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The Maybach is one of the worlds 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. The two new
Maybach models mark the return of the prestigious car brand 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, combines
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 unrivalled 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 Daimler Chrysler
decided to re-create the Maybach brand in its own right.
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