Maybach 57 and Maybach 62

Maybach - Equipment and appointments to meet every wish

Even more extensive luxury equipment meets individual customer requirements

New tailor-made hotel fittings and business packages

Stylish elegance and flawless quality – tradition sets the tone

Ground-breaking technology ensures exemplary safety and unbeatable comfort

Detroit, Jan 09, 2005 Maybach – a byword for perfection. Over the last two years, this illustrious car maker has reassumed the mantle it first took up in the 1920s and 30s as a synonym for timeless automotive beauty, hand-crafted precision and technical expertise. Since new life was breathed into the Maybach brand in 2002, it has set about reestablishing itself at the top table of the luxury car elite with the same ambitions and aspirations as its celebrated predecessors, setting the standard in this small but highly prestigious market segment.

Maybach sees fulfilling the equipment requirements of its discerning clientele to the highest standards as one of the key elements in securing this leading position. To achieve this, the high-end luxury brand has given its range of ex-works optional equipment – which already numbered over two million items – another significant boost. The extras list now includes a tailor-made business package and vehicles configured specially for use by top hotels. At the same time, such design as gold-plated trim elements (replacing chrome applications) and the owners' initials incorporated into the interior are also possible.

The brand has developed a highly focused strategy to meet the specific requirements and desires of its elite customers, with the continuing expansion of its range of official optional equipment available ex works representing one key pillar. In addition, the Maybach engineers can also accommodate even more specific requests from individual customers. This successful approach of open-ended individualisation is set to continue into the future and presents Maybach customers with a world of countless possibilities when it comes to fitting out their Saloon to their personal tastes and requirements.

Customers' dreams come true: individual requirements made to measure

Maybach has developed and produced a variant of its Saloon that meets the special demands of top-of-the-line international hotels, with numerous details and technical solutions tailored to the daily demands of the hotel industry and the use of vehicles by a frequently changing clientele. New and easily accessible stowage compartments in the rear of the vehicle can be used to hold hot towels, for example, for the passengers on board. The interior is dominated by materials boasting the exquisite finish and quality workmanship which have become a Maybach hallmark, as well as an impressive degree of durability. Particular attention was paid to the boot area and how it will be used for hotel services. A special Maybach cover, for example, ensures that valuable items of luggage are well protected.

For business users, the Maybach is also available complete with a comprehensive range of business solutions, from Internet access to fax services and a printer. Wireless Bluetooth technology allows the integration of the customer's own notebook computer into the vehicle.

Maybach development engineers have also fulfilled a very special customer request, plating all chrome trim elements inside the car with an extremely thin layer of 24-carat gold and bringing a distinctive brilliance to the Maybach Saloon's interior. Meanwhile, a gold lacquer that matches the gold in the interior has been selected for the wheels and applied using a pioneering new process.

The interior of another variant sees the incorporation of additional new materials, whilst alternative processing techniques create a fresh interpretation of the luxury Saloon's fine workmanship and comfort. Double-sewn seams in the vehicle's leather seats and deep-pile lambskin carpeting are among the high-comfort accessories imbued with the distinctive signature of time-honoured luxury.

Personalisation to perfection

Among the special touches typically requested are family coats of arms and the owner's initials added to prominent locations in the Maybach's interior, whilst exquisitely chromed wheels and special colour finishes for the paintwork, wood trim and leather also feature towards the top of the wish list. Around one in ten Maybach customers cast their gaze beyond the extensive range of optional equipment to quench their own thirst for individualisation.

Discretion and security with a partition and special protection system

Customers for whom discretion takes top priority can order a special vertically adjustable glass partition for the Maybach 62 — as long as this is permitted in the country in which the vehicle is used. At the touch of a button, the electro-transparent glass partition blocks visibility to the rear of the vehicle. Alternatively, a curtain can be ordered to cover the glass screen.

Also available for the Maybach 62 is the Maybach Guard special protection package. Shielding the car's passengers against attacks from the outside, Maybach Guard meets the High-Protection standards set out in European protection level B4.

Alternative rear seating configuration

For those customers wishing to travel with up to three passengers in the rear, Maybach offers an alternative seating configuration featuring a central rear seat. This variant retains the two luxurious individual rear seats and replaces the standard centre console with a third seat. The arrangement of this additional seat's backrest guarantees a consistently high level of seating comfort for all three passengers. In those vehicles fitted with a third rear seat, the controls normally located in the centre console for operating and adjusting the curtain, lights and entertainment facilities are integrated into a compact Palmtop. This wireless “remote control” is located in a special holder in the back of the front passenger seat.

Variety with 24 different body variants

Both the top-of-the-range 6.17-metre-long Maybach 62 and the Maybach 57, with a length of 5.73 metres, can be ordered with either left-hand drive or right-hand drive, whilst the Maybach 62 is also available with the Maybach Guard special protection package. Customers can choose to order their Saloon with a completely closed roof, a solar roof or a sliding sunroof. The latter two options can be installed either in the traditional position at the front of the car, or at the rear. With an electro-transparent panoramic glass roof also on the extras list, Maybach customers can tailor their desired Saloon from a total of 24 different body variants.

A tribute to Wilhelm Maybach, the design engineer behind the first Mercedes

Designed with meticulous attention to detail, built in a state-of-the-art manufacturing factory and kitted out with 21st-century automotive technology, the Maybach 57 and Maybach 62 are writing the next chapter in the history of the renowned Maybach cars of the 1920s and 30s, which stood alongside Mercedes-Benz models as some of the finest examples of automotive excellence worldwide.

The Mercedes-Benz and Maybach automotive brands have much in common besides a long and distinguished tradition. Wilhelm Maybach (1846–1929), a long-time companion of Gottlieb Daimler (1834–1900), held the post of technical director at Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft (DMG) and was the brains behind the construction of the first Mercedes, the template for all modern-day passenger cars, in 1901. For this reason, Maybach was much admired and known as the “king of designers”.

In 1907 Wilhelm Maybach – who took his place in the European Automotive Hall of Fame in Geneva in March 2004 – left DMG, joining forces with his son Karl in 1909 to build powerful engines for the airships produced by Graf Ferdinand von Zeppelin. In the years after 1919 Karl Maybach (1879–1960) – by then based in Friedrichshafen on the shores of Lake Constance – made quite a name for himself through the development and construction of exclusive and technically flawless luxury cars. This name was to become a byword for superior quality. The Maybach brand went on to earn itself a reputation as a purveyor of decidedly aristocratic vehicles with a unique stylistic flair and established itself as one of the world's most distinguished and illustrious car makers. By 1941, Karl Maybach had built around 1800 of these high-class vehicles, with the bodies painstakingly designed and equipped by specialist firms according to the customers' specifications.

The flagship Maybach model was the DS 8 “Zeppelin” of 1931. At some 5.5 metres in length, the “Zeppelin” ranked as one of the most prestigious German cars of its time “a car of the greatest elegance and power which you would give your last wish to own,” as a Maybach brochure put it. The “Zeppelin” displayed qualities such as innovative technology, reliability, solidity, flawless manufacturing and superiority in everyday use on the road, putting the “MM” up there with the Mercedes three-pointed star in the pantheon of automotive greats.

The market: a small segment with big expectations

Today, DaimlerChrysler feels an obligation to live up to this lofty billing. Over the course of the last few years, the Maybach luxury car brand has reestablished itself at the very pinnacle of a small, but highly exclusive market segment populated by customers with the highest expectations in terms of technology, design and quality. Established in all the key regions of the world according to the template of Sindelfingen's Center of Excellence, the exclusive Maybach Centers attract a wealth of visitors every day. Their aim is to offer prospective customers the chance to experience the extraordinary Maybach Saloons up close and above all enjoy an outstanding level of personal consultancy in putting together their ideal car according to their own personal requirements. In order to ensure that the highest possible level of consultancy expertise is available at all times and in all places, exclusive Maybach Centers have already opened in America, Western Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. In addition, presentation areas for the Maybach Saloons have been set up at selected Mercedes-Benz dealerships.

Asia is currently the leading growth market for high-end luxury saloons. For instance, the first Chinese Maybach owners were presented with the keys to their new cars in Beijing in June 2004, whilst Maybach Saloons can also be seen out on the road in South Korea.

The interior: a luxury lounge on wheels

Both the Maybach Saloons set new standards, particularly on the inside. Unobtrusive and yet all-pervasive, the key word here is luxury in its purest form; the interiors of the 57 and 62 exude stylish elegance and unrivalled flawlessness in every detail.

First impressions of the interior are dominated by its remarkable spaciousness.

The interior length measured from the accelerator heel point of the driver to the backrests of the rear seats stands at 2245 millimetres in the Maybach 57 and 2682 millimetres in the Maybach 62.
The distance between the seats (from the front seat reference point to the rear seat reference point) stands at 1133 / 1570 millimetres.
The lateral distance from seat centre axis to seat centre axis in the front of the car stands at 840 millimetres.
The boot capacity also clearly exceeds the levels which have hitherto been the norm for this vehicle class, standing at 605 litres around 40 per cent more than other luxury cars. The Maybach's luggage compartment is therefore large enough to accommodate five large suitcases or four golf bags.

Rear passengers, in particular, are given the VIP treatment and are invited to enjoy the wonderful opulence of what is effectively a luxurious lounge on wheels. Opening through an angle of 85 degrees, the large rear doors serve as gateways into this distinguished world and ensure that even getting in and out of the Maybach's palatial surrounds is an experience in itself.

Two wonderfully comfortable individual seats positively invite the rear passengers to sit back and relax, wasting no time in lavishing them with the exceptional quality of the Maybach interior. Grand nappa – one of the finest of all leathers and finished with an unprecedented standard of care – shows slight folds as it extends alluringly over the seats, ensuring that the surfaces are unusually soft and comfortable. Customers can choose from six tasteful trim colours, which can be ordered in two-tone specification as an option.

Fine wood trim: as many as 100 hand-crafted trim elements

A selection of exquisite woods team up with the top-quality leather trim to define the character of the Maybach's interior, which exudes a lounge atmosphere of unparalleled exclusivity. The discerning Maybach customers can choose from up to 100 different wood trim elements to embellish the surfaces of the interior, the insides of the doors and the centre consoles – each painstakingly hand-crafted and individually selected by experienced specialists to ensure a matching grain and colour shade. The Maybach Saloons are available with three fine wood veneers:

Cherry: a light-coloured wood with a generous, arched grain for the area around the centre console. Comes with a contrasting jet-black, impact-resistant, high-gloss piano lacquer application;
Amboyna: an exquisite reddish-brown wood with a fine, circular grain;
Burr walnut: a brown, finely grained veneer from the root of the Californian walnut tree.

It's certainly true to say that leather and fine wood set the tone in the interior of the Maybach and shape its distinguished interior ambience. Soft Alcantara is used on interior trim details, whilst high-quality velour carpeting rounds off the ensemble of materials. Further fine woods and surface finishes are available as options.

Interior lighting: using light as a design feature

The designers of the Maybach interior used light as a defining element in the car's creation. In addition to the lights which come on automatically when the doors are opened and reading lights which can be switched on at the touch of a button, they also developed an ambient lighting system. This creates a pleasant, diffused lighting which remains switched on even when the car is moving, to provide a special atmosphere in the interior.

Without doubt the highlight of this sophisticated lighting concept is the remarkable electro-transparent panoramic glass roof for the Maybach 62. It covers the roof lining above the rear passengers like an atrium, allowing light to flood the rear compartment and giving the passengers a rare degree of control over the illumination of their surroundings. It features a liquid crystal membrane of conductive polymer plastic. When the AC voltage is switched on, the crystals are arranged in the plastic membrane in such a way that the glass becomes transparent and allows daylight into the rear of the Maybach 62 over its entire area. However, as soon as the power is switched off, the liquid crystals lose their transparent arrangement and the light is fragmented in all directions. The glass becomes nearly opaque and filters the daylight to produce a pleasant, diffused glow. This electrically operated transparency function is also used in the partition screen which can be ordered in certain countries as an option.

An electrically driven sliding liner rounds off the luxurious lighting package. Its electro-luminescent membrane can be switched on at the touch of a button when closed, emitting a pleasant, diffused light over its entire surface. A potentiometer in the rear console of the Maybach 62 gives the rear passengers complete control over the illumination of the membrane and strength of the ambient lighting.

The seats: multicontour backrests enhance health and comfort

Ensuring maximum seating comfort in both the front and rear is the sophisticated spring core principle with its unrivalled vibration damping characteristics. Foamed elements provide the spring core with extra support and further improve damping. Electric fore-and-aft, seat angle and backrest adjustment with memory function, as well as seat heating and multicontour backrests with dynamic lumbar support are also part of standard specification for the rear seats. Pneumatically adjustable air cushions and a program-controlled massage function allow the multicontour backrests to enhance seating comfort even further. Pressing the “Pulse” button fills or empties the central air cushion of the lumbar region at precisely defined intervals and with varying intensity. Orthopaedic studies have found that this relieves the stress on back muscles and stimulates the vertebral metabolism. The gentle back massage continues for five minutes and can be repeated at any time.

Customers can also order the rear seats of their Maybach with active seat ventilation as an option. Eight miniature fans in each of the two seats cause air to flow evenly from the perforations in the seat surface through special air ducts and a permeable fabric. This ensures a pleasant seat temperature. The airflow can be adjusted in three stages. Needless to say, the integral seats provide their full protection in the event of an accident, regardless of position.

The reclining seats: sit back and relax

In the Maybach 62, innovative new reclining seats take passenger comfort to new levels. Their headline feature is the unique reclining position, which travellers have previously only been able to enjoy in the first-class sections of modern passenger aircraft. All the rear passenger has to do is call up a pre-programmed reclining position at the touch of a button and the backrest slowly tilts backwards by up to 47 degrees. At the same time, a lower leg support and a manually folding footrest fold out to the front from the underside of the seat. Now everything is in place for the passenger to enjoy the journey in an extremely relaxing reclined position. An electronic control unit monitors the complex adjustment process and ensures that the logical sequence is followed. The memory function, which can store the settings for up to three individual seating positions, makes using the new seats much easier: at a single touch of a button, the reclining seat will adjust itself to the passenger's personal comfort preferences.

As well as unbeatable levels of comfort, the newly developed reclining seats in the Maybach 62 also offer an extremely high standard of safety – in every position. The restraint system of belt tensioner, belt force limiter and sidebag is integrated into the backrest, ensuring that the rear passengers are also protected when their seat is in a reclined position. Further safety features include the innovative crash-responsive backrest, which straightens up from the reclined position in the event of a frontal impact, and the tensioners on the belt buckles, which also tighten the lap belt if a crash occurs.

In addition to enjoying the benefits of a prestigious and comfortable luxury saloon, the Maybach models' owners may also need to use them on occasion as a mobile office. With this in mind the Maybach engineers in Sindelfingen have developed a folding table made from aluminium cut from the solid for each of the two rear seats. The surface of each table is split into two and their tops are trimmed with high-quality wood which fits in neatly with the interior. The folding tables (fitted as standard in the Maybach 62) are accommodated in compartments on either side of the rear centre console so as to save space, and can be pulled out and unfolded with the minimum of fuss using a leather loop.

The rear console: the focal point for entertainment, communications and enjoyment

A host of stowage compartments are on hand for the rear passengers to store away both large and smaller items. Indeed, there are ten stowage compartments in the lavishly designed interior door trim of the Maybach 62 alone (eight in the Maybach 57). However, the centrepiece of the stowage compartment concept in the rear of the luxury Saloon is provided by the multifunction centre console between the seats. This is where the Maybach engineers have grouped together all the elements which serve to enhance the rear passengers' entertainment and enjoyment during the journey. There is a DVD player, CD changer for six CDs, two telephones, a refrigerator compartment with separate electric compressor, plus an intelligent system which holds a champagne bottle and glasses securely in place.

The Maybach engineers have integrated three attractively designed circular instruments into an overhead panel in the roof lining of the luxury Saloon which keep the rear passengers constantly informed of the vehicle's current speed, the outside temperature and the time.

Climate control: two separate systems ensure exemplary cooling performance

The Sindelfingen-based engineers have developed an unparalleled climate control system capable of regulating the climate inside the hugely spacious Maybach with impressive efficiency. Both the high-end luxury Saloons are equipped with two leading-edge automatic climate control systems – one for the front section of the car and a separate second unit for the rear compartment. Sensors allow the air conditioning systems to respond to the temperature and air humidity, the intensity of the sun and the level of pollution in the outside air.

In order to ensure efficient ventilation of the interior when the Maybach engine is switched off, the high-end luxury Saloon can also be ordered as an option with a specially developed solar module, which is accommodated in the front or rear section of the roof, depending on the model variant. A total of 30 solar cells spread over an area measuring around a half a square metre convert the sunlight into electrical energy, generating an output of up to 63 watts. The solar current begins to flow as soon as the ignition is switched off, driving the ventilation fan in the front climate control system. This then circulates a constant flow of fresh air throughout the interior.

Airbags: inflate according to the severity of the accident

A highly effective adaptive restraint system offers occupant protection of the highest order. The system is referred to as “adaptive” since the airbags on the driver's and front passenger side of the car automatically adapt to the severity of the impact. In addition, the electronics register the weight of the front passenger and also take into account this value when deploying the front passenger airbag according to the situation in hand.

Up-front acceleration sensors mounted on the radiator cross member of the front-end structure allow the severity of a collision to be determined at an early stage, providing the necessary basis for adaptive airbag deployment. The information collected by the sensors allows the front airbags to inflate in two stages, in response to the nature of the crash. In the event of a minor frontal collision, the electronic control unit only activates one stage of the two-stage airbag gas generators and the airbags are inflated at low pressure. However, if the system detects a severe head-on impact it also activates some five to 15 milliseconds later the second stages of the airbag generators. The airbags are then deployed at higher pressure and are able to offer the vehicle occupants a level of protection which matches the severity of the accident.

The three-point seat belts with automatic comfort-fit, high-performance belt tensioners and belt force limiters – the indispensable basic components of the latest occupant protection systems – are integrated into the seats of the high-end luxury Saloon. This helps to ensure that the belt can be worn correctly regardless of the seat position and can therefore provide full protection at all times. A slot enables the shoulder strap to slide up and down to adapt to the shoulder height of the driver and front passenger.

With standard-fitted sidebags at every seat and two windowbags on either side of the interior, the Maybach's restraint system also meets the highest standards in terms of side impact protection.

The electronics: music, and much more besides

Passengers in the new Maybach do not have to compromise on first-class entertainment, up-to-date information or excellent telecommunications just because they're out on the road. The standard-fitted DVD player, TV receiver and car radio system gives them everything they need to put together their own entertainment programme. Plus, they also have the option of connecting external devices such as a camcorder, MP3 player or video game station.

Operating the various pieces of equipment is easy, thanks to a wireless infrared remote control and menus which appear on the two colour monitors in the back of the front seat backrests. The cutting-edge TFT flat-screen technology (9.5-inch screen) can also be used to watch films on DVD, as well as TV programmes. The DVD player and CD changer (for six CDs) can be found in the centre console between the rear seats. The latest electronic entertainment technology – in the shape of a newly developed Bose Surround Everywhere sound system – takes centre stage in the new Maybach models. The interior of the luxury Saloon can thus effectively be converted into a mobile concert hall, where each of the four passengers enjoys the pleasure of digital Dolby surround sound.

A mobile phone is integrated into a special compartment in the dashboard, whilst under the padded armrest in the centre console of the rear compartment the passengers will find an additional mobile phone and the cordless handset for the fixed-installation telephone. A second handset for the fixed-installation system is also provided and can be found in a special compartment in the dashboard. The two telephone systems are linked up to the car telephone's central send-and-receive unit via Bluetooth radio technology, allowing the interior to remain totally cable-free.

For the driver and front passenger, the COMAND APS system in the centre console is the central display and control unit for a host of functions. This electronic nerve centre comes with a large TFT colour display (6.5-inch), a DVD drive and, in conjunction with the fixed-installation telephone, a wide range of mobile communications functions, including the Short Message Service (SMS), WAP and e-mail.

The design: harmonious proportions and classic forms

The exterior of the Maybach 57 and Maybach 62 high-end luxury cars provides further evidence of their ability to meet the expectations of people with the highest standards in terms of quality, elegance and lifestyle. The cars' overall lines and detailed styling define their majestic character, emphasising their uniqueness and lending them an unmistakeable identity. In this way, every Maybach gives the impression of a 21st-century work of art on wheels.

All harmonious proportions and classic lines, the high-end Saloons represent size in its most elegant form. The Maybach 57 and Maybach 62 strike the perfect balance between traditional luxury and contemporary elegance, setting them immediately apart from the crowd and highlighting their inimitable stylistic allure. The designers have blended smooth, elongated lines with gracefully chiselled forms, giving the body a wonderfully flowing presence. The proportions – the relatively long front end and short rear – reinforce this impression and combine with the striking contours of the Maybach's nose to give the car a powerful dynamism.

A close-up look into the headlamps provides further evidence of the Maybach engineers' extraordinary eye for detail. The lenses of the bi-xenon headlamps bear the double-M emblem of Maybach Manufaktur – an original contribution to product identity which is at the same time reminiscent of the legendary Maybach DS 7 “Zeppelin” of 1930, whose headlamp lenses also bore the company trademark.

Timelessness is another outstanding feature of the Maybach's high-quality design. The Saloon's lines are designed to maintain an enduring aesthetic appeal – both from the outside and as far as the interior is concerned. Whichever way you look at it, the Maybach is a car for life.

The bodywork: better safe than sorry

The principle of intelligent lightweight construction played a central role in the development of the large and imposing Maybach Saloon. Indeed, the bodyshell, including all detachable body parts, tips the scales at “only” 586 kilograms (Maybach 62: 622 kilograms), and yet has still passed the stringent crash tests with flying colours and proves itself capable of offering a high level of safety. The credit for this achievement goes not only to the intelligent body construction, but also to the increased use of high-strength steel alloys. The engineers have managed to generate maximum strength (= safety), whilst using a minimum amount of material (= weight). The use of aluminium for eight large components – the roof, bonnet, doors and front wings – also contributes to the exceptionally low weight of the Maybach body. The boot lid and spare wheel well are made of high-quality glass-fibre reinforced plastics.

The drive system: majestic power

Three attributes of the legendary Maybach twelve-cylinder engine of 1929 also represented key aims in the development of the new “Type 12” powerplant: output, smoothness and longevity.

The 5.5-litre bi-turbo Maybach engine develops 405 kW/550 hp and a peak torque of 900 Newton metres. These imposing performance figures give the “Type 12” powerplant a clear edge in terms of output and torque over its rivals in the series-produced saloon engine market and ensure that the new Maybach models handle any driving situation with the ease and authority you would expect of the brand.

The Maybach 57 accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 5.2 seconds (Maybach 62: 5.4 seconds);
Its prodigious torque powers it from 60 to 120 km/h in only 6.2 seconds (Maybach 62: 6.5 seconds);
The electronically limited maximum speed of 250 km/h is reached quickly and in majestic fashion.

The twin turbochargers aspirate the twelve-cylinder unit with a maximum charge pressure of 1.3 bar. The space-saving positioning of the twin turbochargers' turbines in the exhaust manifold maximises their efficiency. A wastegate control system enables the flow of exhaust gases to the turbines to be adapted to the current operating point of the engine.

The chassis: everything under control

Safety, comfort and handling were key aspects which characterised the design and development of the Maybach chassis. To fulfil its aims in these three areas, the luxury car maker introduced ground-breaking innovations developed by its sister brand Mercedes-Benz, equipping the new models to set the standard in the high-end luxury car segment.

The electronically controlled air suspension system AIRMATIC DC (Dual Control) is the Maybach's ticket to a new dimension in ride comfort, demonstrating that a prestigious saloon can also display outstanding agility and driving dynamism. The system combines actively controlled air suspension with the Adaptive Damping System (ADS II), allowing it to control the springs and damping in equal measure. ADS II adjusts the force of the shock absorbers in response to the condition of the road, driving style and load. Meanwhile, rubber bellows located in the axle systems and filled with compressed air ensure a comfortable suspension setting.

In addition to large, internally ventilated brake discs on the front and rear axles, the new Maybach is also fitted with the electrohydraulic braking system Sensotronic Brake Control (SBC™). The Sindelfingen-based engineers further developed this technology for use in the luxury Saloon, adapting it to generate the extra braking power required. Add to SBC™ the combined benefits of ESP®, ASR, ABS and Brake Assist, and it is clear that the Maybach is equipped with the most state-of-the-art and effective control systems available.