Maybach Brand Officially Laid To Rest - Mercedes-Benz S600 Pullman Waits In The Wings
The writing was on the wall, but now it's official - the Maybach brand will be no more past the end of the 2012 model year. The ultra-luxury automaker, which was the brainchild of Mercedes-Benz, had failed to gain any real traction amongst the extremely well-heeled despite an attempt to link the company's history to the bespoke car company of the same name that operated in the early 20th century.
Maybach's unsuccessful gambit to compete with the likes of Rolls-Royce and Bentley was a significant stumble for Mercedes-Benz, which was forced to discount examples of the $400,000 automobile by nearly 25 percent earlier this year in an effort to move inventory. Already losing money on most editions of the conservatively-styled vehicle that were actually sold, the German luxury giant has elected to replace Maybach with a special edition of its top-of-the-line sedan, the Mercedes-Benz S600.
Dubbed the S600 Pullman, the vehicle could offered with the choice between three different wheelbases (one more than the two that could be had with the Maybach), and will be based on the next-generation of the S-Class, which should debut sometime in 2013. The S600 Pullman will most likely accentuate the aspects of the current S-Class that appeal to those who desire to be driven rather than drive themselves, which means that many of the vehicle's upgrades over the standard sedan will be aimed at improving the riding experience of the backseat passenger. This includes an extended passenger compartment with ample legroom for those sitting in the rear, as well as the possibility of a second set of seats that face the back of the car, limousine style. A number of different engine options, including a turbodiesel power plant as well as a high performance AMG edition, are said to be in the cards for the Pullman.