Mercedez Benz News Rumorpile: Mercedes-Benz To Show Resurrected Maybach At LA & Guangzhou Auto Shows

[William Maley]

A new report from Reuters says we'll get our first look at the new Maybach this November at the Los Angeles Auto Show and Guangzhou Motor Show. We've been hearing about the resurrection of the nameplate for the past few months, but weren't sure where it would fit in. Guesses pointed towards super S-Class with such amenities as reclining rear seats and folding tables.

According to Reuters, the new Maybach will be a special version of the S-Class that will be 20 centimeters longer (about 7.8 inches longer) and will be the longest S-Class available till the return of the Pullman model. A source said to Reuters that Maybach will carry a pricetag that is "double the 165,000-euro ($228,000) asking price of its current flagship, the Mercedes-Benz S600."

Source: Reuters

William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected] or you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster.

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[David]

There is always a fool and his money that are soon parted. I expect most of these to go to Limo Service at major cities around the world.

[smk4565]

Hard to see them charging double for what is mostly a trim package, unless they do a lot of changes to the car. But note that in Euros the S600 converts to $228,000, while it is sold here for about $160,000. So double the S600 price could be $300k, still too much for an extended S-class. They could charge that for the Pullman limo though with ease.

[David]

Over priced over rated.

[smk4565]

People buy an S-class to say how they are wealthier and better than Lexus, Audi or BMW drivers. But they need an S-class Maybach for people who believe they are better than other S-class drivers, and an S-class Pullman for the people that believe they are better than the guy with the Maybach.

[Z-06]

People buy an S-class to say how they are wealthier and better than Lexus, Audi or BMW drivers. But they need an S-class Maybach for people who believe they are better than other S-class drivers, and an S-class Pullman for the people that believe they are better than the guy with the Maybach.

In summary, snobs buy S-class.

[Drew Dowdell]

and taxi companies.... don't forget them...

[balthazar]

An amazing occurrence in autodom; a nameplate fails & is discontinued, then the manufacturer announces it is re-introducing the same concept, under the same name, only months later.

THIS TIME, speculation points to the new model being even MORE of a rebadge that the former, failed version.

What was that definition of insanity again?

[David]

Stupidity = Insanity!

[smk4565]

The old Maybach was saddled on a really old W140 platform, and really expensive and I think a lot of people didn't know what it was. People know the S-class, the S-class is a sales winner, and they'll find enough people to buy an extended length S600 with an over the top interior. They have always had a factory made Pullman limo and an armored version, so nothing new there.

Mercedes took a old military SUV, gave it 6 wheels and a pick up bed in back and are charging $500,000 for it and are sold out, so I am sure they can sell some $250k S600 limos.

[balthazar]

No one knows what platforms are under a given car- thats immaterial, esp with the way these cars are driven.
If the name is all that matters here, then why bring "maybach" into the picture at ALL with the stigma attached to it? I'll tell you why; vanity.

There hasn't been a mercedes 600 limo since 1981, and no one bought them, so they have very little market remembrance/ awareness other than MB and... limo fans (??).
Those were the only true MB 'limousine', with wheelbases of 130 or 150". Everything otherwise has been, as the current one is, a mere 5" stretch of the S-sedan. What's crazy is the proposal to build a "new" model that's only 2.8" longer in wheelbase than the current one. What a waste of time- they're going to have a real marketing problem playing up something so minor as a major feature justifying a monster price hike.

The ONLY way this exercise works is to brand it the "S700" or "S800" to play off the good rep of the s-class.

Edited April 30, 2014 by balthazar

[smk4565]

And after 1981 they made a limo in the 90s, then again in the early 2000s, then again in 2007-2013.

[smk4565]

[balthazar]

aftermarket or factory?

[David]

If they are factory, then they are pretty much sold only in Europe as I have never seen them here in the US or in the asian rim.

[David]

Found this web site that sells Lim's from everyone so you can compare the different brands and it is pretty interesting.

http://www.limousinesworld.com/newlimousines_mobileofficesuv/index.php?pid=79&lang=en

From what I can tell online via Bing search is that MB does indeed build their own limo's but while I find it on the European site along with their complete MB Mini Van line, You find nothing like this on the US web site.

[balthazar]

>>"after 1981 they made a limo in the 90s, then again in the early 2000s, then again in 2007-2013"<<

This start/stop/start pattern pretty well illustrates the market demand for a mercedes limo - just about zero.

Cadillac has sold as many limos in a single year that mercedes took 17 years to achieve with the 600.
This has all the hallmarks for yet another Daimler mis-step.

What they really should do is reissue the 600, carbon copy, with modern amenities & finishes inside (to a degree where it's harmonious). THAT would make a real stir in the livery market.

Edited May 1, 2014 by balthazar

[smk4565]

Mercedes makes a factory limo, with or without armor. The advantage to the armored S-class limo is it is built from the ground up as an armored limo, where as most other armored limos are just added the armor plating in an after market shop. The S-class Guard (limo or standard length) also has cool features like internal air supply and external fire extinguisher in case of gas or napalm attack. I do believe they are only sold in Europe and the Middle East.

[Z-06]

Nothing compares to the Beast for safety.

[balthazar]

^ God, I hate that thing; utterly atrocious.
I would strongly have preferred it wear some sort of generic, Gov't fabricated ID / face than that of Cadillac.

[Drew Dowdell]

One wonders how much extra safety tech Clinton's Fleetwood Brougham even had. I'm sure it was bulletproof and semi-blast resistant, but not much more. I know when GWB got his first DTS, it was one of the first to get the more serious hardware we see today. His second DTS is still in service as a backup car for POTUS.

[Paolino]

Is anyone even caring about the return of Maybach? I forgot it was "gone".