Maybach Range : NEVER TOO MUCH

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The Brief Was Quite Simply To Build The Most Luxurious Car In The World. Money Was No Object. Does The Maybach Fulfil It's Lofty Remit? Andy Enright Decides

Imagine you were presented with a blank sheet of paper, a blank cheque and the brief to build the finest luxury car in the world. A tough call or automotive nirvana? Just such a task confronted the cream of Daimler Chrysler's designers when called upon to develop the Maybach luxury brand. Aiming to bring bespoke luxury manufacturing into the 21st century, Maybach offers a tantalising glimpse into the world of the preposterously wealthy.

Normal rules do not apply here. Fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and so forth are not relevant. Of far more importance are factors such as dealer discretion, a personal touch from the manufacturer, unparalleled luxury and refinement and, above all, the knowledge that you own the world's finest car. For many of the target customers, the asking price will be a peripheral concern, a mere opening point upon which to base the myriad of customisation options. For those of us who can't help but goggle at the rich and famous, that asking price is £260,490 for the Maybach 57, £289,990 for the extra powerful 57 S and £299,925 for the imperious long wheelbase model, the Maybach 62. The 57 and 62 cars are powered by the same twin turbocharged 5.5-litre V12 engine, good for no less than 543bhp with a torque figure of 899Nm. This monstrous power output will propel 2780kg of Maybach 62 to 60mph in 5.4 seconds. The 57 S gets a 6.0-litre version of the same engine with 612bhp and a nice round 1,000Nm torque rating. Everything about the Maybach, from the 62's 6165mm length to its 19-inch wheels is writ large. It's worth putting a few of the statistics into perspective. The torque figure on the 57 is greater than the combined torque outputs of a Mercedes S500 and a Porsche Carrera 4S. The Maybach 62 is as heavy as two Mercedes C class saloons and the difference in price between the two versions is about the same as a nicely specified Lexus GS430.

"At idle, the V12 engine is utterly silent."

Every customer gets round the clock access to a Personal Liaison Manager, a Maybach employee who greases the wheels of ownership, starting with vehicle specification. Maybach estimates that there are some 2.2 million different equipment combinations available, running from bespoke luggage, to sterling silver champagne flutes, cigar humidors and virtually any interior trim material. With around 1,000 cars expected to be sold worldwide every year in two different guises, that would mean that - all other things being equal of course - it would take 4,400 years of production before two identical Maybachs were produced. By which time it would probably be due for a mild facelift. Exclusively available from 105 Wigmore Street, Mayfair, W1, Maybach nevertheless can offer a truly global service to prospective owners. Personal Liaison Managers can travel anywhere in the world with a mobile demonstrator suite of electronic tools and actual samples to woo well-heeled customers. Once they've signed the dotted line, they can travel to the Centre of Excellence factory in Stuttgart to see their car being assembled or alternatively can enjoy a live satellite transmission of the handover beamed to anywhere in the world. One thing the Maybach could never be accused of is lithe beauty. Perhaps one of the requirements is for sheer road presence, but the acres of chrome festooned around the car's grille are uncomfortably reminiscent of the Hyundai XG. Parked next to a Rolls-Royce Phantom, the Maybach's closest approximation of a rival, the German car looks a little more mainstream, less of an event and more an exercise in technical pragmatism. There's no doubt if you're a true captain of industry who needs to be whisked from point A to point B which you'd choose to travel in though. The Maybach, especially in long wheelbase 62 guise, is leagues ahead of anything else in terms of rear seat sophistication. Light has been used as a design tool with various uplighters and LEDs providing comfortable ambient light at all times. Maybach 62 owners can even specify a Panoramic glass roof with a sliding liner that contains an electro-luminescent membrane that provides pleasant diffuse light. It's vastly spacious back there, with the slinky aircraft-style seats capable of reclining into a semi recumbent position for maximum comfort. These fully adjustable, heated and cooled seats are a work of genius and highlight the key difference between the 57 and the 62. The former is for driving and the latter is for being driven in. Take the wheel of a Maybach and you'll be greeted with more than a few cabin features familiar to Mercedes S-class drivers. From a practical standpoint this is no bad thing as the S-class is a paragon of ergonomic efficiency, but one can't help but feel that the subterfuge could have been a little more artfully executed. At idle, the V12 engine is utterly silent. Even if you get out, walk to the front of the car and stand inches from the front grille, there's no audible signal. Press your ear to the bonnet and you'll hear a muted hum. Unless that is, your passenger selects this moment to test the Maybach's horn which, you'll be sure to agree, is quite an article. On the move the Maybach is again almost eerily silent. You appreciate the finer tonal qualities of the 600-watt surround sound audio system, the only mechanical noise being the occasional distant thud of surface irregularities as the air sprung suspension tries its best to cushion the ride. It goes without saying that the Maybach is supplied replete with a vast welter of safety features, although Daimler Chrysler is certain that a good proportion of owners will go a step further and opt for the `guard version' - a factory authorised armouring process. The Maybach name is not a recent invention, having been dormant for some 60 years. Having revived it, Daimler Chrysler must be extremely proud of what now represents a new benchmark for ultra-luxury cars. The Maybach 57 and 62 models are towering technical achievements but neither possesses a spark of personality. A blank sheet of paper and a blank cheque can't manufacture character. That may come with time.

Facts At A Glance
CAR: Maybach Range
PRICES: £260,490 - £299,925
INSURANCE GROUP: 20
CO2 EMISSIONS: [62] 383g/km
PERFORMANCE: [62] 0-60mph 5.4s / Max Speed 155mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [62] (combined) 17.8mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Adaptive front airbags, four side and windowbags / Sensotronic ABS braking system / ESP stability control / twin front brake calipers
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Heightmm [62] 6165/1980/1570