And Now… Maybach Deathwatch?
Daimler's Man in the Iron Mustache, Dr. Dieter Zetsche, told The Car Connection that Maybach may go the way of the Oldsmobile within the next two years. Zetsche said Maybach would either release an all-new model or go defunct. Dr Z openly admitted that "It's likely we'll not have a [positive] return on investment" for the brand. Luckily, "this does not matter." Last year, Daimler sold a whopping 146 Maybachs; roughly ten percent of the sales estimates bandied-about back when DaimlerChrylser revived the brand in 2002. As Zetsche doesn't expect the recently announced Landaulet to increase sales and Merc's launching AMG as a sub (uber?) brand, the odds are hight that Daimler will decide there's only room for one overpriced S-Class in their lineup and kiss Wilhelm Maybach's goodbye.
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This product was dumb from day 1. The only thing it has going for it is that the modern Rolls is even uglier. What exactly is the point of Mercedes-Benz if the name isn't good enough for the top-of-the-line?
Thank God this blot on the landscape will be gone. Stupid idea, worse execution.
That Exelero needs to be Maybach's all-new model. Judging from the proportions, I bet they could make it out of a stretched SLR platform as a 2+2 or 4 seater. It would be a lot cheaper than starting from scratch and less lame/derivative than reskinning the current offerings. It would sell like hotcakes and could be Maybach's "Continental GT" in terms of sales and popularity.
Though there's no good reason for it...it reminds me a little of a Monte Carlo.