Does Jay-Z Really Own The Maybach Exelero?
Back in 2006 rapper Jay-Z released the Lost One music video which featured him cruising around town behind the wheel of a Maybach Exelero. That track was featured on the comeback album Kingdom Come and it got the hype machine going. As a result, people have believed the high-end car belonged to Jay-Z, but the reality is something different.Most people believe the Exelero is just a very expensive luxury coupe. In reality, it's a concept car of which there is only one in existence. It was revealed to the public in 2005, wowing the industry and anyone who saw it.
Why is easy to understand, with its bold, flowing lines and a layout somewhat reminiscent of Pre-War luxury sports cars, only in a closed-wheel modern form factor. Created under a collaboration between Maybach and Fulda, a German tire company which is now owed by Goodyear, it was built to show off the abilities of a new line of high-speed tires.
Stola, an automotive company in Italy, actually built the Exelero for Maybach. The company used the Maybach 57 S for the underpinnings, crafting a new body. While a lot of people pressured Maybach to make the Exelero a production vehicle so they could buy one, the company felt it wouldn't be successful enough.
Under that long hood is a biturbo 6.0-liter V12 that reportedly produces just under 700-horsepower. It can do 0-62 mph in 4.4 seconds, which isn't too bad, especially for back in 2005. The concept car can hit 218 mph as demonstrated in a much-publicized top speed run performed in Italy after the Exelero was revealed.
Currently, the Exelero is housed in the National Auto Museum in Germany, not Jay-Z's garage. But there's no shortage of articles on car, music, and other websites claiming the one-of-one ride belongs to the rapper. That simply isn't true.
Image via Mr. Benz/YouTube
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Wire
8 hours ago
- Business Wire
Haig Partners Q2 2025 Haig Report ®: Dealer Profits Grow 20% Thanks to One Time Events; Buy-Sell Volume Declines but Values Remain Strong
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The U.S. auto retail industry just closed one of its most profitable quarters in years — but the driving forces may surprise you. According to the newly released Q2 2025 Haig Report ® from Haig Partners, public dealer group profits per store jumped 20% year-over-year, fueled in part by two unique, short-term tailwinds: "...The fundamentals remain healthy, demand to buy dealerships is strong, and dealers have shown again and again that they can adapt to whatever the market throws at them.' Favorable comparisons to June 2024's CDK dealer management systems outage, which crippled many dealers' operations during Q2 last year. A pre-tariff buying surge after President Trump's April 2 'Liberation Day' announcement, pulling forward sales at strong margins. 'These unusual boosts have made Q2 look stronger than it may prove to be for the rest of the year,' said Alan Haig, President of Haig Partners. 'But the fundamentals remain healthy, demand to buy dealerships is strong, and dealers have shown again and again that they can adapt to whatever the market throws at them.' Additional highlights from the Q2 2025 Haig Report ®: Franchise Valuation Changes – Toyota, Kia, and Hyundai/Genesis saw multiple increases this quarter, reflecting strong demand and buyer appetite. Audi suffered a sharp valuation cut as prolonged sales declines and inventory imbalances eroded buyer interest. Blue Sky Values at Record Levels – Average dealership blue sky values remain about twice pre-COVID, a figure bolstered by steady multiples and strong earnings despite slower buy-sell volume. Market Momentum Shifts – Private buyers are showing broader appetite, while public groups are increasingly selective — favoring top-performing brands or strategic bolt-ons. Pipeline Strength – Haig Partners is advising on 67 dealership transactions signed or closed in 2025, 18% more than last year, outpacing the market's overall slowdown. Dealership Buy-Sell Market: Slower First Half, Set to Rebound? 192 U.S. rooftops changed hands in 1H 2025 — down 39.4% from last year's pace. Drivers of the slowdown: dealership buy-sell activity was still healthy in Q2, but more delayed closings experienced due to election-year uncertainty, tariff headlines, and a value gap between buyer and seller expectations. Outlook: A clearer political and economic landscape is expected to reignite activity in the second half, though volumes may be shifting back to a volume of 300-400 dealership sales per year compared to the 550-700 sales per year we experienced during the COVID era when valuations exploded. Economic & Operational Outlook Tariffs will have an impact in Q3. The OEMs have absorbed the cost of the tariffs so far, but we expect this will begin to change in Q3 as higher prices are subtly passed on to dealers and customers. Some brands will be hurt more than others, which could reshuffle dealership valuations. Interest rate cuts are increasingly likely later in 2025, which could boost more dealership buy-sell activity in the second half, not mention increased vehicle affordability for customers. EV mandates are gone, reducing risks for dealers in former CARB states. Now that dealers can sell the vehicles that consumers want to buy, dealers in CARB states can rest assured that their businesses will remain viable and valuable. The regulatory changes are likely to have an impact on everyone in auto retail. During an interview with Alan Haig, Senator Bernie Moreno stated, 'And I think right now, if I was in the car business today, I would be investing, I'd be buying, I'd be growing, because you take advantage of the fact that some people don't know how to manage change.' Haig Partners is seeing this spirit among the many dealership buyers it speaks with every week. Alan Haig said, 'Public and private buyers are trying to expand in this environment. Despite the unknown impact of tariffs, most of the larger groups are seeking to expand, and many smaller ones as well. And no one is calling us desperate to sell.' At Haig Partners, we are deeply grateful to the dealers, industry partners, and clients who place their trust in The Haig Report ® as a resource for navigating the dynamic automotive retail market. We recognize that selling a dealership is not only one of the most significant financial decisions in a dealer's career, but also one of the most personal. It is an honor to be invited into that process, to provide both the market insights that inform strategy and the expert guidance that helps our clients achieve the outcomes they deserve. Our team takes great pride in serving as a trusted advisor, combining decades of transaction experience with a deep respect for the legacy and future of each business we touch. We invite dealers considering a sale or acquisition to connect with us and explore how we can help maximize value and ensure a smooth, successful transition. About The Haig Report ® The Haig Report ®, the longest-published quarterly report tracking trends in auto retail and their impact on dealership values, includes data and analysis on the performance of auto dealerships, discusses noteworthy events impacting the automotive retail industry, identifies trends in the M&A market for dealerships, provides guidance on estimated value ranges for different franchises and shares an outlook for the automotive retail buy-sell market. The Haig Report ® is based on data gathered from reputable public sources and interviews with leading dealer groups and dealers, bankers, lawyers and accountants who specialize in auto retail. About Haig Partners Haig Partners is a leading buy-sell advisory firm that helps owners of higher-value dealerships maximize the value of their businesses when they are ready to sell. The team at Haig Partners has advised on the purchase or sale of more than 525 dealerships with a total value of over $10.6B. It has represented 30 dealership groups that qualify for the Top 150 Dealership Groups list published by Automotive News, more than any other firm. Clients of Haig Partners benefit from the group's collective experience as previous executives with leading companies such as Ally Financial, AutoNation, Bank of America, Credit Suisse, Deloitte, FORVIS, J.P. Morgan, the Sewell Automotive Companies and Toyota Financial Services. Leveraging its unmatched expertise and extensive relationships, Haig Partners guides clients to successful outcomes through a confidential and customized sales process. The firm authors The Haig Report ®, the leading industry quarterly report that tracks trends in auto retail and their impact on dealership values, and co-authors NADA's Guide, 'Buying and Selling a Dealership.' Haig Partners team members are frequent speakers at industry conferences and are regularly quoted in reputable media outlets, including Reuters, Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, CNBC, BBC, Automotive News, Wards, CarDealershipGuy and CBT News. For more information, visit
Geek Tyrant
9 hours ago
- Geek Tyrant
Zack Snyder Sets His Sights on Long-Awaited Passion Project THE LAST PHOTOGRAPH — GeekTyrant
After lots of speculating what he might direct next, Zack Snyder has finally revealed his next film, and it's not another genre epic. Instead, the Rebel Moon director is stepping into completely new territory with a gritty indie war drama titled The Last Photograph . This isn't some random detour. Snyder has reportedly been trying to get this project off the ground for over two decades. Now, he's finally ready to bring his long-gestating vision to life, with production set to kick off next month. The Last Photograph will star Stuart Martin and Fra Free, both of whom fans will recognize from Rebel Moon . The story itself was originally conceived by Snyder and developed into a screenplay by longtime collaborator Kurt Johnstad. Unlike Snyder's massive blockbuster ventures like 300 , Watchmen , or Man of Steel , this movie is shaping up to be a much more intimate, grounded experience. Production will take place across several visually stunning and diverse locations, including Iceland, Colombia, and Los Angeles. Snyder isn't just directing either. He's producing alongside his creative partner and wife Deborah Snyder, and Wesley Coller, under their Stone Quarry production banner. Gianni Nunnari and his Hollywood Gang Productions are also onboard as producers. The score for The Last Photograph will be composed by Hans Zimmer, Steven Doar, and Omer Benyamin. That lineup alone promises something deeply emotional and cinematic. There's no word yet on a release date, but this new direction for Snyder is a refreshing pivot that could surprise a lot of fans, and maybe even win him some new ones. Keep an eye out for more updates as this long-time passion project finally comes to life.
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Yahoo
‘War': Everything to Know About New HBO Legal Thriller
What happens when a tech titan and an international superstar have a messy divorce? War. At least, that's what the title of a new legal thriller is promising. HBO and Sky announced the new thriller series, which has already been ordered for not one but two seasons, in August, and the companies revealed a ton of early details about what's ahead, including the full cast list. Here's a look at everything we know about War so far. What is War about? The logline for the series teases, 'Two rival London law firms take on the case of the century. In a world of love, scandal, betrayal, and ambition, winning is everything. This is WAR.' In a press release announcing the series, it was also described as 'a bold new legal thriller' that's 'debuts with a scandalous divorce case that sends shockwaves through the boardrooms, bedrooms, and courtrooms alike.' It will be set in London and center on the rival law firms of Cathcarts and Taylor & Byrne. 'Each side is sure they'll win, but as the case spirals and loyalties fracture, reputations are on the line, and everyone's playing to win.' Season 1 will be the first in an anthology-style series about 'headline-making legal battles.' Creator George Kay, who is also known for Lupin and Hijack, also said in a statement, 'War is a legal drama full of double crossing, scandal, twists, and betrayal — the kind of TV show that made me want to write TV shows.' Who stars in War? Dominic West and Sienna Miller lead the cast of Season 1 as Morgan Henderson and Carla Duval, respectively. Morgan is a tech titan, and Carla is his estranged wife, who just so happens to be a world-famous film star. The actors previously worked together on the 2016 short film The Tale of Thomas Burberry. Phoebe Fox and James McArdle star as Serena Byrne and Nicholas Taylor, the title partners of Taylor & Byrne who are also 'partners in life.' Playing their legal rivals at the Cathcarts firm are Nina Sosanya as 'Her Majesty' Queen Beatrice 'Queen Bea' Ubosi and Pip Torrens as St. John Smallwood. Archie Reneaux also stars as Johnny Warren, a lawyer described as 'ambitious.' When will War premiere? A debut date has not yet been revealed, but what we do know at this time is that the show will premiere on HBO and HBO Max in the U.S., HBO Max in Australia, and on Sky and NOW/WOW in the U.K., Ireland, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. War, Premiere TBD, HBO and HBO Max Solve the daily Crossword
