News of Maybach’s apparent demise may end up being premature after Mercedes’ luxury car brand recently released new photos of its flagship luxury sedan, the 2010 Zeppelin.
The all-new Zeppelin comes with a 6.0-liter V12 bi-turbo engine that produces 640 hp and over 1,000 Nm of torque. As far as the interior is concerned, the new Zeppelin comes with a number of subtle upgrades over most standard Maybachs, including chrome-finished 20” wheels, a special-edition two-tone paint finish, dark red tail lights, the ‘Zeppelin’ lettering embossed on the grille emblem, and streamlined exterior mirrors.
The new Zeppelin, which comes in two models – the 57 and the 62 – will b extremely limited, with only 100 units set for production. The 57 Zeppelin – the shorter of the two – will come with a price tag of €406,000 while the longer 62 Zeppelin will sell for €473,200.
We still don’t know the long term future of Mercedes’ luxury brand, but this does come as encouraging news for fans of the Maybach, especially when it was only a few months ago where the Maybach was this close to meeting its maker.
If you have a Maybach parked in your garage, you may want to take extra care of it, especially now that Mercedes bigwig Deiter Zetsche recently admitted that the luxury brand of Mercedes may not be seeing too many sunrises in the foreseeable future.
Speaking to a group of reporters at the Frankfurt Motor Show, Zetsche pointed out that the Maybach may soon end up in the chopping blocks because of a shift in consumer preference in luxury cars resulting from the global financial crisis.
While he stopped short of officially saying that the Maybach was indeed going to be axed, he did say that as a consumer, a Maybach would be far off the list in terms of preferred luxury cars, given that the market has slowly shifted into preferring more modest and discreet luxury vehicles, which is a category we all know the Maybach doesn’t fall in.
In any event, this is still pretty much a rumor, but we do have to admit that it doesn’t bode well for Maybach, especially after all of this was started by one of the company’s bosses.
Just like the Project Kahn’s Rolls-Royce from yesterday, sometime people just aren’t satisfied with having one of only a handful of cars made. In this case Fab Design will take one of the around 1000 Maybachs made per year, and for an extra $200,000, will turn it into something that won’t get lost in yacht club parking lot (for better or worse).
Some of the most potent and posh cars in the world can be found in areas of great wealth like the Middle East and the Mediterranean. Unfortunately, no amount of money can buy taste. Case in point is the FAB Design Maybach 57 that was spotted outside a hotel in Monaco.
The Maybach 57 as it comes from the factory is not a super car; it is an ultra high class limousine whose main purpose is to escort privileged individuals in comfort and style. FAB Design did not get that memo, so they decided to add lots of air vents and bulging bodywork to upgrade the car’s sporty appearance. Unfortunately they ended up with a very expensive, very tacky and very blue people mover. The only thing that could make this car any worse would be the addition of carbon fiber wing perched on the trunk.
Sometimes a Maybach with a base price of $343,250 is just not exclusive enough. For those ultra-elite who only can breathe the rarefied air, Maybach is raising them to Zeppelin level.
Mercedes is bringing the 2010 Maybach Zeppelin to Geneva Motor Show in March. Maybach first used the Zeppelin name in the 1930s, when dirigible’s name symbolized modern luxury. Now the name’s resurrection will be used to get more in touch with old-world elegance. From the outside, the luxury brand’s new top-of-the-range model can be recognised by its two-tone special paint finish - a mix of “Rocky Mountains” light brown and “Taiga” black, but customers can choose whatever they want. Other features include unique 20-inch wheels, special “California” beige leather upholstery, and a set of silver champagne flutes.
The 6.0-liter biturbo V12 has also been upgraded 28 hp to now make 640 hp and 738 lb-ft of torque. All this extra luxury does of course come at a price: €406,000 for the Maybach 57 Zeppelin and €473,200 for the Maybach 62 Zeppelin. At today’s rates, that’s about $524,000 and $610,000 respectively. While the price alone will ensure exclusivity, Mercedes says the Zeppelin edition will be limited to 100 units.
If you always wanted a Maybach 62 but were repelled by the sedan’s sorely inadequate seating capacity, then the Maybach 72 might just be what you are looking for. The owner has stretched the luxury sedan to accomodate an additional two seats giving the Maybach the appearance of a stretch-limousine. Talk about third row seating.
Hopefully the downturn in the economy hasen’t forced you to fire your chauffeur because a back-seat only convertible Maybach 62 Landaulet is now up for sale.
When it was new last fall, the Maybach Landaulet carried a price tag of €900,000 (or $1.35 million at the time). Now this exclusive open-top luxury saloon is for sale on eBay as a used car for $2,200,000. Who knew adding 95 miles to the odometer could make a car gain almost $1 million in value.
So sell a small country or ask daddy for next month’s allowance in advance. Just remember, while you bask in the glow of the January sun, make sure Jeeves doesn’t have too much fun with the Landaulet’s 612 hp V12 engine.
From the ‘disgusting displays of wealth’ files comes the new sport of kings: chauffer driven drifting. Watch as this Maybach 62 goes sideways while not a drop of champagne is spilled.
I have to admit that ever since I saw the Exelero Concept my biggest dream was to get behind its wheel. But, I have to remain realistic; its just a dream! But, for a very lucky person, and a very rich one too, this dream might become reality. A Maybach Excelero Concept is for sale, for "only" 5 million euro (almost $8 million). A bargain for a car like this, no?
The car was built by Stola company on order of Fulda Company. It has a power of 700 hp, makes the 0 to 60 mph sprint in 4,4 seconds and hits a top speed of 280 mph (Veyron who?).
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