You’ve seen photos and text on what the Maybach Landaulet is all about, but here’s a video allowing you to see the semi-open top luxury barge in motion.
Check out the video after the jump.
Related Posts: Click here to read the rest of Maybach Landaulet Concept Video
Maybach reveals the Maybach Landaulet Concept
Some of you may be wondering what exactly a Landaulet is. Its basically a term for a simulated convertible, carried over from the days of carriage coachbuilding.
Basically, a simulated convertible landaulet has fixed roof rails, with a convertible top for the back seats only. The Maybach Landaulet concept based on the Maybach 62 S features a landaulet-style black soft top roof which exposes the rear passengers to the open air while the chauffeur compartment remains completely enclosed.
When the black soft top is closed, it rests on the frame formed by the roof bows and is wind and weather proof. When open, it is deposited on the parcel shelf in the rear together with its rear window made of single layer safety glass. Opening and closing takes 16 seconds.
The car’s automatic climate control systems have also had their parameters tuned to ensure open air travel remains a comfort in adverse climatic conditions.
Under the hood is an AMG-tuned version of the engine in the Maybach 57 S and 62 S. The 6.0 liter V12 is twin turbocharged to make 612 horsepower between 4,800rpm and 5,100rpm, and 1000Nm of torque between 2,000rpm and 4,000rpm, rather turbodiesel-like performance stats. Click here to read the rest of Maybach Landaulet Concept
As luxurious and exclusive as Maybach is, it seems the buyers are not swayed by the other superluxury brands like Bentley and Rolls Royce, with trade estimates putting 2006 production at a paltry 280 units.
The Maybach 57 and 62 is estimated to sell 175 units a year by the year 2010, greatly overshadowed by Rolls Royce’s 3,000 cars and Bentley’s 10,000 cars.
DaimlerChrysler is going back to the engineering drawing boards with the Maybach brand, with possible new models including a Mercedes Ocean Drive Concept-like convertible Maybach as well as a Maybach SUV based on the Mercedes Benz GL (shown above). The Maybach GL SUV would be sold only in the US, and would be limited to a run of 1,500 units in total.
A Maybach based on the Mercedes Benz CLS is also being conceptualized, which would give Maybach it’s much needed mid-sized model.
I’m sure many of you know about the ultimate luxury car from the same group that brings you the Mercedes Benz S-class. The Maybach 57 and 62. The numbers refer to the length of the car. Either 5.7 meters or 6.2 meters.
They’ve recently outdone themselves with a special concept luxury coupe - The Maybach Exelero.
