Babybach: DaimlerChyrsler announces lil' Maybach to follow baby Rolls

rahul_intlad · 16th October 2006, 00:29

BMW and Mercedes seem to always be caught up playing a game of "anything you can do, I can do better", so shortly after BMW's über-luxury brand Rolls-Royce announced it's extending the range down-market, Maybach is following suite.

The confirmation of the "baby Maybach" came from the very top: DaimlerChyrsler chairman Dr. Dieter Zetsche, who verified the new limo would be ready within four years, though the definitive decision has not yet been made over whether the new car will carry the three-pointed star (extending the Mercedes range up-market) or the double-M (broadening the Maybach range down-market). The smart money's on the Maybach, though, as the S-Class has always been Mercedes' range-topping luxury sedan.

Like BMW, whose line-up has a huge gap between the $120k 760Li and the $330k RR Phantom, Mercedes-Benz has nothing to cover the $200k-range left vacant in between the $140k S600 and the $335k Maybach 57. Currently, Bentley (owned by their mutual rival VW/Audi group) has the field to itself with the $165k Continental Flying Spur and $220k Arnage sedans.

The awkward Maybach range hasn't been quite the success DaimlerChrysler had been hoping for, so it'll be interesting to see how they do with a new quarter-million-dollar sedan.

[Source: Auto Express and autoblog.com]

ps:Small article hence directly copy pasting here itself

aniguchisan · 16th October 2006, 01:33

Design looks good to me. Hopefully, the final model will be a little outrageous, to make it worth the 250Gs.

speedzak · 16th October 2006, 01:33

Oh ho!!!! Nice man. Now, Ghutka wallah will buy one for his grandson I think.

ranjan united · 16th October 2006, 02:20

wow... talk about false hope. For a second there after reading about the baby Mayby, I was actually convinced that I could finally afford one in my garage. As Chris Issak said:"Wicked Game"

elf · 16th October 2006, 02:28

Oh great! Now finally a Maybach I can afford...

iraghava · 16th October 2006, 02:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by elf

Oh great! Now finally a Maybach I can afford...

Yeah no wonder you drive a 3-cylinder Lancer right now!!!!!!!!!!!!!

GTO · 16th October 2006, 09:36

Why go through the trouble? It would have been better if they had priced the current Mayback more competitively. After all, it really is just a little more car than the S-Class...not 4 - 5 times more as the price would indicate.

And please make it look decent. The current Maybach looks horribly weird.

Sahil · 16th October 2006, 10:01

They will be killing the Maybach brand image by launching this model.
The whole point of a maybach is exclusivity for many buyers, they will gain higher sales but loose the brand image in the long run.

Jay · 16th October 2006, 10:49

Looks pretty good, need to wait for 4 years... $250k ???

ajinkya · 16th October 2006, 11:08

I agree with Sahil and GTO.
They'll do themselves more harm than good in the long run

Sahil · 16th October 2006, 12:10

Also, if DM is so desperate to fill up that price bracket,they should add another model line up under the Mercedes-Benz stable.
They have added the GL and R class to increase their SUV/Van segment,then why not come up with a new line better than the S-class rather than involve the Maybach name.

GTO · 16th October 2006, 12:34

I disagree Sahil. For decades, the S has always been the Benz flagship and the most extreme "uber" sedan. The positioning alone has got them countless buyers.

merve_extreme · 16th October 2006, 12:48

This maybach is going to be in response to the smaller Rolls that is comming out,so i think it will do well without affecting Maybach image too much.

but first Mercedes has to decide wether they want to go for technology or for old world comfort.if they opt for technology they will have to go one up on the S-class or if they go for old world charm they have to out do the Roller.both very difficult tasks.lets see what they come up with.

naveendhyani · 19th October 2006, 10:31

with all this running around to make a smaller car, i guess soon we will see a "S" class smart car.

Boom Shiva · 19th October 2006, 10:44

It's better to experiment with the Maybach brand which isn't doing all that well, rather than the firmly established S Class. So the concept of the Babybach is pretty good.

Now have to see if the car is worth it.

16th October 2006, 00:29	#1
rahul_intlad Senior - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Pune Posts: 1,579 Thanked: 4 Times	Babybach: DaimlerChyrsler announces lil' Maybach to follow baby Rolls BMW and Mercedes seem to always be caught up playing a game of "anything you can do, I can do better", so shortly after BMW's über-luxury brand Rolls-Royce announced it's extending the range down-market, Maybach is following suite. The confirmation of the "baby Maybach" came from the very top: DaimlerChyrsler chairman Dr. Dieter Zetsche, who verified the new limo would be ready within four years, though the definitive decision has not yet been made over whether the new car will carry the three-pointed star (extending the Mercedes range up-market) or the double-M (broadening the Maybach range down-market). The smart money's on the Maybach, though, as the S-Class has always been Mercedes' range-topping luxury sedan. Like BMW, whose line-up has a huge gap between the $120k 760Li and the $330k RR Phantom, Mercedes-Benz has nothing to cover the $200k-range left vacant in between the $140k S600 and the $335k Maybach 57. Currently, Bentley (owned by their mutual rival VW/Audi group) has the field to itself with the $165k Continental Flying Spur and $220k Arnage sedans. The awkward Maybach range hasn't been quite the success DaimlerChrysler had been hoping for, so it'll be interesting to see how they do with a new quarter-million-dollar sedan. [Source: Auto Express and autoblog.com] ps:Small article hence directly copy pasting here itself
	() Thanks

16th October 2006, 01:33	#2
aniguchisan Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: London, UK Posts: 2,022 Thanked: 123 Times View My Garage	Design looks good to me. Hopefully, the final model will be a little outrageous, to make it worth the 250Gs.
	() Thanks

16th October 2006, 01:33	#3
speedzak BANNED Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: India Posts: 4,347 Thanked: 27 Times	Oh ho!!!! Nice man. Now, Ghutka wallah will buy one for his grandson I think.
	() Thanks

16th October 2006, 02:20	#4
ranjan united BHPian Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Windsor, Canada... But still a Bombay-Boy at heart !!! Posts: 409 Thanked: 3 Times	wow... talk about false hope. For a second there after reading about the baby Mayby, I was actually convinced that I could finally afford one in my garage. As Chris Issak said:"Wicked Game"
	() Thanks

16th October 2006, 02:28	#5
elf BANNED Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Bombay Posts: 1,039 Thanked: 13 Times View My Garage	Oh great! Now finally a Maybach I can afford...
	() Thanks

16th October 2006, 09:36	#7
GTO Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 70,512 Thanked: 300,698 Times View My Garage	Why go through the trouble? It would have been better if they had priced the current Mayback more competitively. After all, it really is just a little more car than the S-Class...not 4 - 5 times more as the price would indicate. And please make it look decent. The current Maybach looks horribly weird.
	() Thanks

16th October 2006, 10:01	#8
Sahil Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: May 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 6,292 Thanked: 7,607 Times	They will be killing the Maybach brand image by launching this model. The whole point of a maybach is exclusivity for many buyers, they will gain higher sales but loose the brand image in the long run.
	() Thanks

16th October 2006, 10:49	#9
Jay BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 819 Thanked: 8 Times	Looks pretty good, need to wait for 4 years... $250k ???
	() Thanks

16th October 2006, 11:08	#10
ajinkya BHPian Join Date: May 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 30 Thanked: Once	I agree with Sahil and GTO. They'll do themselves more harm than good in the long run
	() Thanks

16th October 2006, 12:10	#11
Sahil Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: May 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 6,292 Thanked: 7,607 Times	Also, if DM is so desperate to fill up that price bracket,they should add another model line up under the Mercedes-Benz stable. They have added the GL and R class to increase their SUV/Van segment,then why not come up with a new line better than the S-class rather than involve the Maybach name.
	() Thanks

16th October 2006, 12:34	#12
GTO Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 70,512 Thanked: 300,698 Times View My Garage	I disagree Sahil. For decades, the S has always been the Benz flagship and the most extreme "uber" sedan. The positioning alone has got them countless buyers.
	() Thanks

16th October 2006, 12:48	#13
merve_extreme Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 1,359 Thanked: 18 Times View My Garage	This maybach is going to be in response to the smaller Rolls that is comming out,so i think it will do well without affecting Maybach image too much. but first Mercedes has to decide wether they want to go for technology or for old world comfort.if they opt for technology they will have to go one up on the S-class or if they go for old world charm they have to out do the Roller.both very difficult tasks.lets see what they come up with.
	() Thanks

19th October 2006, 10:31	#14
naveendhyani BHPian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Melbourne Posts: 542 Thanked: 9 Times	with all this running around to make a smaller car, i guess soon we will see a "S" class smart car.
	() Thanks

19th October 2006, 10:44	#15
Boom Shiva BANNED Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Mumbai Posts: 1,055 Thanked: 18 Times	It's better to experiment with the Maybach brand which isn't doing all that well, rather than the firmly established S Class. So the concept of the Babybach is pretty good. Now have to see if the car is worth it.
	() Thanks