2010 Maybach range

2010 Maybach Landaulet

The Maybach marque is the luxury brand from Mercedes-Benz that has been designed to square up against BMW’s Rolls-Royce.

It was launched to the world in 2002 in New York after arriving in the docks on-board the QE2 and has found limited success around the world. Many of the criticisms levelled against the Maybach line-up are that it looks too much like a stretched S-Class.

The Maybach sedan is available in two different variants, the 57 and 62, which denote the length of each of the cars – 5.7metres and 6.2metres respectively. These are fitted with a 5.5-litre V12 with a colossal 550bhp of power. But if that’s not enough power for you, there’s always the S version that gains a bigger 6.0-litre engine and an extra 75bhp. These S models also get revised suspension to make them handle a little better through the corners. That’s not to say that they’re suddenly going to be transformed into sports cars – the most svelte Maybach still tips the scales at more than 2,700kg.

If you find the sedan model a little too normal for your tastes, there’s always the 62 Landaulet. This leviathan of modern motoring features a front cabin for driver and passenger that’s completely enclosed and a rear cabin that’s fitted with a convertible roof. This allows those in the back to stretch out on the leather seats and enjoy the sun whilst the driver toils away at the front.

Naturally, luxury is the Maybach’s raison-d’etre with massaging electric seats, the finest leather, fridges, high-class sound systems, automatic doors and a sunroof whose glass can turn opaque at the touch of a button all featuring. But even if your chosen feature doesn’t exist on the official price list, Maybach would be more than happy to create something unique just for you – for a price, of course.