S-Class Mercedes-Maybach S600 Previewed

[SDNR]

[Maybach] failed to mount a serious challenge for ultra-luxury buyers because it lacked global name recognition.

I'm sorry, this is BS; Maybach's lack of sales had little to do with a lack of brand recognition and far more to do with the fact that Daimler underestimated the sophistication of this market. Just because people have a lot of money to spend doesn't mean they'll pay three-times the price of a standard S-class to be able to fully recline the rear seats.

There was no problem with the marketing of the Maybach, it was carried out with typical German precision.....all the "right people" knew exactly what The Maybach was all about. The problem was the product: it might have been the finest German engineering had to offer but it lacked personality and style.

I think Daimler are being shy to admit the reality of this situation .......because if it were true then how did Toyota manage to build a successful luxury brand from nothing?

As for the often referred to Maybach predecessor, the 600 Großer Mercedes from the 1960s, Daimler-Benz lost money of every one of those built.

 

[Wolfgang]

I wonder if it can be fitted with a divider?

"Driver roll up the partition please"

Suspect the electrotransparent partition may be optional, although it might restrict the rearwards travel of the front seats.

https://www.facebook.com/MaybachHis...0.1416053747./190844364372988/?type=3&theater

 

[Wolfgang]

I wonder if the new "maybach" can be customized by mercedes like a rolls royce can (and I don't mean just different colored leather), and if not, then I wonder how will the brabus tuned version look.

Only few details are available so far. The two Excecutive seats seen on the left and right rear below will likely be standard in the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class. And an expanded designo program will probably be optional, possibly in cooperation with Brabus.

mercedes-fans.de confirms an exterior stainless steel or matt chrome window surround, first reported by Flywheel, will be available. The familiar double MM Maybach logo may appear on the C-pillar.

http://www.germancarforum.com/threa...enz-600-pullman-limo.48583/page-5#post-715721

http://www.mercedes-benz.com/en/mer...brand-talk-mercedes-benz-expands-brand-world/

 

[Mars1965]

Only few details are available so far. The two Excecutive seats seen on the left and right rear below will likely be standard in the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class. And an expanded designo program will probably be optional, possibly in cooperation with Brabus.

mercedes-fans.de reports an exterior stainless steel or matt chrome window surround will be available. The familiar double MM Maybach logo may appear on the C-pillar.

http://www.mercedes-benz.com/en/mer...brand-talk-mercedes-benz-expands-brand-world/

Probably fine materials, but so disorderly. So many lines, curves, more curves, different colors, different designs.

What a difference to the soothing interior of the RR.

 

[klier]

Not a Phantom competitor, it's certainly a Ghost competitor.

So why disagree when I say the same?

 

[SDNR]

So many lines, curves, more curves, different colors, different designs.

Yes, I feel the same. The S class interior is already very busy ....but this Maybach version is visually cacophonous!

I still like it though.

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

Hmm...Toyota managed to build a luxury brand without style or personality. Lol. They built it by offering the most anesthetised driving experience money could buy at an attractive price point. Naturally some, Americans in particularly, lapped it up.

It's only now that Lexus vehicles are starting to display traits of personality and style, which is still somewhat questionable.

We have been very misled in early reports and clearly Mercedes does not intend this to be a Rolls competitor. But maybe in time the development funds and business case will be made for a truly bespoke vehicle. But for now their priorities obviously rest elsewhere.

I'm sorry, this is BS; Maybach's lack of sales had little to do with a lack of brand recognition and far more to do with the fact that Daimler underestimated the sophistication of this market. Just because people have a lot of money to spend doesn't mean they'll pay three-times the price of a standard S-class to be able to fully recline the rear seats.

There was no problem with the marketing of the Maybach, it was carried out with typical German precision.....all the "right people" knew exactly what The Maybach was all about. The problem was the product: it might have been the finest German engineering had to offer but it lacked personality and style.

I think Daimler are being shy to admit the reality of this situation .......because if it were true then how did Toyota manage to build a successful luxury brand from nothing?

As for the often referred to Maybach predecessor, the 600 Großer Mercedes from the 1960s, Daimler-Benz lost money of every one of those built.

 

[SDNR]

Hmm...Toyota managed to build a luxury brand without style or personality. Lol. They built it by offering the most anesthetised driving experience money could buy at an attractive price point. Naturally some, Americans in particularly, lapped it up.

It's only now that Lexus vehicles are starting to display traits of personality and style, which is still somewhat questionable.

We have been very misled in early reports and clearly Mercedes does not intend this to be a Rolls competitor. But maybe in time the development funds and business case will be made for a truly bespoke vehicle. But for now their priorities obviously rest elsewhere.

Firstly, how are you Mohammed? ....it's been several years since we last met.

I agree with everything you said about Lexus ....but my point is that Toyota faced the task of inventing an entirely new brand without any pedigree or history, whereas the Maybach brand was well established as an exclusive and historic marque; with a good marketing campaign (which it had) and an exciting and memorable product (hmm hmm) things should have worked out very well.

MAYBACH 57/62

With a little bit more imagination, Daimler could have really set the standard for this market segment: At the time Maybach was being developed, Rolls-Royce/Bentley sales were dismal.

I sometimes wonder if the biggest issue was a cultural one. The German industrial culture tends to be reserved and austere.

We know that Daimler has some very talented people working for them. styling could have been much more interesting and dynamic.

 

[Kowalski]

Looks better than I expected. I hope they don't make lesser powered and diesel versions of it though.

 

[Betty Swollocks]

Not a Phantom competitor, it's certainly a Ghost competitor.

I think there will be people who prefer this over a Ghost. It's lower profile yet extremely luxurious and spacious.

So why disagree when I say the same?

How is you saying that some people will prefer the Merc over the Ghost the same as KiwiRob saying that the two cars are competitors?

 

[KiwiRob]

Firstly, how are you Mohammed? ....it's been several years since we last met.

I agree with everything you said about Lexus ....but my point is that Toyota faced the task of inventing an entirely new brand without any pedigree or history, whereas the Maybach brand was well established as an exclusive and historic marque; with a good marketing campaign (which it had) and an exciting and memorable product (hmm hmm) things should have worked out very well.

I doubt many potential owners even knew there was a Maybach before Mercedes brought it back from the grave. The brand died in 1945, they probably built very few vehicles during the war.

Toyota had a history of building luxury cars for the Japanese market under their own brand, so they had an idea of what to do, they just had to tailor it for non domestic consmption.

IMO I think there is only one other brand which could come back from the dead and play in the RR and Bentley market, that's Daimler. I would like to see a new Daimler limo.

 

[Rainer271]

IMO I think there is only one other brand which could come back from the dead and play in the RR and Bentley market, that's Daimler. I would like to see a new Daimler limo.

That would be a great comeback.

 

[Mars1965]

In this market all are competitors who cost more than ??? € 250,000. The very wealthy people want luxury, exclusivity (read bespoke etc), "the best money can buy" and most importantly personal attention. Which brand RR, Bentley, Maybach fitts in this "profile" best is the winner. It has not much to do with heritage of for example Daimler.

 

[Mars1965]

How is you saying that some people will prefer the Merc over the Ghost the same as KiwiRob saying that the two cars are competitors?

I think "Klier" means in terms of size it is a Ghost competitor, but in terms of comfort (seats, adjustments etc) it could be placed higher.

 

[SDNR]

IMO I think there is only one other brand which could come back from the dead and play in the RR and Bentley market, that's Daimler. I would like to see a new Daimler limo.

Yes, interesting that, the British Daimler company was founded by German-born Fredrich Simms who bought the rights to market Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach's engines in his own British-built vehicles under the Daimler name.

You know there are a few other rare and prestigious marques that could rival Rolls-Royce ......Duesenberg from the USA comes to mind ....as do Dalahaye, Voisin, and Facel from France.

Facel Vega (the French answer to Aston Martin) made cars until the 1960s ...there were many famous owners including Pablo Picasso and several Hollywood actors.

 

[Mars1965]

Yes, interesting that, the British Daimler company was founded by German-born Fredrich Simms who bought the rights to market Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach's engines in his own British-built vehicles under the Daimler name.

You know there are a few other rare and prestigious marques that could rival Roll-Royce ......Duesenberg from the USA comes to mind ....as do Dalahaye, Voisin, and Facel from France.

Heritage has nothing to do with the sales arguments. Revive a brand which existed decades ago is ZERO sales argument.

 

[SDNR]

Heritage has nothing to do with the sales argumants. Revive a brand which existed decades ago is ZERO sales argument.

I think you are probably correct.

.......actually, you are almost certainly correct.

 

[KiwiRob]

Heritage has nothing to do with the sales arguments. Revive a brand which existed decades ago is ZERO sales argument.

Daimler existed up until the current XJ. It's not a long dead brand. Compared to other brands you mentioned, Facel, Voisin, (why them they built only a handful of cars), Dusenburg (also include Pierce Arrow, Packard, Cord, Auburn if you're going American) is none of them have existed in recent times, whereas there are plenty of these still doing the job day in day out all around the world.

 

[Seylan]

Probably fine materials, but so disorderly. So many lines, curves, more curves, different colors, different designs.

What a difference to the soothing interior of the RR

That RR interior looks ghastly. The S-Class on the other hand is so modern and 'artistic'. Maybe it needs more wood trim on the door panels to give it a more ultra-luxurious look. I'm pretty sure I remember seeing an S65 AMG-Maybach spy shot posted somewhere on this forum. Is that not going to happen anymore since they confirmed only three models?

 

[EnI]

Interestingly but the latest & last Daimler cars were manufactured, marketed & sold by JAGUAR (Jaguar Cars bought Daimler Cars from BSA in 1960). And since then Jaguar (owned then by BMH, followed by British Leyland, then Ford and now Tata) have owned rights to Daimler trademark - and today Jaguar Land Rover Ltd (co)owns the rights to Daimler trademark together with Daimler AG ... at least in EU, while in US the right expired in 2009 or was refused to by registered by JLR. Btw, the Jaguar's right to Daimler trademark in EU expires in April 2016. And I doubt Daimler AG will extend the contract for trademark co-ownership with JLR / Tata after that date.

Regarding MB's chance to directly rival Bentley & Rolls-Royce: Aston Martin (Lagonda). But first Daimler AG has to acquire AM.