2006 Maybach 57 Reviews

1 Jay Leno: Duesenbergs What a Doosey of a way to start this top 10 star cars feature! One of the world's most expensive cars and most sought after by Hollywood legends over the years is the American luxury Duesenberg. Talk show host Jay Leno has one of the biggest stables of exotic cars in the world, including six Deusenbergs, each worth more than $1.5m. They are so luxurious, they gave birth to the expression "What a duesy/doosey"! They have been owned by celebs such as Clark Gable, Gary Cooper, Greta Garbo, and Mae West. they have also been owned by millionaires Howard Hughes and William Randolph Hearst, criminal Al Capone and royalty. 2 Simon Cowell: Bugatti Veyron They cost about $2m and are one of the fastest production cars on the planet with a top speed of 431km/h. The Veyron also launches to 100km/h in 2.5 seconds. The TV talent show judge is a good judge of a car with a garage that also includes a Ferrari F430 and Rolls Royce Phantom. He has also paid a deposit for the Rolls-Royce 100EX Cabriolet which is still just a concept. 3 David Beckham: Custom Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead The V12-powered Roller is worth about $1.3m in "standard" trim. But there is nothing standard about this Roller for the soccer superstar and husband of Posh Spice. For a start, it has custom-made 24-inch Savini forged wheels which cost several thousand dollars each. Beckham's number 23 is embroidered on to the leather seats. 4 Jerry Seinfield: Porsche 959 The reclusive comedian built a $1.4m multi-storey garage in New York just to house his 46-car collection, most of which are Porsches. The most expensive is his rare 959. Only 337 were built and only 200 of those were street legal. A 959 is estimated to cost more than $1m. Bill Gates also owns one, but neither he nor Seinfeld can drive them on the streets as they don't pass US emissions tests. 5 Jay Z and Beyonce: Maybach Exelero Rapper Shawn Corey Carter (Jay Z) and Beyonce Knowles paid about $8m for this one-off German luxury sports car. It was commissioned by Fulda Tyres to test their widest tyres, but now Maybach is building the Batmobile-esque cars for general sale. The 350km/h two-seaters are powered by a 522kW twin-turbo V12 engine. The Exelero features in Jay Z's Lost One video. 6 Kim Kardashian: Ferrari 458 Italia Now that she has filed for divorce from her husband of 10 weeks, Kris Humphries, her collection of cars could also be split up. The reality TV star has several cars, including a Bentley Continental GT, Rolls-Royce Ghost, Range Rover and Ferrari F430, to which she has added the F430's successor, the 458 Italia. In Australia they cost more than $500,000, but Kim's has apparently been specially pimped. 7 Paris Hilton: Bentley GT Continental Of course, it's pink! The body, the grille, wheels, seats and interior trim. If that's not bling enough, it features a diamond-encrusted dashboard that is reported to be worth more than $250,000. In Australia, they cost about $400,000, but with a diamond-encrusted "PH" badge on the front, this one cost a whole lot more. The heiress bought it as a Christmas gift to herself in 2008. 8 Nicolas Cage: Ferrari Enzo The Hollywood actor's addiction to cars caused his financial ruin. At one stage he owned nine Rolls-Royces. But his most valuable and valued car was the legendary Ferrari Enzo which was gone in less than 60 seconds at auction for a bargain price. The V12 sports car, named after Ferrari's founder, had a top speed of 350km/h. Only 399 were built. They can sell for up to $20m. 9 Ralph Lauren: McLaren F1 LM The American fashion designer owns a huge collection of classic cars including the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing Coupe, Porsche 550 Spyder, a Bugatti Veyron, two Ferrari 250 Testa Rossas and a rare 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO, of which 39 were made. While some might consider the 250 GTO the greatest Ferrari of all time, fetching up to $15m at auction, it's not as rare as the McLaren. Only five were built to honour the five McLaren F1 GTRs that finished and won the 1995 Le Mans 24-hour race. 10 Patrick Dempsey: Jaguar XK120 The hunky actor from Grey's Anatomy has great taste in cars, especially race cars. The aspiring racer has driven the pace car in Indy 500 and has raced sports car and off-road buggies. He is a co-owner of an IndyCar team and also owns a classic Jaguar XK120. They were built between 1948-1954 and successfully raced at Le Mans.  

For the first time wealthy owners of the updated German limousine can request a high-quality perfume flask for their cars. At the touch of a button the flask sprays a fragrance of the owner's choice around the cabin.The perfume dispenser is one of several lavish new touches. Buyers can also specify hand-braided piping on the seats with insets of Swarovski crystals, wireless internet access and a 19-inch high-resolution colour television for rear passengers. Egocentric owners can even have their name embossed into the rear glass privacy screen.Despite only a handful being sold here, Mercedes-Benz Australia spokesman, Peter Fadeyev, says both the short-wheelbase 57 and longer wheelbase 62 and S versions are still available."We have a dedicated Maybach department to deal with customers who want the car," he says. Because of the unlimited range of paint, upholstery and trim options, customers are guided through the fitout process on a one-to-one basis.Globally the super luxury flagship of the Daimler range has never enjoyed the same success off the Rolls-Royce Phantom. The Phantom has outsold the German car around the world by a significant margin. Even the "baby" Ghost, at $695,000, already has more than 30 committed Australian buyers.In an effort to move the Maybach further away from the premium long-wheelbase S-Class sedan, Mercedes has finessed it with new wheels, paint schemes and other cosmetic touches. The grille is bigger and now cuts into the bumper to give the car more presence while LED daytime running lights have been added under the bumper.Power is up 13kW to 463kW/1000Nm for the V12 in the 57 S and 62 S, but the standard 57 and 62 make do with the twin-turbocharged 410kW/900Nm 5.5-litre twin-turbo Mercedes-Benz V12. However, the Euro 5 compliant 12-cylinder engine has been tweaked for slightly better economy and lower emissions.Fadeyev says few customers cross-shop against a top-end 6.0-litre S-Class 65 AMG, which costs $482,900. "They really are two completely different cars with different customers," he says. "And the Maybach is double the price."According to VFACTS sales figures, since it was launched locally in March 2004, just 10 Maybachs have been sold. If the perfume bottle does not get them over the line Maybach buyers also get the security of a four-year/unlimited warranty that includes all scheduled services.

Million dollar extravagance alongside budget buggies, runaway horsepower side-by-side with eco warriors. Its the eclectic mix that makes the Geneva one of the most anticipated events on the annual motor show circuit.As major car manufacturers battle for survival in the most severe economic crisis since the Great Depression, its all spit, polish and business as usual inside the Palexpo complex in the world's banking capital.Bentley, Aston Martin, Rolls Royce and Maybach spruiked their million-dollar babies alongside a tiny Smart, Chrysler's European debut for its vision of an electric future and a full range of real-world hybrid and dual-fuel models.There were the wild and wacky concepts — fewer than in the halcyon days, an acknowledgement that times are tough — and a mix of models that will grace showrooms in the coming year.Also fighting for attention were the usual array of specialists like Brabus, Startech and Zagato adding even greater gloss and performance to mainstream models as well as tiny Euro operations producing outlandish stars of their own imagining — badges such as Sbarro, Gumpert, Spyker and Koenigsegg.So, what were the stars of the 2009 Geneva Show?Ask a hundred people and you will probably get 100 different answers, but from a purely personal point of view here is one version of a Top 10. Citroen DS Inside Concept: A concept in name only, the little Mini rival will spearhead Citroen's new DS naming convention when it launches next year. Sleek, stylish and boasting a hybrid-diesel powertrain, the DS (the manufacturer says that stands for different spirit) caught the eye and the imagination with emotional, if not styling, hints of the truly radical DS on the 1950s.Hyundai ix-onic concept: Gone are the days when you looked on a Korean concept with a sense of synmpathy. While the ix-onic is clearly an exaggeration of the marques next SUV generation there is enough about it to whet the appetite. As important as the styling is the news that the ix-onic carries DSG gearbox and stop/start eco-technology. Look for for it all in the next generation of Tucson compact SUV next year.Pagani Zonda Cinque: A personal favourite. Not so much a car as a piece of very, very fast art. The latest offering from designer Horatio Pagani uses the company's own bespoke carbon-titanium material to shape a truly gorgeous body — and it goes. Zero to 100km/h in 3.4 seconds and back to zero in 2.1. Enough sauid. Chevrolet Spark: Far more super-realistic than super-car, the little Spark is none-the-less an excellent example of its kind. Developed from the General Motors Beat concept shown in New York two years ago, the Spark is a bright rendition of a city car which, despite its name, is not electric nor even hybrid. On sale in Europe this year, don't be surprised if it comes under serious consideration for life with a Holden badge.Mercedes E-Class Coupe: The outstanding model from the new E-Class range. While the sedan version of the new generation E-Class had been seen in Detroit in January this was the Coupe's first outing — and well worth the wait. A really pretty rendition of a true coupe style.Audi TT RS: There was no shortage of new Audis in Geneva with the A5 and S5 Cabriolets on show but they were put in the shade by this hot version of the cool TT. What really sets this one apart is the use of a rorty 5-cylinder engine which is a hint to a wider future use of the powerplant behind the four-rings badge.Maybach Zeppelin: Outrageous, outlandish and unapologetically designed to shout "look what I've got that you don't", the latest Maybach earns its spot in the top 10 for offering a stone interior as an option. The high-tech process for bending Indian granite around complex surfaces is more Jetsons than Flintstones and about as left-field as anything seen in a production car. Aston Martin One-77: Another conspicuous statement of wealth, this super-exclusive super-car — only 77 are being made — exudes power and style. Everything about this car is special, right through to the unique 7.3-litre V12 massaged out of the company's standard 6.0-litre unit by Cosworth. It is believed at least one of these beauties is heading for Australia.Jaguar XFR: It has been a little while coming but Jaguar has put some real bite into its award-winning XF range with the arrival of the high-performance R version. Without over-burdoning the car with fancy, garish aero bits there is little doubt the XFR looks the biz. The 5.0-litre supercharged V8 under the bonnet doesn't hurt, either. Fiat 500C convertible: Not really a convertible in the contempory sense of the word, this latest rendition of the insufferably cute Fiat 500 is a must-have fashion accessory. The rollback sot top is true to the style of the original 1950s car with the centre of the roof rolling back to open the passengers to the skies without the complicated engineering of removing roof rails or C-pillars.

Then there is only one place to go looking — the Maybach stand at the Geneva motor show. Maybach, the super-luxury arm of the Mercedes-Benz empire, has pulled out all the stops to launch an iconic badge from the 1930s — the Zeppelin, so named because the V12 engines from the original car also powered the famous German airships. Starting at just a tick under a million dollars, the Maybach Zeppelin is available in both the 57 or long-wheelbase 62 configurations but it will be the rare owner that doesn't turn their car into a personal statement of wealth. The Zeppelin is pitched as a car for the connoisseurs and there is little the potential owner could ask for in the way of personalisation that would raise an eyebrow. Among the “standard” options being offered to complement the kid-soft leather and piano-lacquer interior trim surfaces are a perfume atomiser that uses nothing less than purified air to spread the owner's personal fragrance through the cabin in such a gentle form that it doesn't cling to either the car's leather or the passengers' clothes. Maybach will supply two bespoke fragrances from a renowned perfumer at the house of Givaudan, use an owner's personal favourite or even develop an individual fragrance to the owner's specifications. The atomiser is a mere bagatelle at around $5000. Over the top trims have become almost passe at Maybach where owners have in the past had leather trim made from their own herds of favoured cows, wood inserts from a tree of special signifigance felled on their own property or interior brightwork in gold in place of the rather common polished steel. In the Zeppelin, for the first time, an owner can have the interior trimmed in Indian Star Galaxy granite — and not just flat surfaces but complex curves using a process developed specifically for the car. Extremely thin stone plates are fastened to an adhesive film and then broken into small particles of almost exactly the same size by crushing the plate between rollers at precise pressure and speed. The result is a thin leaf of pliable stone in which the microcrystalline structure has retained its integrity and also all the appearance of a solid sheet while allowing it to be manipulated into almost any shape. In common with earlier Maybach models the Zeppelin is offered with the electro-transparent panoramic glass roof which changes from transparent to opaque and back again by passing an electric current through the liquid crystal membrane, effectively switching on the view at the touch of a button. Under the bonnet the 6.0-litre bi-turbo V12 gives the Zeppelin performance levels to rival high-end sports cars. The engine's 471kW and 1000Nm can launch the 57 S from standstill to 100km/h in just 4.9 seconds (5.1 for the 62 S) on the way to an electronically governed top speed of 275km/h (250km/h for the 62 S). Mercedes-Benz Australia, which supplied four Maybachs to Australian owners last year, will be able to supply a Zeppelin to any extremely well-heeled Aussie in need.  

The new Maybach Landaulet resurrects the legend of the classic luxury landaulets, a feature of which is that only the chauffeur's area is closed.An extra-large folding roof opens up over the pampered rear-seat passengers when required, leaving no obstructions between them and the sky above.Maybach has decided to offer the hand-built Landaulet based exclusively on the customer's specifications. A limited number of vehicles will be built in the Manufaktur workshops in Sindelfingen, Germany.According to the latest Luxury Brand Status Index, a survey of 531 US millionaires recently voted Maybach the most prestigious luxury brand.Since two-thirds of its customers wish to tailor cars to their tastes, Maybach is constantly expanding its range of customisation options.In technical terms, the Maybach Landaulet is based on the Maybach 62 S, which can claim to be the world's most powerful series-produced chauffeured saloon.When closed, the black soft-top of the Maybach Landaulet rests on the roof frame and is wind- and weather-proof. On request, the chauffeur can operate a switch in the centre console. Automatically, electric motors open the two locks which fasten the folding top to the roof frame; the top is folded on to the parcel shelf in the rear, together with its integral rear windscreen made of single-layer safety glass. Hydraulic cylinders on each side open and close the top almost noiselessly.The necessary driving power is furnished by an electro-hydraulic motor hidden away in the side of the boot. Opening and closing the roof can be completed in less than 20 seconds.The folded roof can be enclosed in a leather tonneau cover, which conceals the roof mechanism and completes the picture of elegance.The tonneau cover comes in the same colour as the interior of the rear compartment.The passenger compartment in the spacious rear of the vehicle is styled in white, whereas the chauffeur's area is in black.The chauffeur's area is modelled on the successful Maybach 62 S, but has been upgraded in a number of important ways. The centre console and all trim elements have black piano-lacquer surfaces and black leather appointments.The individual rear seats allow even tall passengers to enjoy a comfortable reclining position, which travellers would normally expect to find only in the first-class sections of modern passenger jet aircraft.Rear passengers can call up a pre-set reclining position at the push of a button, whereupon the backrest smoothly tilts backwards by up to 47 degrees while simultaneously, a lower-leg support and footrest extend forward. This means that occupants can enjoy the ride in an extremely relaxed reclined position.Seat comfort is further enhanced by pneumatically adjustable air cushions in the backrest and a program-controlled massage function. Each relaxing back massage lasts for five minutes and can be repeated as often as required.The rear head restraints are slightly larger than on the saloon and effectively help reduce wind turbulence. Another slim wind deflector is automatically raised at speeds above 70km/h to further reduce the risk of any draughts. The deflector, which measures around five centimetres, can be activated manually. The switch is positioned for rear passengers in the centre console.The intercom in the passenger compartment is fitted with an additional handset in the centre console, allowing passengers to communicate with the driver while the roof is down.Designed from the outset as a chauffeur-driven limousine, the Maybach Landaulet is equipped with a partition. The lower section of the partition consists of an aluminium sandwich structure. The upper section comprises an electro-transparent laminated glass panel that can be lowered by electric motor.The Maybach Landaulet will cost $US1.35 million.The first customer vehicles are due to leave the factory late this year. SnapshotMaybach LandauletEngine: V12, twin turbochargers, 3 valves per cylinder, 5980cc.Power: 450kW @ 5100rpm.Torque: 1000Nm @ 2000-4000 rpm.Transmission: 5-speed automatic.Suspension: front, double-wishbone axle, Airmatic full air suspension system with level control, anti-dive, torsion bar stabiliser; rear, multi-link independent suspension, Airmatic full air suspension system with level control, anti-squat and anti-lift, torsion bar stabiliser.Brakes: Sensotronic brake control electro-hydraulic braking system, internally ventilated disc brakes all round, drum-type parking brake at rear, ABS, Brake Assist, ESPSteering: Power-assisted recirculating-ball steering, steering damperWheels: 8.5 J x 20.Tyres: 275/45 R 20.Kerb weight: 2780kg.Fuel: 110 litres, 16.4L/100km.Performance: 0-100km/h 5.2sec, top speed 250km/h 

Struggling global sales and a dealer cull in the US will not kill off the mega-money Maybach.The super-luxury flagship of the Daimler brand has never delivered on its promises.Only 401 cars were sold last year, compared with 1010 for its Rolls-Royce Phantom rival, but the Maybach will continue.The man who heads Maybach in the US, former DaimlerChrysler Australia chief Ernst Lieb, says the luxury car market has shifted and Maybach needs to downsize.Lieb, now CEO of Mercedes-Benz of North America, believes Daimler should continue with Maybach, even though American sales dropped to 156 cars last year and the dealer network was slashed.“Yes, it is worth it. There will be a facelift on the car, so it will still be with us,” Lieb says.“Obviously, the market has changed a bit compared with how it used to be when we started with Maybach. It just isn't there now.“The volume we assumed was going to happen in that price range didn't. It never came through.“In the meantime, we have had completely different competitors.”Lieb admits recognition of Maybach is low, particularly compared with Rolls-Royce and the Mercedes-Benz flagship S-Class.“The Rolls-Royce is a different story. It is positioned between an S-Class and a Maybach. The Maybach, when you drive it, is different. It cannot be compared. If I drive an S550 or an S600, it's a completely different car.”There has been little movement on the Maybach model range since the first car.Lieb says his US dealer network was cut from 72 to 42 in response to the tough times.“I think 42 dealers in a country like the US is probably the right size,” he says. “We have pockets where it sells very well — New York, Beverly Hills, Miami.“With 156 units last year, naturally you want to sell more. But on the retail side of things it's an integrated brand that uses the same facilities and services. It's not a huge cost factor there.“We have the production facility. We can increase it, lower it.”Despite the struggle, Lieb says there is no plan to introduce an external supplier for Maybach or rebadge it as a Mercedes-Benz.“There was lengthy discussion at the time whether it should be like that, but the decision was to go with the Maybach,” he says.“I don't know of any change there. It's established in the network now. I feel confident we are going to do the numbers the way we planned them.” 

The Maybach Landaulet concept car returns to the traditional '30s style of limousine, featuring a rear compartment that can be converted to a topless cabin; while the front 'chauffeur' driving area remains under cover.Rear passengers are seated in opulent surroundings, including white leather reclining armchairs, white velour carpet, piano lacquer, black granite and gold trim, voice-control DVD/CD entertainment and information unit, cooler and a drinks space to hold champagne glasses.Peter Fadeyev, DaimlerChrysler Australia's corporate communications manager, says the Landaulet concept has been based around the Maybach 62 S vehicle, which is not offered for sale in Australia.“The Maybach Landaulet study is a concept vehicle that showcases this new Maybach variant for the first time,” he says.“It is expected to move into production some time soon."“Currently there are no plans for this unique car to come to Australia as it is not yet in production, but we will naturally consider making this car available according to our customers' requests.”'The word 'landau' means carriage and 'landaulet' generally refers to a simulated convertible vehicle.When the Landaulet's roof is in its folded-down mode the side walls remain fixed, and have been reinforced with an integral tubular steel structure.This means that the silhouette of the luxury saloon; as well as the big doors; will remain unchanged.When closed, the black soft-top of the Landaulet rests on the frame formed by the roof bows, and is wind and weather-proof.When requested by the passengers behind him, the chauffeur operates a switch in the centre console that electro-hydraulically opens the roof, which will fold back on to the parcel shelf in 16 seconds.Landaulet has completed the traditional limousine look with gloss white paintwork and 20-inch traditional white-walled wheels with glossy spokes.Despite all the opulence of the interior, the traditional exterior styling and floating on air suspension, under the bonnet is a modern twin-turbo V12 engine which has been developed at Mercedes-AMG.The 5980cc V12 develops a maximum output of 450kW between 4800 and 5100rpm, delivering 1000Nm of torque between 2000 and 4000rpm.The Maybach marque was launched in Australia at the end of 2002.“At present, nine Maybachs have been sold in Australia since its local market release,” Fadeyev said.Australia sells three different models; the Maybach 57 ($945,000), 57S ($1,050,000) and the 62 ($1,150,000). 

This 92-year-old NSW No.6 plate is expected to fetch between $1 million and $1.5 at this year's Shannon's auction on the last day of the Australian International Motor Show.

The 1953 FJ–inspired one-of-a-kind handcrafted magic machine – the Efijy – will be on the Holden stand at the Adelaide Motor Show.But the Swiss could easily have robbed South Australia of the chance to see this hot rod with the heart of a V8 Supercar in the flesh.Holden was approached to take the car to the Geneva Motor Show but knocked back the offer because the bosses felt obligated to give all Australians a chance to see it up close.The Efi jy stole the show at Sydney last October when it was fi rst revealed... bowling over the $8.5 million Maybach Exelero which rated a distant second in the favourites race.Bathurst 1000 winner Mark Skaife raved about the Efi jy, which is inspired by arguably the defi nitive Australian car."It's just fantastic," the Holden Racing Team driver says."The whole retro thing is out of control. That's what happens when you have true petrol heads in the industry."The brainchild of Holden chief designer Richard Ferlazzo, however, is not likely to run on the road. Although it is more than capable of doing so.Adelaide Motor Show goers may even have to consider themselves fortunate if the big six-litre V8 engine under the hood is fi red up.Holden says it is strictly a show car and has, reportedly, already knocked back some big money offers for the vehicle.It was built by a "passionate" group of Holden designers and engineers who worked in their own time, often ducking out to the studio at the end of their shifts to fi nd inspiration in crafting this grand piece of metal.The material cost of the Efi jy is estimated at $200,000, but it is very much a labour of love and sponsored parts kept the total pricetag down.It sits on the same chassis platform as the U.S. Chevrolet Corvette and is powered by a supercharged six-litre V8 that cranks out 480kW of power and 775Nm of torque.Mr Ferlazzo says dozens of designers worked in their spare time to build the car for October's Australian International Motor Show in Sydney.He fi rst designed the car in 2002 and was given the go-ahead to build it by Holden general manager Denny Mooney at the beginning of last year. "It was a little pet project and I'm ecstatic about it," Mr Ferlazzo says."I've always liked the custom car scene."The Efi jy is a car for all generations. This is a car which has appeal for the young and the old, the hot rodders and those with a vision for the future.When first shown in Sydney it set the scene for a memorable motor show, much the same as Holden's Monaro concept car fi rst shown fi ve years earlier did. The story of the Monaro is well known: public demand forcing Holden to put the car into production.But there is no such hope for the Efi jy, despite some considerable pleas from the motor car-mad public. However, as compensation, Holden made a commitment to send the Efi jy on the show circuit throughout Australia.There are also plans for the car to participate in this year's Woodward Avenue Dream Cruise in Detroit, U.S. The Dream Cruise is the pinnacle of hot rod drives in America and started with a few mates running their machines down Woodward Ave. It has grown to become somewhat of a motoring festival, with hundreds of cars involved. Mr Mooney says Efi jy is "the wildest show car to ever bear the Holden badge"."Efi jy is pure fun. It's about emotion. It's about imagination," he says. "Efi jy shows what a great bunch of design people can do when you let them loose and let them have a bit of fun."That fun will be on Holden's stand in the Royal Showground from April 5 to 9.