Whenever Brabus unveils a new creation, it’s like the automotive Gods saying “Here, something to brighten up your day,” and indeed, it looks and feels like something forged on the mountains of heaven.
Even the words that Brabus use emphasise this feeling. “This rolling symphony of avant-garde is its very own class of excellence, where unbound sophistication and confident strength come together in a breathtaking statement of individuality”.
(more…)
Back in the late 1990s, Rolls-Royce and Bentley were up for sale and BMW eventually acquired the former while the Volkswagen Group got the latter. As Daimler-Benz did not have anything beyond the Mercedes-Benz S-Class that could be on par with those two ultra luxury British brands’ limousines, it decided to revive a brand it had acquired in 1960 – Maybach. This was a historically significant brand which produced elegant and desirable cars between 1921 and 1940.
In 2002, the carmaker launched the standalone Maybach brand with two very expensive models, designed with the same sort of superlative luxury that would rival the best in the world. There were great plans to have a strong presence at the summit of the car market but only 3,000 were ever sold in 9 years – when the target was 1,000 units each year. The old brand name made no impact either, and the pricetag was considered just too high. By 2013, the Maybach brand was once again retired.
Ultra-luxurious sub-brand
However, Mercedes-Benz did not stop trying to have an offering to rival Rolls-Royce and Bentley and it instead decided to develop an ultra luxurious version of the S-Class, and giving it exclusivity by being branded as Mercedes-Maybach. Since 2018, there have been two models – Mercedes-Maybach S 560 4MATIC Sedan and the S 650 Sedan.
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the first mass-produced car which Maybach Motorenbau GmbH presented at a motorshow in Berlin. It was the W 3 model and was the first German production car with brakes on 4 wheels, an epicyclic gear system and an interior with the finest materials.
Only 200 units of Edition 100
To commemorate that historic model’s 100th anniversary, Mercedes-Maybach has come up with the ‘Edition 100’. This is a special edition of the current S-Class and GLS models, each limited to 100 units. Both models have the impressive radiator grille bearing the brand emblem. They are hand-painted in the same two tones – high-tech silver/nautical blue – and feature a special design of leather interior in designo crystal white/silver grey pearl.
The brand logo including the inscription ‘Edition 100’ adorns the C-pillar (S-Class) or D-pillar (GLS), various stowage compartments and the illuminated panels in the interior. The same lettering also adorns the hub caps on the forged wheels of the GLS and the grey wheels of the S-Class.
A car cover with the iconic double M as well as a fine handmade case made of soft crystal white or black leather in file size – made to store keys and papers – further underline the exclusivity of the edition.
Limited editions of lifestyle accessories
In keeping with the anniversary edition, Mercedes-Maybach’s long-standing partners are also designing strictly limited special series: Licensing partner Maybach Icons of Luxury, for example, offers a diamond-studded fountain pen from the Maybach the Peak collection; while the silver and yacht manufacturer Robbe & Berking offers a champagne flute with a specially created engraving.
The top-class GLS SUV combines a sporty appearance with the luxury of a saloon. It is 33 cm higher than the classic saloon and offers a generous interior with 1.10 metres of legroom. Electrically extendable running boards make getting in and out easy, while the interior is soundproofed and upholstered with the finest leather. The engine is a V8 with 557 bhp output, and air suspension ensures a very smooth ride.
The S-Class luxury saloon comes with a V12 engine that produces 612 bhp. It is intended as a chauffeur-driven saloon and much of the focus is therefore given to the noise-insulated first-class rear compartment. Compared to the long-wheelbase version of the S-Class, this model has an 18-cm longer wheelbase and is equipped with all-wheel drive for the first time.
Besides an extensive range of personalisation options for the cars, owners can also have matching lifestyle accessories such as exclusive travel bags, leather goods, clothing, home and eyewear. Sustainably selected materials are used, such as natural horn, precious woods, titanium, cashmere or leather types that meet the highest environmental standards. The artfully staged understatement of the products conveys the fascination of the brand and fulfils the desire for personal expression.
Concept Mercedes-Maybach EQS for the new generation of customers
Back in 2002, Daimler-Benz revived a 93-year old brand name it had acquired in 1960 (but didn’t use it then) with the aim of offering something beyond the upper reaches of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class flagship level. It wanted to create an ultra-luxury model that could be compared to Rolls-Royce and Bentley, the British brands owned by the BMW Group and Volkswagen Group, respectively.
Perhaps it was unfortunate timing and the world did not need another brand like that, or it was just the approach which was taken that saw the Maybach – as a standalone brand – not gaining a big clientele. It expected to sell 2,000 cars a year but by the time the brand ceased operations in 2012, only about 3,000 had been sold over a 10-year span.
In 2015, the Maybach brand was brought back again but this time, it was to be part of the S-Class range, an additional variant right at the very top. That made more sense to customers and perhaps even provided a safe haven for the model to grow from.
It fared better in this approach and over the past 5 years, around 60,000 examples of the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class have been delivered worldwide. Last year alone, around 12,000 units were sold, with China, Russia, South Korea, the USA and Germany being the main markets.
The Maybach differs from the S-Class in being more exclusive and much more luxurious, as was the tradition of the original Maybach. Distinguishing features at the front include the distinctive bonnet with a chromed fin and the Mercedes-Maybach radiator grille. This is highly recognisable by its vertical, three-dimensional trim strips.
The rear doors are wider than those of the brother models, and the C-pillars feature a fixed quarterlight. On request, electrically operated comfort rear doors can be installed. The exclusive appearance can be enhanced by a two-tone paint finish with a dividing line which is applied by hand, a process that takes up to one week.
Shared with latest S-Class
The interior shares the completely new interior design of the latest S-Class. The sculptured look of the dashboard, centre console and armrests appears to float above an expansive interior landscape. Up to 5 display screens are available, with a 12.8-inch OLED central display as a high-tech control centre. A 12.3-inch 3D driver display with three-dimensional representation of other road-users and pronounced depth and shade effects can also be provided.
Active ambience lighting – an animated LED light band with intelligent comfort and safety functions – produces a rose gold white and amethyst glow. The ‘Welcome Rear’ entry display welcomes passengers with a special light show and new adaptive rear lighting follows the wishes of the occupants in terms of brightness, and size and position of the light spot.
Although advanced technologies are key features, there is plenty of classic luxury too. Traditionalists will appreciate the large areas of trim on the front seats, and high‑quality wood surrounds encasing the rear of the front seat backrests.
MBUX with more personalisation
The distinctive look of the driver display underlines the special status of the Mercedes‑Maybach. And there is, of course, MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) – the advanced and intelligent infotainment system. The second generation MBUX can network with a wide range of vehicle systems and sensor data. The possibilities for personalisation and intuitive operation have become far more extensive and MBUX Interior Assist can also be installed in the rear.
MBUX Interior Assist recognises numerous occupant intentions. It recognises eye-direction, hand gestures and the body language of the occupants, so as to assist with automatic vehicle functions as the situation requires. It is also able to recognise movements and gestures by the rear occupants with the help of 3D laser cameras in the ceiling.
For example, the belt extender for the outer rear seats automatically offers up the seatbelt when MBUX Interior Assist recognises the occupant’s intention to reach for the belt by hand movements. The exit warning function has also been extended and is able to register that a rear passenger intends to leave the vehicle.
Electrified powertrains
The engines of the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class are electrified and have an integrated second-generation starter-generator (ISG). This provides a boost of up to 15 kW, facilitates efficient ‘gliding’ when driving at constant speed, makes the start/stop experience even more comfortable, and makes the drive system more efficient overall.
All-wheel drive is standard with the 9G-TRONIC transmission improved and adapted for the ISG. The electric motor, the power electronics and the transmission cooler have now moved into or onto the transmission. An electric refrigerant compressor is used which means that even when the engine is not running (start/stop and gliding phases), the cabin air can still be cooled. This will also help to keep the champagne or other drinks chilled in the refrigerated compartment.
Supreme comfort
It goes without saying that a car of this class will require the best ride comfort, and this is provided by the AIRMATIC air suspension with continuously adjustable damping. Optional rear-axle steering improves manoeuvrability in urban areas, reducing the turning circle by up to 2 metres.
The optional, fully active E-ACTIVE BODY CONTROL suspension on a 48V basis uses a stereo camera to scan the road ahead and smoothens out undulations. It also gives additional protection in the event of a lateral collision, as it raises the vehicle level. It can reduce the loads acting on the occupants because it directs the impact forces towards particularly resistant structures in the lower area of the vehicle.
Ride comfort also means quietness and the big sedan is said to have very good low NVH (noise, vibrations, harshness). The extended measures mainly benefit the rear section with additional absorbent foam installed in the rear wheel arches, and thicker laminated class in the fixed quarterlights of the C-pillars.
Active road noise compensation is used for the first time. The system reduces unwanted low-frequency noises using counter-phased sound waves. Noise-optimised tyres with foam absorbers can also be installed.
Especially in the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class, particular attention has always been paid to safety in the rear section. During severe frontal collisions, the rear airbag can considerably reduce the loads acting on the heads and necks of seatbelt-wearing occupants on the outer rear seats.
In day-to-day driving, new and extended assistance systems are provided to relieve driver stress. This enables the driver to stay alert for longer and reach the destination more safely and comfortably. When danger threatens, the assistance systems can respond according to the situation and reduce the severity of possible collisions, or even avoid them.
With the DRIVE PILOT, conditionally automated driving becomes available from Mercedes-Benz. From the second half of 2021, on suitable motorway sections and where traffic density is high, the DRIVE PILOT can offer to take over the driving, initially up to the legally permitted speed of 60 km/h.
Sales of the new Mercedes-Maybach S-Class will commence in the some markets next month and then in Germany and other markets from early 2021. Customers in North America and China will get their cars during the second quarter of 2021.
Mercedes-Maybach chooses China to launch its first SUV – the GLS 600 4MATIC
© Copyright – Piston.my 2023 Trademarks belong to their respective owners. All rights reserved
