You know the Mercedes-Benz S600, the top-of-the-range sedan from one of the world's greatest automakers. The roominess of Montana, the solidity of Buckingham Palace, enough electronics to embarrass a 767, and the extravagant muscle of a 550-horsepower V-12. Truly, an overwhelming machine--and priced at what to many is an overwhelming $115,865.



Now imagine the Mercedes you'd have if you multiplied that sticker by three.


If you find it difficult to picture a $350,000 conveyance that doesn't have a rudder--just wait. This May, at some 75 specially selected Mercedes dealerships across the U.S., DaimlerChrysler will introduce two all-new models that raise the luxury-performance bar so high, you'll need to hire a Sherpa to see it.

Don't call them Mercedes. The two new sedans, called the 57 and the 62, carry hood ornaments bearing double Ms. The letters stand for Maybach Manufaktur, a new DC brand that pays homage to German engineers Wilhelm Maybach and his son, Karl, who formed a company that from 1919 to 1941 produced some of the world's finest sedans. Daimler-Benz acquired a majority stake in the firm in 1960. The new Maybach (pronounced my-bock) is DC's bid to out-excess Rolls-Royce, which is now owned by BMW, and Bentley, the property of VW, in the mega Grey Poupon leagues.

What does $350K get you? Think "custom-made." Buyers can visit the new Maybach Center of Excellence in Sindelfingen, Germany, and choose from an array of exterior colors, glove-soft leathers, gorgeous woods, and pampering options. Each Maybach dealer also will offer a computerized outfitting system that previews 3D renderings of your choices on a plasma TV.

Picture "hotel suite"--and a five-star one, at that. Passengers are treated to a standard video system (including DVD player, TV receiver, and two 9.5-inch flat screens), a Bose-engineered Dolby surround-sound audio system with 21 speakers and 600 watts of power, two cell-phones, and pop-out writing desks. In the 62, buyers also can opt for an electro-transparent panoramic roof that adjusts from clear to fully opaque. After we discovered the available rear-seat refrigerator, we joked to Maybach Brand Manager Wayne Killen, "What? No cigar humidor?"

Killen didn't even blink: "That's available as an option."

Think "room." The Maybach 62, named for its nearly 6.2-meter length, is more than a foot longer than a Ford Excursion. Most of its gigantism seems devoted to the rear cabin, where there's so much space you'll want to break out your squash racket. The two huge, fully reclining seats seem lifted straight from the first-class cabin of an airliner.


At just over 5.7 meters, the Maybach 57 is the smaller sibling, in the homespun way the Titanic was smaller than the Queen Mary; it gives up roughly 16 inches of rear-seat knee room to the 62. "We expect the 62 to sell more in countries where chauffeurs are common," says Killen.

In the U.S., where even rich people prefer to drive, the 57 is likely to account for more than 80 percent of Maybach sales. DC expects to build 1000 Maybachs annually; 400 of those will come to our shores. The 57 is the "bargain" Maybach, too--it'll undercut the 62 by some $50,000 (prices haven't been finalized).


As posh and quiet as the rear cabin is, the best seat in the house is--surprise--the one behind the wheel. Both the 57 and the 62 use a twin-turbo 5.5-liter V-12 that delivers a thundering 550 horsepower and 663 lb-ft of torque. Plant the throttle, and the 7200-pound 57 will hammer from zero to 60 mph in a claimed 5.1 seconds (the 7450-pound 62 is only a tick slower). Throttle response is instantaneous--you'd never know this is a turbo. On the autobahn, even small breaks in traffic allowed us to rocket up to the electronically limited 155-mph top end. Huge Brembo disc brakes quickly erased that speed when cars darted into our path. And the electronically controlled Airmatic suspension provided a magical blend of ride comfort and handling responsiveness. Want more? Killen tells us a Maybach 57 has lapped Germany's famed Nuerburgring racetrack faster than a Porsche Boxster S.


Who's put down deposits on this truly amazing--and seriously expensive--automobile? DaimlerChrysler won't say, but rumors mention heads of state, a well-known TV comic, and a handful of NBA stars. Are they buying the finest car in the world? We'll reserve judgment until we can get a Maybach for an instrumented test. For now, we'll just say it's hard to imagine how an automobile could possibly be any better.

2003 Maybach 57 and 62 _
Price $285,000-$350,000 (est)
Vehicle layout Front engine, rwd, 4-door, 4/5-pass
Engine 5.5L/550-hp twin-turbo V-12, SOHC, 3 valves/cyl
0-60 mph, sec 5.1 (Maybach 57, est)
On sale in U.S. May 2003