Maybach Brand Coming to an End?

its about time.

I agree...the price is to HIGH...You can get 2 E-class for one Maybach

what do you mean..you could get like 6

i agree...but iseenitall you can get 2-3 s-class AMG , and they wonted 1460 units.,.. they're crazy!!

be honest, mr. zetsche: it could never really compete with rolls royce. the design has always been the biggest weakness. why would you by a 62 or 57, if you can have an s-class with nearly the same looks? i never understood that. the phantom on the other hand is on a complete different level than the 7 series is.

Basically what needs to be done here, is dont base the Maybach on the Mercedes, change the design, change everything about the company and dont let it be tagged along the Mercedes-Benz brand.

iseenitall? how many e-classe can you buy instead of one maybach? 2? i can't recall seeing one for $185,000, so let me know how i can come across one of those. For that price i wonder what they are packing:)

amade.ch is right. if you want to compete in the ultra luxury market, you need something more upmarket than the normal luxury segment. the rolls royce was great, it's very different from the 7-series. on the other hand, the maybach is just a rebadged s-class. but if maybach will replace the 57 and 62, maybe they will have another chance. one model is enough for me

Well the 62 is a much better limousine than the Phantom or Bentley. But the market for people that want a chauffeur is low, these ultra luxury cars are bought to show off not for business. And you cannot compare the 62 to an S-Class, sure there are some design cues but they are completely different cars, maybe not on the outside but Maybach has always made limousines and the interior is what counts. It has never been a brand about bling bling, big rims and hoes. That's why rolls sells more it has a younger image and is more flaunting than some old business man in a mayback with a chauffeur.

But the market wants something that will standout and appeal to the "bling-bling" crowd. If Daimler AG were to invest heavily now in an "Arnage/Royale/Phantom competitor, they would be able to revive the brand name before it loses too much value. I guess the real question is...do they want to?

The Maybach is based on the previous generation S class of the 90's which was often criticized for being over-engineered, too heavy and too large. Ironically, that platform provided a suitable package for the Maybach without high development costs...but make no mistake the Maybach is in NO way inferior to the Rolls Royce Phantom or Bentley. I agree that the styling of the vehicle is the weakest link. Daimler & Mercedes Benz are deciding if the future ultra luxury models will wear the 3 pointed star or keep the Maybach name. I think that there is room for Mercedes Benz (models already range up to almost $200,000) and Maybach beyond that point. 3 things though need to be done as quickly as possible...1) Get a great car design for the Maybach brand that is unique to the model and not derivative of MB products. You need at least 2 cars (a coupe would be nice as well, it could be based of the SLR replacement and be more of a true GT car)...1 to compete with the Phantom and 1 to compete with the Bentley Brooklands/baby Rolls. 2) Lighten the beast...3) use a twin turbo version of the AMG 63 V8 engine

I don't think the 6.3 V8 is special enough especially when the competition is packing 6.75L V12s. The engine is a simple choice bring back the 7.3L V12 into a mercedes and throw on twin-turbos and it will move the world. This would be beneficial especially when and if mercedes wants to release and armored version of their ultra-luxury limousine. I doubt Mercedes will kill of Maybach they have enough $ to keep the brand going. They just need some fresh styling and that amazing 7.3L V12 + TT.

You are talking about the W140 S-Class. The Maybach was based on the lighter W220 that followed it.

the phantom sold 20 to 1 over the maybach.

Yeah well the phantom has an advantage, high end hotels have been using RR as their limousines for ever. Most of the phantoms have been bought by businesses. There are probably 200 phantoms in dubai used as hotel limousines. In new york and all over the world the fanciest hotels have phantoms as their cars. So it adds up.

The real advantage of the Phantom over the Maybach is its unmistakable british style and inimitable good taste. On the other hand, Maybach only contributed to somewhat dilute down MB's luxury aura, so unless they did something equivalent to the Veyron or Royale, it's be better to kill the brand and leave Mercedes its (upgraded if needed) role of magnificent luxury cars. Just bring back the old 600 & 600 Pullman under the crowned star.

I agree with most of you. The problem for Maybach has been that its image is no other than an upgraded Mercedes, despite being far more luxurious and comfortable than the apparent concept, or even its competition. What Maybach should do, should it survive as a brand, is become completely independent from Mercedes Benz, both in terms of style and engineering. You don't see a Rolls and think "oh, I could get a 7 series with less than half the money." If Maybach had a totally unique IDENTITY, more true and loyal to its past than to its chief brand, it'd be a true hard competitor to Royce. More selective production, more style, more personality, and bringing back legendary names (e.g., Zeppelin) would be great. A Super S-Class with jet-style cabin would be perfect for the Benz brand, but what Maybach could do great is old luxury.

i think that they shouldnt cut maybach but maybe improve it by updating the car and mayb dropping the price to something in about the rolls price range...

Maybach really needs to go back to the design boards...the name is just so awesome and to give customers even the slightest hint that it's a souped up S-class is just bad business. In a game of hyper-expensive cars you need to stand out and make a big stink about it; not following the footsteps of the excelero(what ever its called) was a mis-step. For a while that prototype was the hottest thing on the web. I think bugatti is on to something when they are considering cars that push the price limit to around 2-3 million. Gimme an AMG V-16 in a 20 foot long car with suicide doors along with panda lined seats....now you've got a customer....**note: i really do love pandas...

pandas...? LOL

Come on now people. Maybach is legend. Maybach did not come from the S-Class, have you read ANY history in regards to this before commenting? Maybach-Manufaktur comes from the 1920's and was made by Mercedes. Maybach had a 60 year period where there was nothing produced until 2003. Truth be told, I have always loved Maybachs and always will. I personally think that all it needs is a new design. It has held that design since 2003 with additions like the S models and the Landaulet. I love this car, everything about it says to me that everyone developes designs from this in one way or another. Think about it. When Maybach was made in the early years it was all about what the customer wanted. I have seen everything down to oriental carpets in the back seats to gold laced rope used as a part of the closing mechanism on the doors. All the people who are all about pimping out their cars etc. where did this come from? Maybach. Disagree if you want, but its truth. If Dr. Z orders a redesign project, Im there, it would redirect sales from Bentley to Maybach. Lets face it 146 units os not a lot at all. So before we go off shooting down Maybach because its some cheap shot at an S-Class, read. S-Class has nothing to do with this car now other than when the S-Class was done over it now looks like the Maybach which I still love because it allows people who just dont have 3-400000 to spend to enjoy driving something that looks similar. Dr. Z, redesign this amazing beauty and lower the price by 75-100000 nad people will eat it alive. Status is not the only thing that car is good for. It has proven itself on the tracks, and as a competitor for the other elite cars, however those elite cars change more rapidly than this one. FIVE years this car has looked like this, now Im not complaining, but that is the problem. PERSONALLY I would like a Landaulet. Thanks!!!

It's based on the previous model S-Class.

The Rolls is a far classier and more tasteful design. MB could probably engage in this segment with the Mecedes brand with a worthy successor to the fabulous 600 (released in 1964). that car looked totally gorgeous, had stunning performance and incredible technology, all without the tacky bling of the current Maybach. It simply blew away the rolls Royces of it's era (and most that followed). If they do a new Maybach that needs to be its ethos. Conservative, dignified and classy, with ultra-high tech and performance.

Just launching the Maybach was an achievement in itself for which Mercedes ought to be congratulated. Its problem was that it launched into the face of the Rolls-Royce Phantom - a car of such "intrinsic quality" the Maybach was bound to be "impacted". Still, a "62" is quite an impressive machine which I would'nt hesitate to purchase. Mercedes-Benz should "hang in there"! I have no doubt that in its second "interpretation" it will be an even greater success!!

Isaacu

Lutzie is right. Daimler would've been more successful if they had built a Grosser Mercedes.

The Maybach is pretty much an S-Class with a higher price tag and features on a private jet. A nice car but costs too much. I would love one to sit next to my Gallardo.

it will be a shame and a defeat accepted if maybach is discontinued

it needs a facelift and a strorg marketing team to create awarness and publicity if a glorified beetle {BENTLEY}W12 clynder can sell at2crore rsINR why cant the glorified Sclass sell?