Latest news with #MercedesMaybach
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
How this European carmaker is getting more Americans to drive convertibles
What matters more to drivers these days? Is it technology, horsepower or efficiency? Mercedes-Maybach is betting on lifestyle. Its vehicles -- posh, regal and extravagant -- inhabit the same realm as Bentley and Rolls-Royce. Drive one on Germany's Autobahn, and you'd be astonished at the power and speed. Daniel Lescow, the head of Mercedes-Maybach, said customers are looking to "express their lifestyle and individuality," which may be satisfied by brand's latest status symbol, the SL 680, a glamorous two-seater that launched last year and arrives at U.S. dealers this summer. The SL, which will be priced above $200,000, comes in two curated design concepts, "White Ambience" or "Red Ambience," yet more than 50 exclusive colors are available to choose from at the factory. Plush interiors, premium materials and metal knobs and buttons have become standard in ultra-luxe autos. So Maybach went a bit more extreme, stamping the company's recognizable logo all over the hood, a labor-intensive printing process that involves four coats of clear lacquer and three hand-sanded coats of paint. Remove the lavishness, and the SL is also a true sports car, with a 577 horsepower biturbo V8 powerplant. The convertible's specially tuned suspension gives owners a softer or firmer driving experience, depending on the location and one's state of mind. Lescow recently spoke to ABC News about the SL 680, the sportiest model in the marque's long history, and how he's growing brand awareness in the crowded luxury space. The interview below has been edited for space and clarity. Q: You said you want to make the brand "more desirable." Please explain. A: There's various dimensions to it. One is the product image. The second dimension is the way we connect with our customers and potential customers in retail spaces. One by one we're building these Maybach lounges -- dedicated spaces -- globally for customers to learn more about the cars and brand aesthetics. We have a very elaborate location in India. At one event in Vienna there was a private concert with [pianist] Lang Lang, who played the piano for our most important customers. Another dimension is our collaborations. For example, we're working with a [German] silverware company on champagne flute holders. It's important the brand is centered around the lifestyle of our customers. Q: Convertibles are a niche market in the U.S. How difficult is it to sell convertibles to American drivers? A: It is not so much about the location or the nationality. It's about the individual customer we want to approach. We do see significant potential in the American market. It's an important market for Maybach, clearly. We recently opened a massive Maybach presence at the Mercedes-Benz dealership in Manhattan. We do see strong interest from the American market in open top two-seaters. Last year, we chose Pebble Beach as the global world premiere for the Maybach SL Monogram Series. Q: Who is the Maybach customer? Is it the traditional Mercedes-Benz customer or are you pursuing Bentley and Rolls-Royce owners? A: The customers are as individual as our cars. Many of them have a number of cars in the fleet. Our customers range from entrepreneurs to artists to superstars ... what many of them are looking for is a way to express their lifestyle and individuality. Q: Why doesn't the SL have the brand's venerable V12 engine under the hood? And how comes it's not electrified? A: We are extremely happy to have the V12 in the Mercedes-Maybach S 680, the flagship offering. When we designed the SL, it was very clear that it's a sports car. And it will remain as the Maybach sports car -- sporty yet elegant. The balance, the agility and the way the V8 behaves ... it's the perfect engine for this car. For electric driving, we do have the Mercedes-Maybach EQS SUV, which is fully electric. That car is completely different. The electric drivetrain really adds to what's important to Maybach. It's the most comfortable and quiet ride you can imagine. Q: So there was no discussion about making the SL an electric convertible? A: For this car, no. We wanted to have the characteristic of a sports car with all the emotions around it. MORE: Want an electric vehicle but not a Tesla? Here are some great alternatives Q: Why would a customer choose this model over the AMG SL 63 Roadster? A: The SL 680 is clearly designed for sporty driving but with all the Maybach ingredients: comfort and opulence. Customers looking for an even sportier car would clearly opt for the AMG. The cars are different from the ways they look and behave -- they address different customer needs. Q: How has the brand changed under your leadership? A: It's a privilege to work with such a legendary brand. We launched two new cars, doubling the portfolio from two cars to four with the SL. We have seen brand awareness increasing around the world -- that is something that's very important. I can't wait to see what the future will bring. Q: There's still uncertainty about tariffs and costs -- how does this factor into your product planning? Do wealthy customers still spend money in these unpredictable times? A: There are some uncertainties. At the same time, sales volume will go up and down. And that's natural. For us, it's more important that we build a solid base for the brand and that we continue to build brand awareness. With the right offerings, I have do doubt that Maybach will be successful. How this European carmaker is getting more Americans to drive convertibles originally appeared on
The South African
19-05-2025
- The South African
Popular DJ Kyeezi survives horror hit-and-run accident
Popular Good Hope FM radio presenter Khanya 'Kyeezi' Siyengo was involved in a serious car accident in Cape Town this weekend. The incident that has sent ripples through South Africa's broadcasting community. The crash occurred when another motorist allegedly ran a red light, colliding with Siyengo's BMW 420i – and fled the scene. Despite the severity of the collision, Siyengo incredibly escaped with no major physical injuries, although he has described the experience as emotionally overwhelming. According to Siyengo, the driver responsible has been identified as Michael Jamiu, a Nigerian national allegedly under the influence of alcohol at the time. Jamiu was reportedly driving a Mercedes Maybach when the crash occurred. In a dramatic twist, he fled the scene, abandoning his luxury vehicle – and unintentionally leaving behind his passport and personal belongings, which are now in the possession of authorities. In a statement shared via social media, Siyengo expressed immense gratitude for escaping unharmed but admitted to being emotionally shaken by the traumatic event. 'I am currently taking time to process the emotional impact of this accident,' he said. 'I'm incredibly thankful for my family, who are helping me through this.' The wreckage of his BMW stands as a stark reminder of how narrowly he avoided serious harm. Siyengo has issued an apology to his clients, partners, and supporters for any missed commitments over the weekend, reaffirming his dedication even amid personal turmoil. His management team has requested privacy during this period as he focuses on healing mentally and emotionally. Authorities are actively pursuing Jamiu, with the personal items left at the scene expected to assist in the investigation. The alleged drunk driving and hit-and-run charges are likely to carry serious legal consequences. Kyeezi's ordeal serves as a sobering reminder of the dangers of reckless driving, especially under the influence. As Cape Town's media community rallies around him, fans and fellow broadcasters have flooded social media with messages of support and well-wishes. Leaving a comment below, or sending a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Motor Trend
14-05-2025
- Automotive
- Motor Trend
2026 Mercedes-Maybach SL680 First Drive: Extravagant Comfort
What constitutes extravagance? Webster's defines it as 'Lacking restraint in spending money or using resources.' We're certainly in no position to challenge Head of Mercedes-Maybach, Daniel Lescow's description of the new Maybach SL680 as his brand's most extravagant offering. Priced around a quarter-million dollars and able to carry just two hyper-elite personalities and perhaps a picnic hamper, surely it shan't sell on practicality. Closing our first look at the SL680, we fretted that, like its Mercedes-AMG SL stablemates, the Maybach might struggle to deliver price- and brand-commensurate levels of ride comfort and that, despite being blanketed in wealth-signaling Maybach emblems, the two curated color ambiances announced at the time wouldn't offer the personalization required to trigger an oligarch's extravagance-splurge. Well, nine months later we can reassure the morbidly affluent that this Maybach should cosset their derrieres sufficiently and will indeed provide enough color variation to dramatically lower the likelihood of encountering a fellow plutocrat on the boulevard or valet court piloting an identical bauble. Comfort Promise Fulfilled Since our first introduction to the R232-generation SL circa 2022, Mercedes and AMG have contended that the seventh-gen car's sophisticated hydraulically interlinked, adaptively damped, steel-sprung suspension would offer sufficient 'bandwidth' to ride as comfortably or more so than previous generations while also leveling up the car's appetite for racetrack work. Heretofore, we've never found their comfort claims to ring true, as the cars' rides remained mostly sports-car firm. This Maybach, it would seem, finally broadens that bandwidth sufficiently to validate that claim. Comfort By the Numbers The Maybach suspension-tuning team domesticates these racy suspenders, providing the supple cosseting ride a Maybach customer likely expects, by softening everything. It reduces the front and rear spring rates by 25 percent (from 80 to 60 N/mm) and 22 percent (from 45 to 35 N/mm) respectively, by retuning the bushing rates, and by revising the adaptive damping valves so that they flow more fluid. This enables greater sensitivity to road inputs. Wheel camber is reduced somewhat, to reflect the SL680's less track-focused use case. And an exclusive 'Maybach Mode' setting is added to the suspension menu, which noticeably relaxes the throttle, steering feel, and suspension firmness even further beyond Comfort mode (which remains the default setting the car starts in). How It Feels We spent a few hours on hilly serpentine roads that link various tony resorts dotting the shoreline of Spain's party island, Ibiza, sampling the various modes. We spent most of the drive in Maybach mode and were pleased to find that AMG's Active Ride Control cross-linking system still maintained a very even keel, resisting virtually all dive, pitch, and roll. The less aggressive camber didn't noticeably degrade this SL's ability to negotiate mountain switchbacks at or near the limits of the tires' adhesion. The softer springs, and new Maybach mode damping curve—paired with the high-flow valve—traverse potholes and speed bumps with far less jarring impact, while still preventing the ride from becoming floaty. And if the above-mentioned gear seems to effectively carpet the road, the new bushing package gives it a thicker layer of underlayment. Traversing the same stretch of road in Comfort versus Maybach mode introduces just a touch more road feel—like the carpet nap just got slightly thinner. Sport mode swaps the carpet and pad for a commercial rubber-backed peel-and-stick feel. Interestingly, the car remained fun to send through the corners at high g-loading even in Maybach mode, despite the dulled steering feel. Reduced Responsiveness Drop the hammer in Maybach mode and it seems like the engine suffers turbo lag. Switch back to Sport mode and you feel AMG 63-level throttle response, while also sharpening the steering responsiveness. Another apparent benefit of Maybach mode's throttle programming is that when gently starting from a stop, we never felt any juddering from the wet-clutch launch device, as we've reported on in other SLs. Note that we also chose to leave the Maybach-designed driver-information screen up, featuring speed and tach readouts that resemble those of the stunning Maybach Vision 6 Concept's nacelles, though we resisted leaving the album-art option live on the center section, as it adds another dozen or so M-M logos to that area. Chris-Craft Burble The Maybach-exclusive exhaust, featuring fiberglass batting inside the muffler, strives for silence in Maybach and Comfort modes and comes admirably close, while Sport mode opens a valve to bypass that chamber while also broadcasting more synthetic sound through the cabin speakers (ensuring that Sport-mode sounds nearly the same, top up or down). That curated sound trades some AMG racecar emulation for something more akin to the inboard V-8 music of a classic wooden skiff. Improvements for Other SLs One 'hallelujah' debuting in the SL680 and extending to all SLs soon is the fitment of proper mechanical switches to operate the power-folding top. No more scorching a finger by sliding and holding a virtual button on a sunbaked infotainment screen like in other SLs. And to avoid confusion, separate buttons are clearly marked to raise and lower the standard Maybach-logo-adorned top. Now, if we could only impress upon Mercedes the wisdom of making this Comfort-mode suspension tuning setup available—without the Maybach mode damping curve—on a revived 'Mercedes-Benz SL' model. We feel certain that folks trading up from any of the earlier boulevardier SL generations would strongly prefer that setup to any of the AMG ones for comfort. Maybe an inline-six-powered SL450 could slip in comfortably under the AMG models, price- and performance-wise? Manufaktur to the Rescue When first presented, Maybach played up its 'chef's tasting menu' curated design concept, announcing only two Monogram Series offerings: Opalite White Magno (matte) or tinted-clearcoat Garnet Red Metallic bodywork set off with a black hood and top over a shocking Crystal White interior. Well, fear not, individualists. Mercedes-Maybach has approved a further 50 colors from its catalog of 1,000 durability-tested hues, making any of them available with a hood in the same color, in black, or in black with Maybach emblems dot-matrix printed all over it, Louis Vuitton handbag style. For now, however, white remains the only factory interior offering to be announced. As Fitzgerald quipped, 'The rich are different from you and I.' Apparently their denim is more colorfast. About that Logo Hood … The Maybach SL680 is the first car to utilize this new PixelPaint process, involving a high-precision print head with 1,000 nozzles, each capable of depositing 20-50-micron diameter paint droplets at a rate of more than 1,000 drops per second with no overspray or mist. Starting with an Obsidian Black hood and one coat of clear, Graphite Gray emblems are printed on, and then two coats of clear are applied and hand sanded until the logos can no longer be felt, before a fourth clear layer goes on. The European price for this hood option is 6,500 Euros. How Does the Maybach SL680 Measure Up? Even at this stratospheric price level, buyers have choices, most of which seem more exclusive, because no less-expensive versions share their bodywork. These include the Aston Martin DB12 V8 Volante ($269,000), the Maserati GranCabrio ($203,000 for gas or $206,700 for electric). Then there is the Bentley Continental GTC for those whose base-price budgets can stretch some $82-grand higher. Those cars mostly boast higher output, but nobody's racing them for pink slips, and those boutique brands don't necessarily enjoy the reliability reputation, brand heritage, or dealer network of Mercedes-Benz and Maybach. As mere proletarians, we cringe at the zillion M-M logos carpeting that optional hood, the standard convertible top, the grilles, the door panels, etc. Maybe that's why we're so hopeful Mercedes will grant us an 'affordable' M-M-free SL450 that rides like this.
Car and Driver
13-05-2025
- Automotive
- Car and Driver
Driven: 2026 Mercedes-Maybach SL680 Puts the Driver in Focus
For those of us whose splurges tend to be more outlet mall than oceanfront property, it can be hard to imagine a world where the regular old $188K Mercedes-AMG SL63 isn't a posh-enough droptop to demonstrate one's status. It's got an adjustable center screen, massaging seats, and Airscarf vents in the headrests. What else do you need, rose-gold details and a monogrammed hood? According to Mercedes-Maybach, which operates in a realm where the yachts have yachts and it's superfluous to say "private" before "island," the answer is yes, you need those precise things and more. The latest addition to its fleet of floaty, two-tone VIP carriers is the 2026 Mercedes-Maybach SL680, which offers everything we didn't realize was missing from the SL63. Namely, monograms. It's a surprising choice to add a two-seat sports-car option to the long wheelbases and reclining rear seats of the current Maybach lineup, which has S-class, EQS, and GLS versions. Maybach is associated with high-end limousine service and chauffeured transport, making the SL an unexpected model in the lineup. Daniel Lescow, head of Mercedes-Maybach, says the decision to add a car more suited for self-driving (in the old-fashioned sense, not the autonomous one) came directly from customer feedback. The interest is there, Lescow says, and Maybach exists to meet the desires of the hoi oligoi. In this case, Maybach soothed the savage beast of the AMG SL with a softened suspension, more sound deadening, and a dialed-back performance tune while amping up the visual impact with two-tone paint schemes and Maybach-specific design elements. The drivetrain remains physically unchanged from the nonhybrid SL63. It's the same twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8 making 577 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque backed by a nine-speed automatic, all-wheel drive, and four-wheel steering. The drive modes and chassis tune are unique to Maybach, though, offering a plusher ride with less focus on high-speed lateral action and flag-drop finishes. We've previously described the AMG SL cars as having "tough-guy-in-designer-duds styling." The Maybach SL is still well dressed and well muscled, but now it's less prone to losing its temper. While the overall body of the Maybach SL is not radically different from the SL63's, it gets a different personality through a unique front end and Maybach-specific 21-inch forged wheels, in five-hole monoblock or spoked designs. Where the standard SL has a GT-like shark mouth flanked by wide air inlets, the Maybach fills its maw with delicate slats. Below is an open lower fascia that, on closer inspection, is composed of a mesh of interlocking Maybach logos. The Maybach pattern will be a recurring theme around the car. From the fabric top to the optional printed pattern on the hood, experiencing the Maybach SL is a bit like driving away in a high-end handbag. Even tiny details, like the coppery housings over the LED headlights or the chrome badges along the side, leave no opportunity to mistake this SL for anything but a Maybach. While Maybach buyers will obviously have the chance to customize their SL through Mercedes's Manufaktur bespoke services, the debut SLs come in two ready-made Monogram Series specs, White Ambience and Red Ambience, which sound like opposing queens in an Alice in Wonderland adventure. We recommend not offing anyone's heads, however, since the only interior layout includes Crystal White nappa leather and fluffy white carpets. Truly, is there anything that screams "disposable income" more than white floor mats? You'd need a carpet cleaner on retainer. They can live on one of your yachts. Neither of the Monogram paint schemes is a subtle package, but then again, who buys a convertible (and a Maybach, for that matter) to blend in? Inside, Maybach removed the SL's tiny rear seats in favor of a leather-covered package tray. The front seats remain in the same location, so there's no major increase in legroom, but the change makes the interior less cluttered, so we suppose you could claim that it offers some additional mental space. The remaining front seats are softer than in the Mercedes version, with additional padding in the backrest and the bottom cushion. It's noticeable and appreciated, especially on the roads around Ibiza, Spain, where the only thing more popular than a sick beat was a speed bump. Not that too many of those bumps made their way through the retuned suspension of the SL680. Maybach sacrificed some of the road-hugging sharpness of the SL63 in favor of road-absorbing comfort, with a decrease in camber, revalved dampers, softer springs front and rear, and increased cushioning around the suspension mounting points to soak up vibrations before they reach the cabin. Maybach's drive modes are comfort focused as well, with relaxed steering feel and even some luxury lag in throttle input—but only in Maybach mode. In Sport mode, the adaptive dampers tighten up, the steering quickens, and the throttle offers instant response, although Maybach claims that the SL680's Sport mode is still softer than even the Comfort mode in the SL63. These changes—plus the additional weight of the SL680's sound deadening and rose-gold details—should add close to a second to the 3.0-second 60-mph time we got from the SL63. Since this is your island-only car, there are surely plenty of track monsters in your mainland garage. It may be off-brand to admit it, but there were things we liked better about the softened-up SL. In the user-configurable Individual mode, with Sport's responsive throttle and Maybach's relaxed suspension setup, the SL680 swooshed around corners with none of the jitters or sidestepping of its more athletic competitors. It's almost a forgotten pleasure, to go fast without feeling every pavement imperfection drummed up your spinal column. If this is luxury, we like it. Certainly, it's a delight from the right seat, where a harsh ride feels worse when there's no driving task to distract. Passenger princes and princesses will be suggesting the Maybach for all outings. So what's the downside to Maybaching it up? Well, there's the price, which, while not currently available, is likely to be considerably more than the AMG SL63's $188,300. On that note, should Maybach have done more? While we loved the cushioned ride, are a flashy hood and softer springs enough to differentiate the Maybach SL680 from the AMG SL63? In some ways, the buyer gets less for more—no rear seat, less impressive performance numbers, likely a paltry 15-mpg EPA combined fuel-economy rating—and none of the specialty features of the larger Maybach offerings. With no rear seat or extended cabin, there's no place to showcase a reclining lounge seat or a refrigerated wine cooler. The niceties of the Maybach SL are shared with the Mercedes SL. A warming Airscarf from the headrest, massaging seats, a convertible top that can be raised or lowered in 15 seconds, a center touchscreen that can be tilted to avoid glare—all are fabulous conveniences, but none of them are unique to the Maybach. One wonders whether the Maybach buyer might simply opt for the top-of-the-line SL63 S E Performance plug-in hybrid and consider that enough. Specifications Specifications 2026 Mercedes-Maybach SL680 Monogram Series Vehicle Type: front-engine, all-wheel-drive, 2-passenger, 2-door convertible PRICE (C/D EST) Base: $250,000 ENGINE twin-turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 32-valve V-8, aluminum block and heads, direct fuel injection Displacement: 243 in3, 3982 cm3 Power: 577 hp @ 6500 rpm Torque: 590 lb-ft @ 2500 rpm TRANSMISSION 9-speed automatic DIMENSIONS Wheelbase: 106.3 in Length: 184.9 in Width: 75.4 in Height: 53.5 in Trunk Volume: 8 ft3 Curb Weight (C/D est): 4700 lb PERFORMANCE (C/D EST) 60 mph: 3.8 sec 100 mph: 7.9 sec 1/4-Mile: 12.0 sec Top Speed: 161 mph EPA FUEL ECONOMY (C/D EST) Combined/City/Highway: 15/13/20 mpg Reviewed by Elana Scherr Senior Editor, Features Like a sleeper agent activated late in the game, Elana Scherr didn't know her calling at a young age. Like many girls, she planned to be a vet-astronaut-artist, and came closest to that last one by attending UCLA art school. She painted images of cars, but did not own one. Elana reluctantly got a driver's license at age 21 and discovered that she not only loved cars and wanted to drive them, but that other people loved cars and wanted to read about them, which meant somebody had to write about them. Since receiving activation codes, Elana has written for numerous car magazines and websites, covering classics, car culture, technology, motorsports, and new-car reviews. In 2020, she received a Best Feature award from the Motor Press Guild for the C/D story "A Drive through Classic Americana in a Polestar 2." In 2023, her Car and Driver feature story "In Washington, D.C.'s Secret Carpool Cabal, It's a Daily Slug Fest" was awarded 1st place in the 16th Annual National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards by the Los Angeles Press Club. Read full bio
Scottish Sun
10-05-2025
- Automotive
- Scottish Sun
Man City star Erling Haaland adds £320,000 yellow Ferrari to eye-watering car collection with new
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) FOOTIE ace Erling Haaland has bagged this yellow £320,000 Ferrari for his luxury car collection — totalling £8million. The £500,000-a-week Man City striker, 24, already had seven motors, including a rare £4million Bugatti Tourbillon. 4 Man City super-striker Erling Haaland has added another flash motor to his luxury car collection – treating himself to a £320,000 Ferrari 4 Fans cheered as he accelerated away, showcasing the vehicle's incredible 789 horsepower and 6.5-litre V12 engine Fans cheered as he accelerated away from training in his new convertible Ferrari 812 Superfast, which lives up to its name by doing 0 to 60mph in under three seconds. One fan joked online: 'Haaland casually living my dream.' Another commented: 'Millionaires and their toys.' Fans cheered as he accelerated away, showcasing the vehicle's incredible 789 horsepower and 6.5-litre V12 engine. In March, The Sun revealed how Haaland had splashed out on a £4million Bugatti. The monster motor, featuring iconic 'butterfly' doors, has a top speed of 277mph. Last September, Haaland bought a brand new £250,000 Mercedes Maybach. He also owns a £2.7million Mercedes AMG One, a £130,000 Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe AMG 63 S 4Matic and a £300k Rolls Royce Cullinan. Haaland previously owned a Ferrari 812 Superfast in blue. His collection is still a far cry from Cristiano Ronaldo's impressive haul of rare motors - estimated to be worth around £20million. Since Haaland's arrival at City nearly three years ago, he has broken countless records, contributing to a historic Treble win in 2023 and a fourth successive Premier League title, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup success the following season. Erling Haaland looks unrecognisable in fake moustache as he stuns fans by pulling away disguise on photoshoot 4 The motor lives up to its name by doing 0 to 60mph in under three seconds 4 Haaland has been banging in the goals for Man City this season and could celebrate another FA Cup win Credit: Getty
