Daimler says it will relaunch its flagship the Mercedes
Daimler (DAIGn.DE) has said it will launch new top end versions of its Mercedes-Benz S-Class, including a sports utility vehicle and a high-end luxury limousine adorned with the Maybach brand.
Daimler, which owns the Mercedes-Benz brand, said it would unveil the new Mercedes-Maybach S 600 limousine at the Guangzhou Motor Show and Los Angeles Auto Show this month. It’ll be 200mm longer than a long wheelbase S-Class offering more space than the old Maybach 57 model.
In 2012, Mercedes-Benz stopped making Maybach limousines after the vehicles, which were based on a unique design and costing around £230,000, failed to sell heavily enough.
At the time, Maybach vehicles were marketed as a separate brand from Mercedes-Benz. Among the owners were rap stars, oligarchs and royals including Russia’s Roman Abramovich, musician Jay-Z and King Juan Carlos of Spain.
,The new flagship model based on the S-Class and badged Mercedes-Maybach S600 will have what Mercedes describes as “The highest level of customisation and personalisation of Mercedes-Benz” with luxury leathers, metals and woods. Under the bonnet will be a 6.0-litre V12 with 530hp and 830nm of torque. There will also be an S500 V8 Maybach and an S400 4Matic.
The car is due on sale in spring 2015 with 600 models expected to make their way to the UK. The price is said to be £10k to £15k over an above what Mercedes charge for a long-wheelbase S-Class which would put the S600 version in the £130,000 ballpark.
