The word magic has many definitions, none of which deal exclusively with cars. There are, however, a few select models to which the word applies. One of the most notable of these is the 2008 Maybach 62 S.
The Maybach is a testament to what a group of enormously talented individuals can accomplish given enough time, tools and creative freedom. The 62 S is the latest in a small army of ultra luxobarges from DaimlerChrylser, grabbing the baton from the 62 with a velvet-gloved iron fist and crowing itself the be-all and end-all of luxury cars.
The magic starts with the sheet metal. Looking somewhat like an S-class Mercedes, the Maybach has a noticeably subtle size advantage. The 62 S is more then 20 feet long (the S550s stretch out to about 17), weighs well about 6,000 pounds and sports massive 20-inch rims wrapped with heavy Michelin rubber. Simplistic, careful use of time tricks the mind into thinking the car is smaller than it really is. But, don’t believe it – it’s big. Very big. However, the daunting size of this car doesn’t diminish its elegance.
The Maybach features some of the thickets, deepest paints the world can buy. Rubbed to a mirror finish, you’ll swear you were staring through the looking glass into another world, which makes sense since the Maybach exists in another realm of automobilia.
The hocus pocus under the hood would make Merlin proud. A handmade V12 engine packs twin turbos and spins 612 horsepower and 738 pound-feet of torque through a 5-speed automatic so smooth, you’ll swear it has no gears. The plant is capable of whisking this mammoth car to 60 miles-per-hour in just over five seconds flat, and, chances are, you won’t really notice the whisking because the car is so well sprung and balanced. It’s as smooth as a magic carpet.
An astonishing brake system brings the beast to a half with Formula 1 enthusiasm. This is a magic trick in itself, considering the weight of the car and the speed at which it is capable of traveling. Again, you feel nothing but a slowing sensation and inertia tugging at your body to lean forward a bit. It would seem the drama of a Maybach is its lack of drama.
A battery of sound-deadening equipment and procedures has been built into the 62 S (and all Maybachs, for that matter) lending to a silence typically reserved for libraries. At first glance, there isnt’a lot that differentiates a 62 S from a 62, but a closer look reveals some subtle changes: new grille, rear apron and headlights for the exterior. Additionally, the interior receives a luxurious blend of carbon fiber and black lacquered wood.
In truth, no one Maybach is exactly like another, as each car is custom tailored to client specifications at Maybach Studios, which are located in the country’s toniest neighborhoods. Here, buyers consult with professional agents who demonstrate the various veneers, hides, carpets, metal appointments and electronic necessities that are available. Clients pick and choose exactly how they want their Maybach to look, selecting its precise amenities. It’s all about lifestyle. Would an elaborate entertainment system be more suitable, or a multimedia communications network to keep you connected to work? How about both? No problem. Recline any of the seats, pull the shades, tint the windows to darkness and watch a movie while the world around you slips by unnoticed. Or, crank up the jazz for a private concert. The interiors are places of pure indulgence and delight, with perfectly fitted edges, finishes, and well, everything else you can imagine.
While it might seem ostentatious to purchase a car of the Maybach’s scale, keep in mind that a lot executives use them to get around while keeping in touch with other places and people. It can be a rolling office, allowing you to conserve and use wisely a most previous business resource: time. Prepare drafts, send messages or check up on deals. The Maybach gives you the freedom of efficiency.
The true magic of the Maybach is the way in which the craftsmen and engineers combine intelligent design and extreme luxury in a single sleep package. Experience the magic for yourself at Mercedes-Benz of El Dorado Hills, 916-567-5100, eldoradohills.mercedescenter.com.
The History
Few automobile companies can boast such a colorful history as Maybach. After working for a good deal of time with Daimler, Wilhelm Maybach proved his engineering prowess when he, along with his son, Karl, agreed to produce an aircraft engine for Count Zeppelin. Zeppelin was a Maybach fan and in 1918 helped them found an engine company in which the Maybachs owned a 40 percent share. Soon after, they bagan building automobiles.
Their first car, the W3, debuted in 1921 at the Berlin auto show. An open car boasting an extremely rigid body and chassis, it was an opulent as any luxury brand, if not more so. But it was the Maybach technology that supplanted everything. The running gear was a 6-cylinder achievement, capable of propelling the car to about 80 miles-per-hour though a very docile transmission.
In Germany at that time, the cost of a Maybach was more or less equal to the cost of five middle-class homes. But to some, it was worth it. It was the ultimate expression of a car – “the pride of Germany” some said. Coachbuilders custom-built bodies for the Maybach chassis, furthering the exclusivity of the brand. Maybach also created the first German V12 engine and the first V12 automobile.
In all, only a few thousand classic Maybachs were produced until the company focused on the war in the 1940s. Today, only a handful of these survive, possibly a couple hundred at best. They command millions of dollars at auction, and the passionate people who own them raely part with them.. When DaimlerBenz revived the Maybach brand, they did well not to sell tne name short. In Germany, Wilhelm Maybach is still revered as one of the best designer-engineers ever, with three colleges named after him and a multitude of awards and accolades bestowed upon him. The Maybach magic lives on through a new generation of extremely luxurious and technologically robust automobiles.
