5.72 metre long body, also includes a TV/DVD entertainment system in the rear, surround sound system, four-zone climate control and multicontour seats for all passengers. One of the hallmarks of the Maybach is its two-tone exterior paintwork - several hundred possible combinations mean each owner can have a totally individual look.

Both model variants are powered by the newly developed 405 kW/ 550-hp 'Type 12' Maybach engine. With 5.5-litre displacement, bi-turbocharging and 900 Nm of torque, this power unit has all the ingredients to deliver superior driving performance, with a high level of comfort. The electronically controlled air suspension and high-performance electrohydraulic brake system Twin-Sensotronic Brake Control are further innovations which set the Maybach apart.

The aim of the Maybach prestige luxury brand is to establish itself at the top of a small, but highly distinguished market segment, which experts expect to show further potential for growth over the next few years.

Over the course of the last three years the Maybach project team has closely analysed both the future development of the market and the demands and expectations of customers in the luxury car segment. During the development phase, the team invited potential customers from around the world to give them their views. Out of the several hours of conversation that took place came a host of valuable ideas for the design of the Saloon. Maybach believe they already have an extremely accurate picture of its customers' requirements and is well aware of the demands made on a car in this class.

Whilst, in years gone by, Maybach's exclusive clientele would have the body of their car constructed as they wanted it by a specialist company, the new-generation luxury Saloon will be assembled in its entirety at the Daim-lerChrysler plant in Sindelfingen. The V12 power unit will be built in the engine factory at the Berlin plant, whilst the transmission and axles will be made at the original Mercedes plant in Stuttgart-Untertürkheim.

Hand-craftsmanship in the manufacture of the body and the nature of the assembly process make it possible to incorporate an exceptionally wide variety of individual touches. Maybach customers are kept constantly involved during the period - some four weeks - in which their top-quality car is in production. They can even go to Sindelfingen to witness their Saloon being made, and develop further ideas regarding customised finishes and fittings with manufacturing experts whilst they are there.

Manufacture of the Maybach will be underway in the summer of 2002, with up to seven units of the luxury car built every day.

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