DaimlerChrysler Group announced in New York that Maybach, the German ultra-luxury sedan brand that had been dormant for 60 years, was officially resurrected. The two models launched for the first time are Maybach 57 and Maybach 62, produced by Mercedes-Benz, priced at 310,000 euros and 360,000 euros respectively. This price is very astonishing, approximately equivalent to the combined price of 3.5 Mercedes-Benz S600s, or 2.5 Ferrari 360s. Even the famous Rolls-Royce and Bentley only have high-end products that can rival the Maybach 62.
A century of Maybach
Like red wine, famous paintings, Gothic castles, etc., the more historical a car brand is, the more precious it is. Especially for cars designed for the "rich among the rich" such as Maybach and Rolls-Royce, the car is no longer a simple "transportation tool". It must have a profound cultural heritage and even have an aristocratic temperament to show off. It comes down to the taste and uniqueness of the car owner.
The cultural heritage of the Maybach sedan comes from a father and son named "Maybach". In 1885, Wilhelm Maybach assisted his friend Gottlieb Daimler, known as the "Father of the Automobile", to create the world's first vertical engine; in 1901, he designed a honeycomb radiator and A 35-horsepower Mercedes-Benz with a front-engine and rear-wheel drive. These automotive technologies that seem ordinary today were a major innovation at the time. In the following years, Maybach invented the world's first four-speed mechanical transmission and spray carburetor, becoming a momentous automotive technical talent, and was therefore known as the "Father of Automobile Design."
In 1909, Maybach began to stand on his own, designing high-performance engines for the famous Zeppelin airship. But 10 years later, the younger Maybach, who inherited his father's business, entered the automotive field. In 1921, under the guidance of the elder Maybach, he built the first luxury sedan, the Maybach W1, which aroused market response. With its high-performance engine, With excellent mechanical structure and noble interior decoration, Maybach cars quickly became the main rival of Mercedes-Benz at the time.
In 1930, the famous Maybach Zeppelin sedan came out. It used an 8-liter V12 engine with a maximum power of 200 horsepower. It became one of the most advanced cars in the world at that time and laid the foundation for the Maybach sedan. status in the luxury sector.
In the 1930s, when Maybach was flourishing, World War II broke out. During those turbulent years, luxury cars like the Maybach had no customers. In 1941, the factory that produced 1,800 Maybach cars was forced to cease production. Maybach, a once brilliant brand, also broke its wings to compete with brands such as Rolls-Royce and Bentley, and was absorbed by Daimler-Benz in 1961.
The revived Maybach sedan
Just 60 years after the Maybach sedan disappeared, Daimler Group is determined to revive this legendary brand again.
In order to make the revived Maybach a hit, technicians spent about a year touring the Maybach prototype with the front face covered to listen to opinions from all parties. At the Geneva International Motor Show in March this year, Maybach was put on display by the mysterious DaimlerChrysler Group in a dark glass cover, announcing in this looming way that Maybach was back! It wasn't until it was officially launched at the beginning of this month that Maybach showed its "true face."
The Maybach 57 and 62 launched in New York this time are named after their body lengths, that is, the Maybach 57 is 5.7 meters long, while the 62 is 6.2 meters long.
In the top-of-the-line Maybach 62, the interior equipment is extremely luxurious. In addition to 4-zone independent adjustment of automatic air conditioning, DVD, and surround sound, there are also satellite phones and independent TVs with leg supports. Rear multifunctional seats, etc. In addition, the wheelbase of the Maybach 62 reaches 3.83 meters, which is longer than the entire length of the Polo sedan. This ensures ample space inside the Maybach.
Historically, Maybach is a brand known for its engine technology. After the recovery, Maybach will naturally not give up this tradition. The V12 engine it is equipped with has a maximum power of 405KW and a torque of 900N·m, which is almost four times the power of a similar engine in the 1930 Maybach.
Competing with Rolls-Royce for the market
Some people define the revived Maybach as "Germany's Rolls-Royce". This statement makes sense but is not exact. Because Rolls-Royce, the pride of the British automotive industry, will soon be part of the German BMW Group and become an "authentic" German product. Another ultra-luxury brand, Bentley, has also joined the German Volkswagen Group. Currently, the BMW Group is busy with the replacement of Rolls-Royce and may launch a new Rolls-Royce in the next few years. In this context, the Daimler Group, which is unwilling to lose to its "old rival", launches Maybach at this time is obviously a strategic consideration. It will use Maybach as a sharp knife in the ultra-luxury car market, rather than letting BMW Exclusively own this market.
In terms of the products themselves, Rolls-Royce and Maybach should be equally matched. Moreover, for this type of car, the appeal and influence of the brand will be far more important than the quality of the car itself.
According to the plan, Maybach's annual output will be limited to about 1,000 vehicles, of which 40 will be sold in the United States, 25 in Europe, and the rest in Asia, Australia and other regions. It is reported that DaimlerChrysler Group China Investment Co., Ltd. is currently investigating the sales prospects of Maybach in China. Perhaps, we will be able to get a glimpse of the Maybach sedan on the streets of China next year.
Car Logo Story Compared with the Rolls-Royce "Angel" logo, Maybach's double M logo is much simpler. Originally, the double M stood for "Maybach Automobile", and now, the double M means "Maybach Made".