The Maybach 57 & 62 was one of the world’s most luxurious cars, while not as well known as names like Rolls Royce and Bentley, the name Maybach is steeped in tradition after becoming synonymous with impeccable quality, exclusive style and sophisticated engineering back in the 1920s and 30s. Two new Maybach models known as the Maybach 57 and 62 marked the return of the prestigious car brand in 1997 after an absence of over 60 years.
The new Maybach was first unveiled as a concept car at the Tokyo Motor Show in 1997, as the pinnacle of motoring luxury. The production version, which was unveiled in Spring 2002, combined the traditions of a large luxury saloon with a host of advanced technical features.
The model names Maybach 57 and Maybach 62 are a reference to the imposing length of the unique Saloons, whose body lengths of 5.73 and 6.17 metres respectively translate into unrivaled space and comfort.
The design, specification and technology of the Maybach Saloons meet even the most discerning expectations. Customers are able to choose from only the highest-quality materials for the interior appointments – beautifully soft leathers, fine carpeting and exquisite wood trims. These are complemented by state-of-the-art electronic systems such as the TV tuner, DVD player, CD changer, telephone and the universal Dolby surround sound system, which all make up part of the standard specification for both models. In addition to this, the Maybach 62 is equipped with newly developed individual seats in the rear, which can be adjusted into an extremely comfortable reclining position, with extending leg and footrests, all at the touch of a button. A refrigerated compartment in the rear, tilting/sliding sunroof and an elegant two-tone paint finish for the bodywork are all available at no extra cost. Very little plastic is used in the interior of the car and features like umbrella dryers and cup holders for champagne flutes that always stay upright when cornering are designed for the buyer of this type of car.
The Maybach brand was bought by Mercedes in 1966, at this time the company only produced diesel engines. The Maybach cars were produced to customer order between 1921 and 1941. Mercedes-Benz and Maybach have always had a great deal in common: Wilhelm Maybach was the technical director on the Board of the Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft (DMG), as it was then known, and in 1901 developed the first ever Mercedes which was to become the blueprint for all modern-day passenger cars. Gottlieb Daimler had first made the acquaintance of the brilliant designer in 1865 in Reutlingen and later worked together with him at Maschinenbaufabrik in Karlsruhe and Gasmotorenfabrik in Deutz. After ten years working in the Rhineland, with Maybach’s accomplishments already including preparing the four-stroke engine invented by Nikolaus Otto for series production, Daimler and Maybach returned to the South of Germany in 1882. Here, they worked together in the garden shed of Daimler’s villa in Cannstatt near Stuttgart, which over the course of the next few years was to become a hotbed of groundbreaking inventions in the field of automotive engineering. Their work together also laid the cornerstone for the Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft (DMG), which was established in 1890.
After leaving the Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft in 1907, Wilhelm Maybach, together with his son Karl, concentrated his efforts on building powerful engines for Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin’s airships from 1909 onwards. In 1912, they therefore relocated to Friedrichshafen on the banks of Lake Constance to be directly next to the Zeppelin airship construction plant. After 1919, Karl Maybach gained further renown by developing and designing luxury cars which were both highly exclusive as well as technically flawless, and went on to manufacture some 1800 models by 1941. Maybach Motorenbau GmbH later became MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH, which is now also under the wing of the DaimlerChrysler Group.
The original plan and concept car shown at the Tokyo motor show was called a Mercedes Benz Maybach, Since then Mercedes Benz decided to re-create the Maybach brand in its own right when it relaunched the brand. However by 2013 and only 3000 sales of the ultra luxury car Mercedes decided to stop production of the cars. Many claimed the brand was not well known enough to win over buyers who traditionally went for cars like a Rolls Royce or Bentley. Today the Maybach name lives on but not as a unique brand itself, a high level version of the Mercedes Benz G and S Class is available as the Mercedes Maybach. This version of the G and S Class features a higher class interior and higher price tag than the non Maybach branded car.
