Latest news with #luxurycars
Yahoo
7 hours 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
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Aston Martin Valkyrie Gets Washed For The First Time
Read the full story on Backfire News The Aston Martin Valkyrie is about as close to a street-legal racecar as you can get these days. In fact, the consumer version is more powerful than what's used in IMSA and FIA WEC racing. Not only is it a crazy hypercar, it's crazy expensive and complicated. As you're about to learn, just detailing the thing is quite the for a well-seasoned professional detailer who's worked on some rather pricey rides, like Larry Kosilla of AMMO NYC, the Valkyrie presents some real challenges. First, getting into the tight cabin isn't easy. He's also on edge because Aston Martin gave him a tutorial of the hypercar, warning him about what buttons to not press or to only press at certain times/in certain ways. Not following those complex directions could result in a $200,000 repair or something crazy like that. Also, just like a racecar, starting the Valkyrie isn't as simple as putting your foot on the brake pedal and pressing the ignition button. It's a multi-step process that's hardly intuitive. Considering the Valkyrie costs about $4.5 million, we can understand why the guy's nerves were a little raw just backing it out of the trailer to take delivery. The Valkyrie AMMO NYC was hired to detail is a beautiful gray with Gulf livery. While we love the hypercar in black, it does look great in that spec. Washing the hypercar comes with some unusual challenges. While Kosilla is always meticulous and careful, in addition he struggles to clean the undercarriage. The Valkyrie requires special lifts to get underneath it, but he does climb into the air passages to scrub them, a claustrophobic endeavor for sure. Like he's done on other exotics, Kosilla also does paint correction. One would think for such an expensive vehicle the paint would be perfect, but it's not and Kosila believes he knows why. Of course, you probably won't see too many Aston Martin Valkyries in your area getting detailed or even just driving around. Production globally has been capped at 275 units, so these are quite rare. Watch the detailing video here. Images via AMMO NYC/YouTube
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
I'm a Car Expert: 5 Most Improved Luxury Cars That Are Now Worth Your Money
When it comes to wealthy luxury vehicles, most buyers gravitate toward long-established German brands. But according to Alan Gelfand, owner of German Car Depot — with over 30 years of experience servicing BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi and Porsche vehicles — it's time to expand our view. For You: Trending Now: 'The luxury experience market no longer depends on German brands because alternative manufacturers now provide comparable premium experiences at lower prices,' Gelfand said. Here are the most improved luxury cars Gelfand recommends buying now and why they're worth your money. Why they're worth it: Once dismissed for their Hyundai roots, the Genesis G90 and G80 (2022 and newer) have evolved into serious contenders in the luxury space. Gelfand said Genesis recruited engineers from German brands and it shows. 'The engineering divisions of Genesis and Cadillac established partnerships with employees who previously worked at German automakers. The suspension settings and interior materials and overall sophistication of these vehicles demonstrate a clear enhancement,' Gelfand said. Read Next: Genesis also offers a 10-year powertrain warranty, which is significantly longer than the four years offered by BMW and Audi, making it a more cost-effective option to own. Gelfand estimated owners save 40% to 50% on maintenance over five years compared to a Mercedes S-Class. Why they're worth it: Cadillac's Blackwing sedans (2022 to 2024) pair American muscle with premium refinement. Powered by a supercharged V8 from the Corvette Z06, the CT5-V Blackwing delivers over 650 horsepower (according to Cadillac's website) with the option of a manual transmission, an increasingly rare feature. 'The construction quality and interior components of these vehicles match the standards of BMW M vehicles,' Gelfand said. Low production numbers and strong enthusiast demand are already pushing resale values higher. Gelfand believes these will become future collectibles. Why it's worth it: The Lexus LS 500 has always been known for reliability, but newer models (2021 and Newer) deliver a more complete luxury experience. The 2021 refresh introduced significant enhancements to ride quality and infotainment, two areas where Lexus had previously lagged. 'The brand stands as a proper competitor to S-Class luxury vehicles,' Gelfand said. For buyers who value peace of mind and long-term durability, the LS 500 is a smart pick. Looking ahead, Gelfand is keeping an eye on several luxury EVs poised to shake up the market: BMW iX M60: With up to 610 horsepower and adaptive air suspension (according to BMW's website), the iX M60 delivers the dynamic handling expected from a BMW, even as an electric SUV. Mercedes-Benz EQS (2025): A larger battery and updated software aim to fix early issues (according to Mercedes-Benz's website), making the 2025 EQS more refined and range-efficient. Genesis Electrified G90: Expected to carry over Genesis's award-winning design and build quality, this flagship EV could disrupt the high-end luxury electric segment. Gelfand said we're in the middle of a major shift in the luxury car world. 'The luxury experience market no longer depends on German brands because alternative manufacturers now provide comparable premium experiences at lower prices,' he said. While German brands still lead in brand prestige, they're no longer the only way to get a premium driving experience. Today's most improved luxury cars offer competitive quality, cutting-edge tech and in many cases, better long-term value. Editor's note: Vehicle prices range depending on vehicle's year. More From GOBankingRates 3 Reasons Retired Boomers Shouldn't Give Their Kids a Living Inheritance (And 2 Reasons They Should) The New Retirement Problem Boomers Are Facing This article originally appeared on I'm a Car Expert: 5 Most Improved Luxury Cars That Are Now Worth Your Money
Daily Mail
21 hours ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Porsche halts sale of electric vehicle over fears its battery will catch FIRE
Porsche has paused sales of one it its electric cars due to fears the batteries will catch fire. Released in 2019, the Taycan quickly became one of the most popular luxury electric vehicles, but a string of safety malfunctions has marred its reputation. Now, Porsche is worried that 'a batch' of the first-generation model have faulty battery packs. The issue is thought to involve a potential short circuit inside the battery, which 'could lead to thermal events and later to a fire in the vehicle'. It is understood the decision halt sales last week is related to a recall issued by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) in November. The luxury car manufacturer's official used car dealers were sent a bulletin from Porsche head office instructing them to take a number of the affected Taycan models off sale immediately, according to Car Dealer Magazine. The Taycan model has been been subject to a dozen safety recalls in the past four years, including brake, suspension and welding defects. Released in 2019, the Taycan quickly became one of the most popular luxury electric vehicles, but a string of safety malfunctions has marred its reputation In May 2024, Porsche Taycan models Y1A, Y1B and Y1C for the year range 2019-2023, were recalled with manufacturers citing a risk of fire from the faulty batteries. And in July 2021, the supercar firm issued a recall for thousands of Taycans over faulty software that caused the £70,000 EV to suddenly shut down. Electric car fires in the UK have went up by 77 per cent between 2022 and 2024, according to figures from QBE Insurance suggest, and fire brigades were called out to 232 incidents last year. In September 2023, a Taycan burst into flames on the street in Chongqing, southwestern China, during heavy rush hour traffic.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Two arrested for possession of stolen luxury vehicles
Two people have been arrested for possessing stolen luxury cars that had their VINs changed. While it's unclear if these two cases are connected, police are saying the thieves used a familiar trick to make it look like the cars were legal. ALSO READ: Police across US warn about new, high-tech key fob thefts Two weeks ago, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department arrested Aditya Chandiramani and accused him of possessing a stolen Mercedes-Benz G-63 with a VIN that had been cloned. Chandiramani lived at an apartment complex in the university area, and the vehicle was parked in the deck. It quickly caught the attention of some residents. 'Usually, you just see lower-end cars, cheaper cars. This is a cheaper complex. I was kind of surprised, like seeing a higher-end type of car here,' said Luis Licona. According to police, the Mercedes-Benz was stolen from Boca Raton, Florida. Thursday night, police arrested 38-year-old Tahiim Douglas after they said he was cruising around a neighborhood next to the Arboretum in a $250,000 Lamborghini Urus. They said the car had been stolen and the VIN had been cloned. Once again, neighbors in the area noticed. 'The car stood out because everybody drives more average cars here,' one resident expressed. That resident went on to say that they believed the Lamborghini was from Montana or some other northwest state. According to police, VIN cloning has become a big problem because it can hide the fact that a car has been stolen, leaving buyers on the hook. The Federal Bureau of Investigation said you can protect yourself by being wary of someone trying to sell you a vehicle for substantially less. You should also look for evidence of tampering around the VIN, like scratches. Also, trust your intuition; if something sounds too good to be true, it usually is. There are numerous websites where you can check to see if a VIN is legitimate. Two of the best are the National Insurance Crime Bureau and the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System. VIDEO: Police across the country warn about key fob thefts
