DaimlerChrysler’s ultra-luxury brand Maybach, suffering from poor sales and a limited lineup, could expand its range with rumored convertible and SUV models in an effort to increase profitability. Though chances of a high-end SUV are slim, the likelihood of a convertible model based on the current 57 limo is high considering that sister-brand Mercedes-Benz has confirmed production of its own four-door luxury drop-top.
Sharing its underpinnings with the Maybach 57, the new cabrio will seat up to four passengers and is expected to be produced in a limited run of just 25 to 50 cars. UK’s Car reports that each model will be made to special order with the first deliveries likely to kick-in late next year.
The car will be differentiated from its sedan sibling thanks to a new grille, lights and bumpers, and it will likely feature an electrically operated soft-top as a folding metal roof would be too heavy and complex in a vehicle this size.
Maybach’s annual production stood at just 280 cars last year, a smidgen compared to its main rivals Bentley and Rolls-Royce, whose production levels range into the thousands. The story gets worse because both competitors are preparing new or updated models, which means Maybach will have to really kick it up a gear. via motorauthority
cherplex
07-11-07, 07:51 AM
Looks nice not sporty enough for me though
JessePS
07-11-07, 08:10 AM
Interesting.
The car will be differentiated from its sedan sibling thanks to a new grille, lights and bumpers, and it will likely feature an electrically operated soft-top as a folding metal roof would be too heavy and complex in a vehicle this size.
The story gets worse because both competitors are preparing new or updated models, which means Maybach will have to really kick it up a gear.
Complex would be great you can charge an arm and a leg, I don't think the people in the Middle East would mind a $700,000 convertible :thumbup:
Maybach has potential, it would be interesting if they do go with a SUV model, Rolls Royce would never do that and for sure Bentley wouldn't either, but I could be wrong. Actually I could see Bentley go into the SUV market seeign they went down market with the Continental GT.
Faymester
07-11-07, 09:55 AM
soft top? ... iiiiii dunno ... in an age when pontiac is doing hard top convertables, i'm not sure how some1 could justify a soft top.
Stage3
07-11-07, 11:31 AM
Yikes... :egads:
Nextourer
07-11-07, 11:44 AM
is it better than Richard Hammond's Limo convertible??? hahaha
Beltfed
07-11-07, 01:17 PM
soft top? ... iiiiii dunno ... in an age when pontiac is doing hard top convertables, i'm not sure how some1 could justify a soft top.
The most expensive verts in the world have soft tops.....Lambo, Ferrari, AM, Bentley, RR.
PhilipMSPT
07-11-07, 01:20 PM
If Bentley can do it, so should Maybach...
XeroK00L
07-11-07, 01:26 PM
soft top? ... iiiiii dunno ... in an age when pontiac is doing hard top convertables, i'm not sure how some1 could justify a soft top.Apparantly that doesn't stop the RR Drophead from getting a soft top.:uh:
Faymester
07-11-07, 03:11 PM
The most expensive verts in the world have soft tops.....Lambo, Ferrari, AM, Bentley, RR.
yes and i think its a little rediculous ... yes i understand the weight savings of it ... but they could just add more power to compensate for the weight of the hard top ... especially if there is room for the hard top system ... benz has hard top verts
all im saying is soft tops :thumbdn:
Beltfed
07-11-07, 03:34 PM
yes and i think its a little rediculous ... yes i understand the weight savings of it ... but they could just add more power to compensate for the weight of the hard top ... especially if there is room for the hard top system ... benz has hard top verts
Currently the SL has a hardtop, the CLK doesn't. That will probably change with the next gen as the BMW 3 now has a hardtop.
That aside, the 6series has a soft top, Jaguar XK has a soft top.
Soft tops have a traditional luxury look and also allow a designer to do more with a design....hard tops not as much.
Faymester
07-11-07, 06:40 PM
it occurred to me while i was chatting w. another member this afternoon ... most of you guy are in the states ... and may not completely understand why soft tops royally suck for any type of even remotely practicle applicaton
for the record: i love lambo [many of you know this], but i'd never buy a soft top lambo ... it's just too useless
also, i dont think soft tops help the design, they often make the windshield look stupid because the top of the windshield comes so far back over the driver
Beltfed
07-11-07, 09:38 PM
it occurred to me while i was chatting w. another member this afternoon ... most of you guy are in the states ... and may not completely understand why soft tops royally suck for any type of even remotely practicle applicaton
for the record: i love lambo [many of you know this], but i'd never buy a soft top lambo ... it's just too useless
also, i dont think soft tops help the design, they often make the windshield look stupid because the top of the windshield comes so far back over the driver
Like you live on another planet? You're in Canada!!!!
What does living in the U.S. have anything to do with understanding soft tops vs. hard tops?
Todays soft tops (on premium vehicles especially) are very good. Yeah, maybe for security purposes they aren't the best.
Whether you like them or not, soft tops give the designer and easier time to do what they want.
marshmallo
07-11-07, 10:04 PM
IMHO there is NO excuse to have a soft top on a car that is more
than 75K.
Beltfed
07-11-07, 10:40 PM
IMHO there is NO excuse to have a soft top on a car that is more
than 75K.
There is an excuse......hard tops take up room. Therefore not all premium cars can use a hard top due to design.
Faymester
07-12-07, 11:46 AM
Like you live on another planet? You're in Canada!!!!
What does living in the U.S. have anything to do with understanding soft tops vs. hard tops?
Todays soft tops (on premium vehicles especially) are very good. Yeah, maybe for security purposes they aren't the best.
Whether you like them or not, soft tops give the designer and easier time to do what they want.
I'm not saying living in the US makes you guys un/able to understand soft v hard tops ... only that we get serious weather here, and in vancouver especially, a LOT of rain ... dampness has got to be the worst feeling ever ... forget cold, forget ice, even forget heat ... if you're damp you're unhappy ... and with a soft top [i dont care how good the quality of it is] there's no good way to keep damp out
ok maybe you keep it in the garage when its damp ... thats 10 mo of the yr ... and guess what, your garage is the largest connection to outside your house has, so its STILL damp ... so that didn't really help much
How does the designer get an easier time w. a soft top? ... there's all kinds of extra reinforcements in the body that the designer has to account for when there's no fixed roof
oh, and: traditions are ment to evolve ... if everybody kept strictly w. tradition then there would be no tecchnological advancements because 'its just not done that way'