It had to happen. The Rolls Royce Drophead has been a total success. Not your everyday run-around admittedly, but clearly in a league of its own. So someone was going to stand up and be counted as competition, and the only real possibility (apart from the Arnage Drophead, aka Bentley Azure) was Mercedes with their Maybach. And here it is – The Maybach Landaulet.
Termed a ‘Design Study’, it’s clear this is destined for production, so look out for the Maybach Landaulet for sale, probably late 2008! And it is an impressive looking beast if, like its hardtop sibling, somewhat ostentatious. But that’s what the Maybachs are about – ostentation. And that, remarkably, is the big difference between the Rolls Royce and the Maybach. The Rolls Royce is a deeply traditional car; perfectly attuned to its market. Beautifully designed in a refined and understated way. The Maybach on the other hand is the ultimate ‘Bling’ Mercedes. Every gizmo and gadget crammed into a super stretched and bloated S Class. It appeals to ‘New Money’ (not that there is anything wrong with that); the ‘Playstation Generation’. Which is probably why the Rolls Royce Phantom has been a runaway success, but the Maybach (in 4 guises) has struggled to sell.
Simon Cowell runs a Maybach, which I find surprising as he seems to know his cars. But he justifies the Maybach over the Rolls by claiming if he’s going to be driven he wants to go first class, and in his opinion the Maybach is First Class. And maybe he’s right. Maybe the first-class cabin, all-singing, all-dancing individual recliners in the back, with every multi-media gadget at hand is the equivalent of being in B.A.’s First Class. But it’s not. It’s like being wrapped in the middle of a Rap Video. All you need is a few barely dressed lovelies draped across the parcel shelf to make the scene complete. It’s over the top. Garish. Brash. The Phantom, on the other hand, is like being cosseted in the best club in the world.
The Maybach Landaulet is based on the Maybach 62s, the ‘Sportier’ of the Maybach range, and the biggest. Unlike the Drophead, which is a true convertible, the Landaulet opens only at the back; the front – the peasants area – stays fully enclosed. The side walls also remain, giving a completely ‘enclosed’ open-top experience. A true Landaulet. Nothing else changes much over the 62s, so every bell and whistle remains intact, and the performance, from the uprated V12 in the 62s, puts out a prodigious 612bhp, so performance, even for such a huge car, is impressive.
It’s hard not to admire the Landaulet. It is a remarkable car. But for my money the Drophead takes the trophy. You pays your money and you takes your choice.
