Maybach at the Paris Motor Show: European premiere of the luxury saloons Maybach 57 and Maybach 62

At the "Mondial de l'Automobile Paris 2002", the luxury automobile brand Maybach is unveiling two high-end saloons to the European public: the Maybach 62 - which already made its much-acclaimed world debut in New York in early July - and the Maybach 57, which is being presented for the first time.

The model badges denote the respective lengths of these unique, super-luxury vehicles: 6.17 metres in the case of the Maybach 62 and 5.73 metres in the case of the Maybach 57

Equipped with the automotive technology of the 21st century, crafted in a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility and designed with scrupulous attention to detail, the new Maybach saloons reflect the expertise of DaimlerChrysler as the world's most innovative and tradition-steeped vehicle manufacturer while benefiting from the technical leadership, know-how and unique experience of its sister-brand Mercedes-Benz in the worldwide luxury car segment.

The Maybach defines the standards at the very peak of the passenger car market, at the same time continuing the tradition of the legendary Maybach automobiles which were among the elite in German and international automotive engineering together with Mercedes-Benz during the 1920s and 1930s.

Trailblazing innovations so far uniquely available in Mercedes-Benz vehicles have undergone further development for the Maybach and are included in the standard equipment: the electrohydraulic braking system Sensotronic Brake Control (SBC™), the electronically controlled air suspension system AIRMATIC DC (Dual Control), LINGUATRONIC voice control, the operating and display system COMAND APS and the automatic emergency call system TELEAID.

These are complemented by further masterpieces of automotive engineering which were specifically developed for the Maybach and substantiate its claim to the high-end position in the luxury car segment: the "Type 12" engine (405 kW/ 550 hp), which delivers more power and torque than any other standard-production saloon car engine in the world, a 600 Watt sound system with Dolby surround sound at every seat, a highly efficient four-zone climate control system with two separate air conditioners and - exclusive to the Maybach 62 - innovative and comfortable fully-reclining seats in the rear.

Design: a perfect balance of classic and avant-garde features

In the new Maybach technological excellence is combined with equally unique elegance, aesthetics and design perfection. The harmonious interplay of form, colour and materials lends these high-end saloons a design quality which accentuates their serene character and gives them an unmistakable identity. The Maybach is a highly elegant embodiment of greatness; its special stylistic appeal derives from a perfect balance of classic and avantgarde features. The lines of the Maybach hold a timeless appeal – an ideal which applies to both the exterior and interior design. In every sense of the word this makes the new Maybach an automobile for life.

The highest quality materials – among them more than 100 exquisitely crafted and hand-fitted items of exotic wood trim – embellish the interior, whose design was guided by one overriding objective: the greatest possible comfort and wellbeing for all the passengers.

This is achieved not just by the capacious size of the interior, which has an overall length of 2.25/2.68 metres but also by the sumptuous comfort of the seating and climate and by the virtual absence of noise, all of which adds up to a truly exceptional motoring experience.

Individuality: over 2 million permutations

Everything which even the most demanding travellers might require in the way of entertainment, communication and sheer pleasure during a journey in the Maybach is included as standard: from a DVD player to a TV receiver, from a refrigerated compartment to a cordless telephone with two handsets. At the same time the extensive range of standard equipment leaves plenty of scope for individuality – another way in which the luxury brand is following the tradition of the legendary Maybach cars of earlier years:

• The extensive range of standard and optional equipment gives Maybach customers over two million ways of equipping their high-end luxury car to their personal taste. All this can also be complemented with high-quality accessory items which have been specifically developed for the Maybach – from a custom-made luggage set to a champagne goblet of sterling silver, from a humidor to a golf bag and from floor mats of the finest velour to a fluffy travel rug.

• Maybach customers have a choice of six Grand nappa leather colours and three types of fine wood.

• A range of 17 paint finishes is available for the exterior, and as a further elegant feature of the Maybach these may be combined to produce a two-tone colour scheme.

• Approx. two dozen additional extras are available as technical equipment to satisfy personal requests or requirements. These include further, exclusive Mercedes innovations for even greater comfort and travelling enjoyment – for example the proximity control system DISTRONIC, the access and locking system KEYLESS-GO or active seat ventilation.

Because the Maybach is made in the modern "Manufaktur" – a manufacturing facility in which craftsmanship plays a major part - and in very small numbers averaging five vehicles per day, it is possible to meet further individual customer requirements and thereby make each of these luxury cars unique in its own way.

Engine: peak values for output and torque

The newly developed engine reflects the long years of experience and great expertise of DaimlerChrysler in the development, design and production of twelve-cylinder power units. With a displacement of 5.5 litres, and with the help of twin turbocharging, the Maybach engine develops an output of 405 kW/550 hp, with a maximum torque of 900 Newton metres already available from 2300 rpm. This gives the "Type 12" power unit a higher output and more torque than any other standard-production saloon car engine in the world. Thanks to three-valve technology and highly efficient catalytic converters it already complies with the strict exhaust EU 4 emission limits which come into force in 2005.

These high output and torque values guarantee effortless Maybach performance in any situation: the Maybach 57 accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in just 5.2 seconds, and thanks to the high torque a sprint from 60 to 120 km/h takes only 6.2 seconds.

Safety: occupant protection with ten airbags

In addition to a highly sophisticated body structure, the exemplary safety technology of this high-end luxury motor car includes a total of ten airbags - two adaptive airbags with two-stage gas generators for the front occupants, four sidebags and two large windowbags on each side of the interior. The automatic comfort-fit three-point seat belts, high-performance belt tensioners and belt force limiters are integrated into the seats and can therefore develop their full protective action in any position.

By virtue of these sophisticated safety features the new Maybach passes the stringent crash tests prescribed by the European and American NCAP (New Car Assessment Program) with flying colours.

The Maybach's high level of active safety is assisted by the innovative Sensotronic Brake Control (SBC™) braking system developed by Mercedes-Benz, which features two central control units, two high-pressure reservoirs and two hydraulic units in the case of the Maybach. This means that these high-end cars are equipped with a total of eight braking circuits, while internally ventilated front disc brakes, each with two callipers, ensure reliable deceleration.

Brand - At the highest level

Maybach – a name as a trademark. The embodiment of timeless automotive beauty, precision craftsmanship and technical expertise.

Maybach has been fondly remembered as a luxury car brand for more than six decades, and now it is awakening to a new life. With the same ambition as before, Maybach is re-establishing itself at the very top of the luxury car market to define the standards in this small but highly exclusive segment.

From autumn 2002, the Maybach brand will be offering its customers a choice of two luxury saloons. With an overall length of 6.17 metres the top model - the Maybach 62 - offers unique spaciousness and comfort. The second vehicle, which is making its debut at the Paris Motor Show, is badged the Maybach 57 in accordance with its overall length of 5.73 metres.

In every detail the new Maybach models benefit from the technical leadership, know-how and enormous experience of the sister-brand Mercedes-Benz, whose trailblazing innovations also characterise these new, high-end luxury saloons – from the AIRMATIC DC (Dual Control) air suspension for consummate ride comfort to the electrohydraulic braking system Sensotronic Brake Control (SBC™) for a high level of active safety; from large windowbags for exemplary side impact protection to bi-xenon headlamps for the greatest possible lighting efficiency.

Homage: Wilhelm Maybach, the designer of the first Mercedes

Mercedes-Benz and Maybach – two automobile brands with a great tradition and much in common: Wilhelm Maybach (1846 – 1929), for many years the engineering companion of Gottlieb Daimler (1834 – 1900), was the Technical Manager at Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft (DMG) and designed the first Mercedes – which is also considered to be the first modern passenger car - in 1901. For this reason he was respectfully referred to as the "king of designers".

Gottlieb Daimler had made the acquaintance of this talented designer in Reutlingen in 1865, and also worked with him at Maschinenbaufabrik Karlsruhe and Gasmotorenfabrik Deutz. After spending ten years in the Rhineland, where Maybach brought the four-stroke engine invented by Nikolaus Otto to series-production maturity, Daimler and Maybach returned to southern Germany in 1882 and made a number of pioneering automotive engineering inventions in subsequent years. These were also the foundation stone of Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft (DMG), which was formed in 1890.

Wilhelm Maybach left the company in 1907, and from 1909, together with his son Karl, he devoted himself to the manufacture of powerful engines for the dirigibles built by Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin. Accordingly they moved their operations to Friedrichshafen on Lake Constance in 1912, where they were in the immediate vicinity of the Zeppelin yards. From 1919 Karl Maybach (1879 – 1960) made a name for himself as the designer and developer of exclusive and technically sophisticated luxury cars. Up to 1941 he produced approx. 1800 of these high-quality automobiles, whose bodies were designed and equipped precisely to customer requirements by specialist coachbuilders. The flagship of the Maybach model range was the model DS 8 "Zeppelin" of 1931. With a length of approx. 5.50 metres this luxury model was the most prestigious German passenger car of its time - "an automobile which meets every wish with the most distinguished elegance and power", to quote a Maybach brochure.

The market: a small segment with high expectations

DaimlerChrysler feels obliged to meet these expectations to the present day. The objective of the new Maybach luxury automobile brand is to establish itself at the very top of a small but highly exclusive market segment in which customers require the highest standards in terms of technology, design and quality. Market research indicates an annual potential of some 8,000 customers in the high-end luxury class. There are also clear signs that this traditionally stable market will grow, particularly in North America and South -East Asia. The core markets for sales of the new high-end luxury vehicles are the USA, the UK, Germany, the United Arab Emirates and a number of Asian countries. Production of the Maybach is limited to approximately 1,000 units per year.

The comeback of this luxury brand also resurrects the striking double-M emblem, a legendary symbol of the highest automotive exclusivity, in shining form. The two letters entwined within a curved triangle originally signified "Maybach Motorenbau", but now stand for "Maybach Manufaktur".

Design - Comfort and style

The design of the new Maybach is the embodiment of a core claim by this luxury automobile brand: sophistication.

The harmonious interplay of shape, colour and materials lends the Maybach 57 and Maybach 62 high-end luxury motor cars a design quality which matches that of their engineering, perfectionism and appointments. Both the overall lines and the design details characterise the serene nature of these cars, accentuate their uniqueness and give them an unmistakable identity. The Maybach is a modern work of art on wheels. It is the result of expertise and creativity, technology and aesthetics; it is a car for people with the highest expectations with respect to perfection of form, style and lifestyle.

These high-end saloons are majestic and highly elegant – with harmonious proportions and classic lines. A fine balance between classic and avant-garde features already distinguishes the new Maybach from everything conventional at a glance, and constitutes its special stylistic appeal. The designers have intentionally combined gentle, sweeping lines with elegantly modelled contours to give the bodywork a flowing appearance. The proportions – a relatively long front end and a short rear end – reinforce this impression in conjunction with the striking wedge-shape of the front, giving the cars muscular dynamism.

Timelessness is another outstanding characteristic of the Maybach's design. Its lines are intended to retain their validity for a long time to come – an ideal which applies to both the exterior and interior design. In every sense of the word this makes the new Maybach an automobile for life.

Side aspect: harmonious proportions, elegant contours

Two chrome strips extending along the entire body at different heights lend a formal structure to the side aspect, divide the plane surfaces and characterise the majestic appearance of the stretched silhouette as additional stylistic features. A third chrome section extending from the A-pillar, along the roof edge and into the tail end provides a visual frame for the large side windows.

The design of the waistline likewise accentuates the powerful and at the same time dignified appearance of the Maybach. The waistlines act as broad "shoulders" in carrying the side windows, roof pillars and roof, extend from the front to the rear end and thereby lend strength to the appearance of the body. The bonnet and boot lid are expressively delineated from the wings, their convex form issuing harmoniously from the A and C-pillars as further, distinctive stylistic elements of the high-end luxury motor car.

If a Maybach customer decides in favour of two-tone bodywork, the central panels of the doors and wings delineated by the chrome strips are painted in a second colour. A total of 17 exterior paint colours are available - 16 of them metallic finishes – and can be combined for a two-tone finish. The Maybach therefore offers over a hundred possibilities for individual body design.

Interior: a lounge on wheels

The interior also imparts a clear message: sheer luxury – unobtrusive yet unmistakable; stylish elegance and the utmost perfection in every detail.

The first impression of the interior is of exceptional spaciousness. The rear seat passengers, particularly, are intended to feel they are at the centre of things, and can all enjoy the comfort of a lounge on wheels. The large rear doors are the portals to this dignified world; they open to an angle of 85 degrees, so even just entering the car becomes an experience.

Two comfortable individual seats invite one to sit down, and the occupants immediately notice one of the very special features of the Maybach interior: Grand nappa – one of the finest types of leather available, and finished with an unprecedented standard of care. In short, a product unequalled in its tangible quality. Used for the first time, and exclusively in the new Maybach automobiles, this Grand nappa leather upholstery shows slight folds as it extends across the seats, making their surfaces unusually soft and comfortable.

The upper section of the dashboard, the armrests on the centre and rear consoles and the flaps in the side doors are likewise upholstered in nappa leather. Specialist suppliers cut a total of approx. 210 leather sections to size for every Maybach and sew them together into 62 larger units – all by hand of course. These include another new feature in regular automobile production, namely nubuk leather, which has a very fine nap as a result of special processing. The lower section of the dashboard and the interior door panels of the Maybach are lined with this soft material, which creates a subtle and exquisite contrast to the nappa leather.

Customers are able to decide the interior colour scheme of their Maybach in personal discussion with designers. There is a choice of six tasteful upholstery colours:

• Labrador anthracite
• Galapagos grey
• Barrier reef red
• Maori pearl
• California beige
• Maldives blue

Fine wood: more than 100 hand-crafted items of decorative trim

In combination with another exquisite natural material – fine wood - Grand nappa, nappa and nubuk leather form a unique blend which likewise exudes a high-class lounge atmosphere and gives new meaning to the term exclusive.

Stylish wood trim sections which tastefully embellish most of the surfaces in the doors and centre consoles attract the attention, and a careful count reveals that the Maybach has more than 100 of these – all carefully hand-crafted and individually selected by experienced specialists to ensure a matching grain and colour shade. Three fine wood veneers are available to the discerning Maybach clientele:

• Cherry, a light-coloured wood with a generous, arched grain which is contrasted with the impact-resistant, jet-black, high-gloss lacquer known as piano lacquer;

• Amboyna, a brown exotic wood with a fine, circular grain;

• Burr walnut, a reddish-brown, finely grained veneer from the root of the Californian walnut tree.

The three sections of lamellar trim – a new feature in automobile design – are a particular masterpiece of the wood craftsman's art. With a total length of 563 centimetres, a width of 3.9 centimetres and a height of 3.3 centimetres this extends across the instrument panel and the door panels in a gentle, elegant curve. This exquisite lamination of exotic wood is made up of seven individual lengths, around 20 work stages are required to join different, millimetre-thick veneers with equally fine aluminium inlays by hand – with a final layer of cherry, amboyna or burr walnut at the top. The 3.3-centimetre thick, laminated trim section consists of 63 different layers in all. Stylish detail that embodies perfection.

Leather and fine wood are without doubt the predominant materials which contribute to the dignified interior atmosphere of the Maybach. Soft Alcantara and high-quality velour complement this ensemble of materials: Alcantara is used to give the roof pillar linings, the sun visors and roof lining a surface which is pleasant to the touch, for example, while velour with a deep nap is used for the floor carpeting.

Interior lighting: light as a design feature

Apart from fine leather and wood the designers have also used light as a design feature in the interior of the Maybach. In addition to numerous lights which switch on automatically when the doors are opened, or reading lights which come on at the touch of a button, they have developed a feature known as ambient lighting. This creates a pleasant, diffused lighting which remains switched on even when on the move and provides a special atmosphere in the interior.

This ambient lighting feature includes two light panels in the front overhead control panel, four lights in the roof section (Maybach 62) between the two B-pillars, three upward floodlights on the inside of each B and C-pillar, a downward LED in the rear-view mirror, lighting strips in the roof lining between the B and C-pillars (Maybach 62) and lighting in the front and rear footwells.

But without doubt the main attraction of this sophisticated lighting concept is the sliding liner for the optionally available panoramic roof in the Maybach 62. This is lined with an electro-luminescent membrane (EL membrane) which is switched on at the touch of a button when closed and emits a pleasant, diffused light over its entire surface. A potentiometer in the rear centre console enables rear passengers in the Maybach 62 to regulate the illumination of the EL membrane and the ambient lighting.

Interior - A world apart

The new Maybachs are distinguished vehicles which excell in every respect – especially in the interior. Elegance, comfort, equipment and technology are at a previously unattainable level: they meet the most demanding requirements and represent the peak of automobile development.

Merely glancing at the dimensions of these high-end luxury cars shows that the Maybach is a world apart, offering generous space in which the occupants can feel completely at ease:

• The interior length – measured from the driver's accelerator heel point to the rear seat back is 2245 millimetres in the Maybach 57 and 2682 millimetres in the Maybach 62.

• The distance between seats (front hip point to rear hip point) is 1133 and 1570 millimetres respectively.

• The distance between the front seats is 840 millimetres – measured from seat centre to seat centre.

• The boot capacity significantly exceeds the figures usually encountered in this vehicle class. It is 605 litres – approx. 40 percent more than in other luxury cars. This means that the luggage compartment of the Maybach has enough room to accommodate five large suitcases or four golfbags. Should a Maybach customer require a spare wheel (available at no extra cost) instead of the standard tyre sealing kit TIREFIT, the boot capacity is reduced to 500 litres.

Front seats: integral system on a robust aluminium structure

The seats for the driver and front passenger are based on the integral concept. This means that all the seat belt components are directly connected to the seat structure and can therefore perform their full protective functions irrespective of the seat position. This also applies to the sidebags, which are located in the backrests. In order to control the forward movement of the occupants during an accident the seat backrests and seat frames are capable of withstanding heavy loads. This requires a robust seat base: the base structure for the seat cushion and backrest is a welded construction of extruded aluminium sections and formed steel components which has passed all crash tests with excellent results.

The greatest possible seating comfort is provided by the sophisticated spring core principle with its unequalled vibration damping characteristics. Polyurethane foam inserts provide the spring core with additional support and work in conjunction with a rubberised hair mat to improve damping even further. The electric seat adjustment and the memory function with five programmable keys are further standard features. The system automatically transfers two individual seating positions – including the steering wheel, mirror and multicontour positions – to the microchips in the two electronic ignition keys, therefore no adjustments need be made after entering the vehicle. The front seats and head restraints in the Maybach may be electrically adjusted in twelve ways.

Colour monitors linked to the TV receiver and DVD player are integrated into the rear of the front seat backrests. These are likewise electrically adjustable for inclination.

Rear seats: first-class comfort and convenience

The rear seats in the Maybach 57 feature the same technology and comfort as the front seats: integrated automatic comfort-fit inertia-reel seatbelts with belt tensioners and belt force limiters, electric fore-and-aft, angle and backrest adjustment with memory function, multicontour backrest with dynamic lumbar support and seat heating. The seats also feature a buckle-mounted belt tensioner acting on the lapbelt and manually adjustable side bolsters on the head restraints.

Multicontour backrest: gentle back massage at the touch of a button

Pneumatically adjustable air cushions in the backrests of the front and rear seats and a program-controlled massage function further enhance the seating comfort. Pressing the "Pulse" button fills and empties the central air cushion in the lumbar region at precisely defined intervals and with changing intensity, thereby relieving the back muscles of stress and stimulating the vertebral metabolism according to orthopaedic findings. This gentle back massage continues for five minutes and can be repeated at any time.

On request the rear seats are available with active seat ventilation: eight miniature ventilators in each seat cause air to flow evenly from the perforations in the seat surface via special air ducts and a permeable fabric. This ensures a pleasant seat temperature. The airflow may be adjusted in three stages.

Reclining seats: sit back and relax

Newly developed, reclining seats complete the feel-good factor for the passengers in the Maybach 62. Their special feature is the unique reclining position, which travellers have previously only encountered with the First Class compartments of modern passenger jets. If the rear passenger selects the pre-programmed reclining position by pushing a button, the seat backrest slowly reclines to the rear by up to 47 degrees, and at the same time a thigh support and footrest are pivoted forward from the lower seat section. In this way the passenger is able to enjoy the journey in a very relaxed resting position and adjust the seat to his personal comfort requirements with just a few operating commands. The following individual adjustments are possible:

• The fore-and-aft position of the rear seat can be adjusted by up to 135 millimetres.

• The backrest can be individually adjusted to an angle between 25 and 47 degrees.

• The head restraint is adjustable by 115 millimetres in height, approx. 60 millimetres fore-and-aft and by 25 degrees in angle. The side bolsters are also individually adjustable to improve head support in the reclining position.

• The seat cushion is extendable by up to 60 millimetres in the seated position, and its angle can be varied by 14 to 24 degrees.

• In the reclined position the thigh support can be adjusted by up to 85 millimetres.

• The lower leg support has a two-stage, telescopic length adjustment by up to 240 millimetres. The angle of the lower leg support may be adjusted by up to 75 degrees.

• The footrest is individually adjustable by up to 110 degrees.

Seven electric motors carry out the adjustments in this technical masterpiece – with three operating simultaneously depending on the operating command. An electronic control unit monitors the complex procedure involved and controls the logical sequence. The kinematics of the individual seat components are programmed to ensure that the occupant's body – including the lower legs and feet – is always fully supported even in positions between the normal seating and maximum reclining positions.

The memory function makes operation of these innovative reclining seats even more convenient, as it allows three individual seat positions to be stored for retrieval. Simply pressing a button is enough to move the rear seat to the most comfortable position for each individual.

Safety: sophisticated integral system with crash-responsive backrest

In addition to maximum comfort the newly developed reclining seats in the Maybach 62 naturally provide the greatest possible safety - in any position. The restraint system with belt tensioner, belt force limiter and sidebag is integrated into the backrest, ensuring that the seat occupant has maximum protection even when reclining. Other safety features include the innovative, crash-responsive backrest, which moves to the upright position in the event of a frontal collision, and a tensioner on the belt buckle which tightens the lap belt during an accident.

Folding table: a stable workplace elegantly surfaced in fine wood

Since the Maybach will not only be used as a prestigious and comfortable luxury motor car by its owner, but also on occasion as a mobile office, the engineers in Sindelfingen have developed a folding table for each of the two rear seats, drawing on the basis of experience gained by their colleagues in the aviation industry. Intricately machined aluminium is used as a material. The table surfaces are of two-part construction and are finished in fine wood, while the undersides are covered in nappa leather. A chromed aluminium frame protects the edges of these high-quality features. Both folding tables (standard on the Maybach 62) are infinitely adjustable for reach and inclination, and are suitable for use as an oddments table, writing table or support for a notebook. They are housed in special compartments on both sides of the rear centre console to save space and may be conveniently raised into position by means of a leather strap.

Rear console: centrepiece for entertainment, communication and pleasure

Numerous stowage facilities allow the rear passengers to accommodate small and larger items conveniently. The cleverly designed interior door panels alone provide ten stowage compartments in the Maybach 62 (eight in the Maybach 57). However, the centrepiece of the stowage concept in the rear of the Maybach is the multifunctional centre console between the seats.

This is where the Maybach engineers have located everything required for the entertainment and convenience of the rear seat passengers: a DVD player, six-disc CD changer, two telephone systems, a refrigerator compartment with its own electric compressor and a sophisticated system which holds glasses and a champagne bottle securely in place Specifically designed for the Maybach, the champagne goblets of fine sterling silver (or other stemmed glasses) are retained by clips which automatically engage over the base of the glass when this is put down. The retaining clips are immediately released if the glass or goblet is lifted slightly.

The rear centre console also contains various stowage compartments and a keypad with controls for the central locking system, the TELEAID system (SOS call), the interior lighting, the intercom system (if the Maybach 62 is equipped with a partition) and the rear window and side window curtains. Sockets for connecting a camcorder, MP3-player or video games are also provided.

To ensure that passengers in the rear are always informed about the current vehicle speed, outside temperature and time of day the engineers have developed three attractively styled dial instruments which are integrated in a console in the roof lining.

Partition: glass partition with electrically controlled transparency

If a Maybach 62 customer requires a partition between the front section and the rear of the car, the adjustment possibilities for the front seats are slightly reduced but the unique seating space in the rear remains unaffected. Aluminium, wood and glass are the materials used for the partition: the lower section is a laminated wood-aluminium construction, while the electrically retractable upper section is of laminated glass.

This glass possesses the same special technical characteristics as the panoramic roof of the Maybach 62: electrotransparency. As an intermediate layer the glass has a liquid crystal membrane of electrically conductive plastic whose crystals arrange themselves in such a way that the glass is transparent when subjected to an electrical voltage. When the voltage is switched off the liquid crystals lose their ordered structure and the glass becomes opaque. To allow the rear passengers and the chauffeur to communicate even when the partition is closed, an intercom system is included in the standard equipment of the Maybach with a partition.

Dashboard: hand-crafted for the height of luxury

Even if he drives the vehicle himself, the owner of a Maybach enjoys the same stylish elegance and luxury which makes the rear of this high-end motor car so incomparable. The form and function, aesthetics and appointments in the front section are just as unique a synthesis as in the rear. The surfaces of the interior features are exquisitely finished as hand-crafted masterpieces, with fine leather upholstery, discreet chrome strips, exquisite wood trim and highly polished switches.

The upper section of the instrument panel, knee bolster and glove compartment lid feature three-layer padding and feel particularly soft as a result. The first layer is formed of four-millimetre thick foam material followed by a three-millimetre layer of polyester. This is then covered by the actual leather with its striking, hand-sewn double seams. The ventilation outlets feature fine chrome surrounds as a decorative effect. The ventilation grille directed at the windscreen has an additional stowage compartment with room for spectacles.

Instrument cluster: black screen technology for outstanding clarity

The instrument cluster bears elegant Maybach-style lettering on the faces of the fuel gauge and coolant temperature gauge (both left), the speedometer (centre) and rev counter (right). The cockpit instruments are not visible at rest, but only come to life once the doors are unlocked by remote control or the KEYLESS-GO system and the driver takes his seat. This automatically activates what are known as cold cathode tubes and white light-emitting diodes to illuminate the instruments. Thanks to this technology, which replaces conventional bulbs, the displays in the instrument cluster have a particularly brilliant quality. The light intensity is regulated by a sensor as a function of the ambient light conditions.

Directly in the driver's field of vision lies the instrument cluster's central display, whose information can be accessed by pressing the illuminated keys on the steering wheel. This information is grouped into eight main menus:

• Mileage recorder (trip and overall mileage) Audio equipment (radio, CD player) Car telephone Auto Pilot System (APS) DISTRONIC Trip computer Fault memory and display
• Individual settings

The driver is able to access various detailed information within the main menus using scroll-keys.

Steering wheel: wood/leather combination, with heating on request

The rim of the four-spoke steering wheel (diameter 384 millimetres) is exquisitely finished in nappa leather and fine wood which are separated by slim chrome rings. The leather segments can also be electrically heated on request. The driver is able to make individual adjustments to the height and reach of the steering wheel using a small lever on the steering column. An electric motor moves it to the desired position.

Centre console: near-perfect in form and function

The centre console is the principal command centre in the Maybach. This is where the driver or front passenger operate the COMAND system and the automatic climate control. The keys for shock absorber adjustment, the DISTRONIC proximity control system, the PARKTRONIC parking aid, the Electronic Stability Program ESP® and the intercom system are arranged on the transmission tunnel trim. Two cup holders are to be found beneath the cover of the stowage compartment in front of the centre armrest.

The cordless front handset of the phone system is located to the right of the centre console; its rear counterpart is accommodated in the rear centre console. The front handset is concealed in a separate compartment between the centre console and the glove compartment and pivots into view at the touch of a button. The covers of the telephone and glove compartments feature soft nubuk leather.

Air conditioning: two separate systems for exemplary climate control

Two things are required in order to equip an interior as spacious as that of the Maybach with efficient air conditioning: a great deal of experience and excellent technology. The Maybach developers in Sindelfingen possess both, and have come up with a climate control system which is second to none. In fact the Maybach is fitted with not just one, but two state-of-the-art automatic climate control systems – one for the front section and one specifically for the rear.

These systems are sensor-controlled to take into account the temperature, the humidity, the intensity of the sunshine and pollutant levels in the outside atmosphere; they are also linked to each other via a CAN databus. In order to achieve the best possible cooling performance the new Maybach features two separate, infinitely adjustable refrigerant compressors. Their high efficiency is illustrated by the example of a measurement carried out at an outside temperature of 48 degrees Celsius and a solar heating effect of 1000 Watts per square metre. Within minutes the climate control systems in the Maybach 62 cooled the interior temperature of up to 70 degrees Celsius (measured at the driver's head level) down to a pleasant 25 degrees Celsius.

The two climate control systems are able to circulate up to 715 cubic metres of fresh air through the interior of the luxury motor car per hour – this too is a new record in passenger car air conditioning.

Thanks to its high performance, sophisticated sensor system and intelligent control the system in the Maybach enables each of the four occupants to adjust and program the air conditioning to suit individual requirements. In automatic mode the system regulates this four-zone climate control by itself and ensures that the set temperature remains constant and virtually draught-free for every seat. The personal climate control settings for the driver and the three passengers are automatically transferred to the appropriate electronic ignition key for the Maybach and stored in memory.

Rear climate control system: individual settings for each seat

While the front air conditioning unit in the Maybach is located beneath the dashboard, the engineers have accommodated the rear unit in an extension to the front centre console. The rear end of this console also features an array of operating controls for the rear climate control system, allowing both rear passengers to select numerous individual settings: automatic mode, temperature selection, air distribution and also independent fan settings for both sides. Two sensors monitor the temperature in the rear of the Maybach at various points and transmit their data to the electronic control unit, which simultaneously evaluates the information provided by the sun sensor (position and intensity of the sun) and calculates the individual air volume required for each seat.

Air distribution: electric motors for the ventilation outlets

Thermal and airflow calculation models played an important part during the development of this complex and efficient system. Long before the first prototype tests it was with the help of these models that the engineers were able to examine the effectiveness of various ideas and optimise the most promising concepts. The question of the best possible size for the ventilation outlets, and where they were best located, was a major topic for these climatic simulations. The result is a combination of ten outlets for the rear of the Maybach.

With the exception of the footwells, the volume of air can be infinitely varied by control wheel at each outlet. Precise positioning of the closing and distribution flaps is then carried out by electric motors which are controlled by the climate control microprocessor. This makes it possible to vary the air distribution without affecting the volume of air flowing into the interior. The result is rapid cooling of the rear section, without draughts.

If the Maybach 62 is equipped with a partition the ventilation outlets in the B-pillars and rear roof panels are fitted with additional fans to ensure a pleasant atmosphere even when the partition is closed.

Effective ventilation of the front section is provided by twelve air outlets, most of which are pivotable, whose air volume can be infinitely varied by a control wheel. A total of 14 electric motors inside the climate control unit regulate the airflow as set by the occupants, or when in automatic mode according to a computer programme. As in the rear climate control system the fan speed may be individually adjusted for each side.

Using the handy operating unit in the centre console the driver and front passenger are able to select the interior temperature, air distribution, fan speed (in seven stages) and automatic mode separately, and also control a number of other climate-related functions:

• Defrost setting for rapid defrosting of the windscreen and side windows.

• Air recirculation for the entire interior, including the useful tunnel switch, allowing all open windows and the sunroof to be closed at the touch of a button. During recirculated air operation a pollutant sensor automatically closes the recirculated air flap if the concentration of pollutants in the outside atmosphere exceeds a certain level.

• Activated charcoal filter function for fresh and recirculated air operation to absorb airborne pollutants and reduce unpleasant odours. A pollutant sensor closes the recirculated air flap if the concentration of pollutants in the outside atmosphere exceeds a certain level.

• The dust/pollen filter is active at all times and filters the air entering the vehicle, or – if the recirculated air function is activated – the air circulating within the interior.

• Residual engine heat utilisation, which provides 30 minutes of heating or ventilation for the interior when the engine is switched off.

• Heated rear window with an automatic time interval.

The rear climate control system may also be operated from the front by pressing a button. The system then shows the settings chosen by the rear passengers in the front display, where the chauffeur can adjust them as required.

Ventilation: energy from sunlight

On request Maybach will equip the high-end luxury car with a specially developed solar module, which is accommodated in the front or rear section of the roof, depending on the model version. Covering an area of approx. 0.5 square metres, 30 solar cells convert sunlight into electrical energy and achieve an output of up to 63 Watts. This solar-generated current begins to flow as soon as the ignition is switched off, powering the ventilation fan in the front climate control system. This provides a constant circulation of fresh air in the interior, which means that the dashboard, seats and other interior features become less hot in the summer. At an outside temperature of 35 degrees Celsius the interior temperature is reduced by up to 15 degrees Celsius thanks to this air circulation.

Body - On the safe side

Intelligent lightweight construction plays a major part during the development of an automobile as majestic in size as the Maybach. Using the latest calculation methods, innovative design processes and high-quality, lightweight materials the engineers were able to achieve significant results in reducing the weight of the bodyshell without compromising strength, rigidity and vibration comfort. On the contrary, with a static torsion of 1.82 millimetres per metre (between the axles) and a static bending of 0.22 millimetres (at the side members) the new Maybach achieves unequalled results in its vehicle class.

The fact that the bodyshell including all external fittings tips the scales at "only" 586 kilograms (Maybach 62: 622 kilograms), and yet passes the most stringent crash tests with flying colours and offers its occupants the highest level of safety, is due to intelligent body design and the widespread use of high-strength steel alloys. These achieve maximum strength (= safety) with the minimum of material (= weight). The proportion of total bodyshell weight accounted for by these high-strength steels is approx. 41 percent.

Five large aluminium components also contribute to the exemplary, low weight of the Maybach bodyshell: the roof, bonnet, doors and front wings. The boot lid and spare wheel recess are made from high-quality glass-fibre reinforced plastics.

Doors: "superplastically" formed aluminium

The Maybach engineers broke new technical ground when designing the doors, which are made wholly of aluminium. "Large dimensions, low weight" was the criterion which favoured this material. Another important aspect was the structural rigidity of the slim window surrounds, which in turn has a major influence on the aero-acoustics or noise comfort at high speeds. The result of these complex analyses is a masterpiece of modern bodyshell design:

• The window surrounds consist of welded, high-strength multi-chamber extruded sections with outstanding structural rigidity.
  For the first time the complex internal door components and hinge reinforcements have been produced using the technique of "superplastic forming". This involves forming the aluminium components at temperatures of up to 500 degrees Celsius under increasing pressure. Owing to the relatively long time it requires, this innovative process is particularly suitable for exclusive, limited model series such as the Maybach and guarantees the highest precision, quality and crash stability.
  The interior door components and window surrounds are directly laser-welded together.

• The integral side impact protection likewise consists of multi-chamber extruded sections, which exhibit impressive rigidity with a low component width. These are arranged horizontally in the front doors, while the engineers decided in favour of a diagonal arrangement in the rear doors for the greatest possible safety.

In addition to high-tech lightweight construction and a high level of safety the doors of the Maybach 62 have functions which make access and egress more convenient. A newly developed hydraulic system ensures that from an opening angle of 15 degrees the doors are arrested in any position – even on gradients or in strong winds. The pneumatic closing aid pulls all doors of the Maybach (and the boot lid) firmly closed.

Crash structure: robust forked members in the front end

When designing the front-end structure the Maybach developers drew on the unique expertise of the Mercedes-Benz brand, using a feature which offers numerous advantages in passenger cars of this size, namely the forked member. These are robust, straight longitudinal members on both sides of the front body structure which fork towards the transmission tunnel and side skirts in front of the firewall to disperse impact forces efficiently during an offset frontal collision. This imposes uniform loads on the tunnel, floor and side wall, thereby reducing any deformation of the passenger cell to a minimum.

The Maybach also features two flexurally rigid cross-members: one at the very front of the front-end structure, where it acts as a tensile structure and activates both side members to absorb energy during an offset frontal collision, and a second transverse structure consisting of two separate cross-members at wheel height in front of the firewall. This prevents any penetration into the footwell in the event of an accident.

The body structure also absorbs crash energy at a second longitudinal member level above the front wheel arches. These robust sheet metal sections of high-strength steel extend from the front end to the A-pillars. The two side members beneath the doors are equipped with special impact-absorbing elements at the front. These brace the front wheels during a crash and thereby protect the integrity of the firewall.

Passenger cell: systematic, all-round protection

The extremely rigid passenger cell is the heart of the body structure, and therefore also of the safety concept. It is designed to provides its occupants with the best possible all-round protection thanks to a sophisticated package of individual measures:

• Beneath the dashboard a tube of high-strength steel bolted to the A-pillars on both sides ensures a high level of transverse rigidity. This is supported by a strut on the transmission tunnel and also provides a firm mounting for the dashboard, the steering jacket tube and various major assemblies.
  In the form of an integral tubular frame, both side walls of the Maybach have a special design feature which considerably improves occupant protection during frontal and side impacts, as well as in the event of a rollover. The high-strength steel tube of 28-millimetre diameter reinforces the A-pillar, the front section of the roof frame and the B-pillar. The multi-part construction of the side wall enables the engineers to adapt the material thickness to the loads encountered in the different impact areas, while welded-in bulkheads in all structural components lend additional stability to the large side walls.
  The understructure consists of a separate central tunnel with a steel sheet thickness of 1.4 millimetres, an additional tunnel reinforcement and floor panels welded to the side members on both sides. In addition four die-cast aluminium cross-members bolted to the tunnel increase the longitudinal and transverse rigidity of the floor. In the event of a side impact three robust cross-members beneath the seats and at the rear of the passenger cell absorb the crash energy.

• During a rear-end collision a robust structure of high-strength steel sections at the rear end of the luxury car provides the passengers with protection. These large box-sections are able to absorb very large forces, and as in the case of the front-end structure a robust cross-member ensures that both longitudinal members help to dissipate the energy. This is particularly important during an offset rear collision. The steel fuel tank is located above the rear axle, i.e. outside the impact area.

Equipped with this sophisticated all-round protection package the new Maybach was subjected to numerous crash tests at the Mercedes Safety Centre, where it passed even the most stringent with flying colours. These included

• ... a frontal 40-percent offset impact against a deformable barrier acc. to the European NCAP procedure (New Car Assessment Programme);
  ... a 100-percent frontal impact against a rigid barrier acc. to US-NCAP;
  ... a lateral 90-degree impact acc. to the Euro-NCAP standard;
  ... the pole impact test acc. to Euro-NCAP and US regulations (FMVSS 201);
  ... the US-NCAP side impact at an angle of 27 degrees;

• ... the US rear impact.

Airbags: activation according to accident severity

A highly-effective, adaptive restraint system provides the highest level of occupant protection. Adaptive means that the driver and front passenger airbags automatically adapt to the severity of an accident. Moreover, the electronics register the weight of the front passenger and also take this value into account when activating the front passenger airbag as the situation requires.

Acceleration sensors mounted on the radiator cross-member in the front end – known as up-front sensors – allow the severity of an impact to be recognised at an early stage and thereby create the conditions for adaptive airbag control. Accordingly the front airbags are activated in two stages depending on the accident severity: during a minor frontal impact the electronic control unit activates only one chamber of the two-stage airbag gas generators, and the airbags are inflated to a lower internal pressure. If the system detects a heavy frontal collision, however, it also activates the second-stage chambers in the airbag gas generators approx. 15 milliseconds later; the airbags are then inflated to a higher pressure and provide the vehicle occupants with protection suited to the severity of the accident. The early crash detection made possible by the up-front sensors also shortens the time between the impact and the start of belt tensioner activation, ensuring that the occupants are optimally restrained by the seat belts.

The weight of the front passenger is automatically measured by a special membrane in the seat upholstery. To be precise, it is not the actual bodyweight but the distribution of the pressure on the seat cushion that is measured. This enables the electronics to allocate the front passenger to various different weight classes and influence airbag activation accordingly. This means that in a less severe accident both generator stages would be activated to give the best possible protection to a heavy front passenger. In the case of a lightweight front passenger, however, the second airbag stage would only be activated during a more severe accident.

The front airbags in the Maybach have a volume of 64 litres on the driver's side and 125 litres on the front passenger side.

Seat belt system: fully integrated into the seat

The three-point seat belts with automatic comfort-fit, high-performance belt tensioners and belt force limiters, the indispensable basic components of a modern occupant protection system, are integrated into the seats of this high-end luxury vehicle. This ensures that the belt is optimally positioned in any seating attitude and can therefore carry out its full protective role. The position of the diagonal seat belt is automatically adjusted to the shoulder height of the driver and front passenger via a guide slot.

As a world first the engineers in Sindelfingen have developed a "crash-responsive" backrest for the innovative reclining seats in the rear of the Maybach 62. In the event of an accident the backrests move back into the upright position, thereby ensuring the best possible occupant rebound protection. This is achieved by deformable torsion bars located between the backrest and the rear bulkhead.

The submarining effect – in which rear seat occupants wearing a seat belt slip beneath the lap belt during an accident – is prevented by a buckle-mounted belt tensioner acting on the lap belt and a precautionary seat adjustment feature: in any seat position – including the reclined position – the rear seat cushions are automatically set at a slight angle so that the occupants are firmly supported during a frontal collision and cannot slide forward beneath the lap belt.

Side impact protection: sidebags for all occupants

With sidebags for each seat and two windowbags on each side as standard, the restraint system in the Maybach also meets the highest expectations in terms of side impact protection:

• The four sidebags (volume: ten litres each) are integrated into the seat backrests. During a crash they instantly interpose themselves between the occupant and the door at chest level, reducing the loads acting on the thorax.

• The four windowbags complement the protective effect of the sidebags; during a side impact they deploy across the side windows like a large curtain within 25 milliseconds, thereby providing the passengers with head protection over a wide area. The volume of each front windowbag is 15 litres, those in the rear having a volume of 20 litres each.

The latest accident research findings have led to the development of a new rollover sensor whose information is used by the airbag control unit to activate the windowbags when a rollover is imminent. The air cushions remain inflated for some time after the crash and can also improve occupant protection in this eventuality.

Aerodynamics: Cd figure of 0.31

Despite its majestic size the new Maybach 62 also cuts a very fine figure in aerodynamic terms and illustrates the high capabilities of aerodynamic development at DaimlerChrysler even in this vehicle class. Expressed in figures: with a frontal area of 2.62 square metres and a Cd figure of 0.31, the drag area is 0.81 square metres.

Nonetheless the aerodynamic specialists in Sindelfingen only regard their work as successful if they are able to show respectable results in the field of handling safety as well. This is where the coefficients of lift at the front and rear axles are the measure of all things. These are extremely low in the case of the Maybach, and form the aerodynamic basis for exemplary handling stability at high speeds or when braking. The speed-related level control function of the AIRMATIC DC (Dual Control) air suspension system also improves handling safety at high speeds: from 140 km/h the system automatically lowers the suspension by 15 millimetres at both axles.

The Maybach developers have reduced both the drag and lift with a number of detailed measures, for example:

• The aerodynamically optimised shape of the bonnet ensures a low airflow resistance across the windscreen wipers.
  The A-pillars are contoured for particularly low drag. The slight curve of the roof and rear window also has a favourable effect on the airflow characteristics.
  The engine compartment trim directs the airflow to the rear and prevents turbulence in this area.
  The large, smooth area of plastic underfloor panelling allows the slipstream to pass beneath the vehicle body with very little turbulence.

• The discreet spoiler lip integrated into the boot lid reduces lift and provides a clearly defined trailing edge.

Aero-acoustics: the minimisation of noise

As in the areas of lightweight construction, safety and aerodynamics, the engineers developing the bodyshell of the Maybach were also at pains to achieve a level of noise comfort which would do justice to this high-end luxury car. Most of this effort was devoted to the avoidance of wind noise, the reduction of tyre and road noise and sound insulation measures for the interior – and with excellent results.

In order to trace acoustic disturbances at source the specialists spent hundreds of hours in the aero-acoustics tunnel, using special microphones and sensors to identify body features which caused wind noise or vibration. The vanes in the front bumper, the exterior mirrors, the A-pillars and the window and roof surfaces were aero-acoustically optimised by this means. The sophisticated sealing systems in the joints of detachable body components, which effectively reduce wind noise in the gaps even at high speeds, are also a result of painstaking, detailed work in the wind tunnel.

Extensive noise insulation measures on various body components help to prevent any remaining wind noise from penetrating into the interior. These include continuous sealing strips on the doors and additional seals on the front wings and roof pillars.

The Maybach engineers paid particular attention to low-frequency noises resulting from vibration in large-area components. It was aero-acoustic measurements that provided important information for the rigid, low-vibration design of the underfloor panelling and its attachment points, for example. The specialists prevented the thrumming that could affect ride comfort when the sliding sunroof is open by fitting an air deflector with four precisely calculated notches in its profile. These create small areas of turbulence and so avoid irritating noises.

Glass technology: noise insulation with plastic membranes

Sophisticated glass technology also plays a major part in the high level of noise comfort in the Maybach: the side windows are of newly developed, laminated glass containing an intermediate layer of four plastic membranes. One of these membranes (0.76 millimetres) is an acoustic insulator and significantly reduces noise in the interior.

The side windows of the Maybach have an overall thickness of 7.2 millimetres – 2.2 millimetres more than conventional laminated glass. Improved break-in security is a useful side-effect of this sophisticated glass technology, as the laminated glass makes the side windows considerably more difficult to break. The windscreen and rear window likewise incorporate acoustically effective plastic membranes and have a glass thickness of 6.2 millimetres.

Last but not least, the grey-tinted glass in the Maybach makes a major contribution to climatic comfort. It not only filters out UV radiation but also reflects the infra-red light in the sun's spectrum, which accounts for about 53 percent of the entire energy transmitted by sunlight and plays a major part in heating up the interior. Depending on wavelength, a coating of pure silver and other high-quality metallic oxides reduces infra-red radiation into the interior with an efficiency of up to 80 percent. Compared to glass with a conventional green tint, the overall transmission of energy into the interior through the windscreen is reduced from 60 to approx. 47 percent and through the side windows from 44 to 36 percent, thanks to infra-red reflection.

Panoramic roof: transparency at the touch of a button

The innovative, electro-transparent panoramic roof of the Maybach 62 is a highlight of a very special kind. With its elegant cassette structure of exotic wood it extends across the rear section like a glass dome and offers the rear passengers a unique ability to select an individual lighting atmosphere. The manufacturing process for this high-tech glass system is also absolutely typical of the Maybach: it is hand-crafted.

The optional panoramic roof is divided into two halves: the front section incorporates 30 solar cells over an area of approx. 0.5 square metres which convert sunlight into electrical energy and power the ventilation fan of the front climate control system in the Maybach 62 with an output of up to 63 Watts. This solar power flows as soon as the car is parked, and ensures a continuous circulation of fresh air in the interior.

The rear section of the panoramic roof features a number of technical innovations over an area of approx. 0.75 square metres. This roof section consists of two approx. six-millimetre thick panes of glass with an electrically powered, sliding liner between them. The laminated glass pane on the inside has an intermediate layer in the form of a liquid crystal membrane of conductive polymer plastic. The membrane has a cable connection to a control unit which generates an AC output of 90 Volts. Switching the power on arranges the crystals in the plastic membrane in such a way that the glass becomes transparent and allows daylight into the rear of the Maybach 62 over its entire area. The special feature is that as soon as the AC voltage is switched off, the liquid crystals lose their transparent arrangement and the light is fragmented in all directions. The glass becomes opaque and filters the daylight to produce a pleasant, diffused glow, with only approx. 76 percent reaching the interior. This electrically controlled transparency has its world premiere in the Maybach 62.

Thanks to this unique roof technology the rear passengers in this luxury motor car can decide in accordance with their mood or the weather conditions whether to enjoy a bright interior flooded with daylight in which to admire an exclusive, panoramic view of the scenery, or whether to relax beneath a semi-transparent glass dome. For dull weather conditions or longer journeys by night the panoramic roof has yet another highlight for an individual interior lighting effect: an illuminated sliding liner.

Apart from the electro-transparent panoramic roof Maybach customers have numerous other possibilities where roof design is concerned:

• In the Maybach 57 they can choose between a fully panelled roof or a sliding/tilting sunroof. For both versions, a solar module is optionally available.

• In the Maybach 62 they are able to choose between an aluminium roof with or without an integrated solar module, an electrically operated sliding/tilting sunroof in the rear with solar module and a sliding/tilting sunroof without solar module. In both cases an electrically operated, sliding liner is included.

Headlamps: lighting features for an unmistakable identity

Taking a close look at the headlamps of the luxury limousine reveals a good example of the attention to detail lavished on the Maybach by its developers: the lenses of the bi-xenon headlamps bear the double-M emblem of the Maybach craft shop – a subtle reinforcement of product identity which is at the same time reminiscent of the legendary Maybach "Zeppelin" of 1930, whose headlamp lenses bore the company trademark.

Bi-xenon is a synonym for the best and most efficient headlamp technology. The great advantages of this system include outstanding brilliance, long range and particularly uniform illumination of the road surface, an important contribution to active safety. The powerful gas discharge headlamps generate their low and main beam with a xenon bulb: while the entire light output is available at main beam, a shutter slides between the lamp and the lens to obscure part of the beam when switching to low beam. When main beam is selected the halogen spotlights (H7) in the inner headlamps are also switched on.

The headlamp units of the Maybach also accommodate H7 fog lamps with the latest projection technology. The driver is able to switch these on together with the low beam headlights or sidelights to provide exceptionally good illumination of the road margins.

The exterior lighting of the Maybach is also unmistakable by virtue of what are called side markers on the outer positions of the headlamp units and in the exterior mirrors. These additional lights in the headlamp units and LEDs in the mirror housings, which glow discreetly when low beam is switched on, characterise the appearance of the Maybach in the dark and make it unmistakable even at night.

A high-pressure cleaning system ensures that the plastic lenses of the headlamps are efficiently and gently kept clear.

Tail lights: 528 LEDs for four functions

The engineers systematically opted in favour of modern LED technology for most of the rear lighting functions. A total of 528 light-emitting diodes make their presence seen when the brakes are applied, or as indicators, tail lights and fog lamps. Only the reversing light has modern HPS bulbs with an output of 24 Watts.

There are many good reasons for using LED technology. One of the most important is the very small space required by light-emitting diodes. It has therefore been possible to distribute the LEDs for the tail lights evenly over the entire surface of the rear light cluster to achieve uniform illumination well into the side areas, whatever angle the lights are seen from. Accordingly the light from each tail light extends from the flanks of the bodywork almost to the middle of the rear end, and represents another lighting feature by which the Maybach may be recognised.

The third braking light on the parcel shelf and the side indicator repeaters in the exterior mirror housings are likewise equipped with LEDs. The mirror housings also incorporate courtesy lights, which are switched on when the door is opened and illuminate the entry area.

Lighting functions: automatic emergency and back-up lights

The lighting system of the Maybach is managed by an electronic control unit whose microchip also has various emergency lighting functions stored in its memory. Should a data link or electronic control unit develop a fault, for example, the automatic emergency function prevents failure of the entire vehicle lighting system. Likewise, if one or more bulbs important for vehicle safety should fail, other bulbs are switched on as a back-up.

Daytime driving lights, which also improve active safety by day in the opinion of accident researchers, can be programmed by the driver using the multifunction steering wheel and the central display in the instrument cluster. The low beam headlamps, sidelights, tail lights and licence plate illumination switch on automatically when the engine is started. If the light switch is in the "Auto" position a light sensor on the windscreen ensures that the vehicle lights switch on automatically in the dark. This Headlamp Assist function also relieves the driver of effort when entering a garage and in rainy or snowy conditions.

Engine - Effortless power

Power, smoothness, durability - the qualities of the legendary Maybach engine of 1929 were again the key concerns during the development of the new "Type 12" engine.

The engine of the Maybach saloons bears testimony to the wealth of experience and the great expertise of DaimlerChrysler in the field of developing, designing and building 12-cylinder engines; the Stuttgart car manufacturer is the world's largest producer of V12 powerplants for passenger cars.

5.5 litres displacement, twin turbochargers, peak output of 405 kW/550 hp and peak torque of 900 Newton metres – these are the impressive vital statistics of this unit, which has a higher power output and develops more torque than any other series-production passenger car engine in the world. They guarantee that the Maybach displays its characteristic assurance in all situations.

• The Maybach 57 accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in just 5.2 seconds (Maybach 62: 5.4 seconds).

• Thanks to the high torque a sprint from 60 to 120 km/h takes only 6.2 seconds (Maybach 62: 6.5 seconds).

• The top speed is electronically limited to 250 km/h; it is reached rapidly and with virtually no apparent effort.

This impressive picture is completed by superb smoothness and outstanding vibrational behaviour. These qualities are inherent design features of the new V12 engine: the V-angle of 60 degrees balances inertia forces and moments at source, without the need for special balancer shafts.

The modern "bedplate" design makes another major contribution to particularly smooth, low-noise operation: the "bedplate" consists of an aluminium plate with integral cast iron bearing brackets on the main crankshaft bearings for additional rigidity. This effectively reduces longitudinal vibrations in the engine block. In addition the sump has been isolated from the crankcase as a vibration-reducing measure.

Lightweight construction: outstanding power-to-weight ratio with just 0.66 kg/kW

The crankcase of the new "Type 12" engine is of die-cast aluminium, while the two cylinder head covers are of die-cast magnesium and the cylinder liners are made from a lightweight, low-friction aluminium-silicon alloy which allows a weight-saving of approx. 500 grams per cylinder versus conventional cast iron liners. Other lightweight components of the twelve-cylinder engine include

• ... fracture-split connecting rods made from high-strength, forged-steel alloy;

• ... oil-spray-cooled pistons made from a high-quality aluminium alloy;

• ... hollow-bore camshafts of inductively hardened forged steel;

• ... a weight-optimised, forged-steel crankshaft;

• ... a sump of die-cast aluminium.

Thanks to this advanced lightweight design the power unit tips the scales at just 270 kilograms, achieving an outstanding power-to-weight ratio at 0.66 kg/kW.

Emission control: three-valve technology and large catalytic converters

A camshaft in each of the two banks of cylinders controls the three valves per cylinder via low-friction roller-type cam followers. The two intake valves per cylinder have a diameter of 31 millimetres, while the sodium-cooled exhaust valve measures 35 millimetres. Each valve has a cam follower and is adjusted hydraulically.

The three-valve technology reduces thermal losses at the exhaust stage and speeds catalytic converter warm-up after a cold start. In conjunction with two large ceramic catalytic converters positioned close to the engine this has a decisive influence on ensuring that the new Maybach reliably complies with the strict EU-4 limits.

Emissions are controlled by two catalytic converters which are arranged close to the engine and each contain two ceramic monoliths. Two oxygen sensors per exhaust line – one upstream of the catalytic converter and one between the monoliths – provide the engine control unit with precise information about the fuel-air ratio and the quality of emission control. A front silencer, a mixing area, two intermediate silencers and two rear silencers are further components of the twin-pipe exhaust system which ensure low noise emissions. The total silencer volume is 62 litres.

Torque: more than 600 Newton metres already available at 1500 rpm

The developers of the Type 12 engine were able to dispense with the camshaft adjustment system which is normally featured in other engines and which serves mainly to boost torque at lower engine speeds.

The twin turbochargers aspirate the twelve-cylinder so efficiently that the driver is able to mobilise the enormous power even at very low revs. Expressed in figures: a muscular 622 Newton metres of torque are already on tap at 1500 rpm, the 800 Newton metre mark is reached at 1800 rpm and from 2300 rpm the power unit generates its maximum torque of 900 Newton metres, a figure which is unique among series-production passenger cars. It maintains this up to 3000 rpm. The maximum output of the V12 engine - 405 kW/550 hp – is available at 5250 rpm. The maximum charge pressure is 1.3 bar.

The space-saving positioning of the twin turbochargers in the exhaust manifold maximises their efficiency. A wastegate control system enables the flow of exhaust gases to the turbines to be suited to the current operating point of the engine. Wastegate valves are integrated into each turbocharger and operate electropneumatically, receiving their commands from the engine control unit. This powerful microprocessor controls all engine functions and uses a number of additional sensor data specifically to control the two turbochargers:

• Pressure and temperature sensors in the charge air distributor are used to calculate the intake air mass.
  A sensor in front of the throttle valve actuator registers the charge pressure.

• Sensors upstream and downstream of the turbochargers monitor the pressure conditions so that their maximum speed is not exceeded.

Twin-spark ignition: alternating current technology with ion sensing

In addition the engine computer controls an advanced alternating current twin-spark ignition system whose outstanding feature is constant ion sensing at the spark plugs. This recognises any misfires and therefore has a major role in protecting the catalytic converters - should the ion current fall below a certain value the fuel injection for the cylinder concerned is automatically interrupted at once.

Ion sensing is supplemented with torsional vibration analysis at the crankshaft. By combining both control signals in this way the developers of the Type 12 engine have - for the first time in a twelve-cylinder unit - achieved an unprecedented degree of accuracy in the detection of misfires right across the entire load and engine speed range.

Cooling: low-temperature circuit for two air/water intercoolers

The compressed air flows from the turbochargers through two engine-mounted air/water intercoolers located on the cylinder head covers. Depending on the engine load the intake air is cooled here by up to 100 degrees Celsius, so that its temperature and density are optimised for the combustion process.

The air/water intercoolers are part of a special low-temperature circuit. A demand-controlled, electric circulation pump transfers the heat between the air/water-intercoolers and the low-temperature cooler located in front of the engine which passes the heat from the water to the cooling air.

Automatic transmission: precisely configured for the Type 12 engine

The Maybach engineers have adapted the well-proven five-speed automatic transmission of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class to the high torque of the Type 12 engine with wider planetary gear sets, a larger torque converter, a new torque converter lockup program and a modified electrohydraulic control unit.

To transfer the unique maximum torque of 900 Newton metres efficiently the front planetary gear set was widened by two millimetres, and the central and rear gear sets by five millimetres. This also made it necessary to modify the input/output shaft, which is twelve millimetres longer in the Maybach 62 than in the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. The fundamental mechanical and hydraulic features of this electronically controlled transmission remain the same, however, including the ratios and gearshift operation of the S-Class.

Maybach: transmission ratios

1st gear	3.60
2nd gear	2.19
3rd gear	1.41
4th gear	1.00
5th gear	0.83
Reverse gear	3.17

The propshaft and final drive of the Maybach saloons are likewise suited to the high torque characteristics of the twelve-cylinder engine. The three-section propshaft has two bearing points, while the final drive of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class has been reinforced and has a ratio of 2.82.

Touchshift: rapid gear changes

A button on the transmission tunnel trim enables the driver of the Maybach to choose between two shift programs: "S" for Standard and "C" for Comfort. In the Comfort program the number of gearshifting operations is reduced, and downshifts take place at lower speeds.

The Touchshift function of the automatic transmission offers outstanding convenience: while positions "P", "R", "N and "D" may be selected in the usual way, briefly nudging the shift lever to the left ("-") or right ("+") in position "D" allows changes between 4th and 1st. Maintaining pressure on the shift lever in the "-" direction causes the transmission to shift down by one or more gears until it finds the best possible gear in which to decelerate or accelerate the car. On downhill gradients this enables the driver to execute convenient downshifts for best use of the engine's braking effect; when accelerating, the most suitable gear for best performance can also be selected in this way.

The transmission electronics monitor this manual gear selection function and will only carry out shift commands within the permissible engine speed range. A display in the instrument cluster informs the driver of the currently selected shift program and gear stage.

Chassis - Everything under control

Safety, comfort, handling – three aspects that were writ large during the design and development of the suspension system for the Maybach. To achieve these aims the luxury brand uses trailblazing innovations introduced by its sister-brand Mercedes-Benz, thereby also setting standards in the high-end luxury motor car segment where suspension technology is concerned:

• Safety: In addition to large brake discs at both front and rear the new Maybach is equipped with the electrohydraulic braking system Sensotronic Brake Control (SBC™). The engineers in Sindelfingen have developed this technology further for the Maybach and configured it to meet the need for enhanced braking performance. Together with ESP®, ASR, ABS and Brake Assist the Maybach therefore features the most advanced and efficient dynamic control systems.
  Comfort: The electronically controlled air suspension system AIRMATIC DC (Dual Control) enables the luxury car to achieve a new dimension in ride comfort.

• Handling: The Maybach proves that a large, high-prestige motor car can also be outstandingly agile and dynamic. This is in large measure due to AIRMATIC DC with its automatic, situation-related adaptation of spring and shock absorber stiffness and the sophisticated design of the axles.

AIRMATIC DC: a combination of air suspension and adaptive damping

The suffix "DC" stands for "Dual Control" and refers to the dual function of AIRMATIC: the system combines an actively controllable air suspension with the Adaptive Damping System (ADS II), thereby influencing both springing and damping in equal measure. ADS II regulates the shock absorber force depending on the road surface, driving style and vehicle load, while rubber bellows filled with compressed air at the axles ensure comfortable springing. The system in the Maybach operates at a pressure of six to ten bar.

AIRMATIC DC controls the air volume in the rubber spring bellows depending on the driving situation. On rapid bends or under similarly high dynamic loads, for example, the air suspension briefly deactivates part of the air volume it contains and thereby stiffens the spring action to reduce body roll and pitching. During normal driving the entire air volume remains active, providing soft springing and maximum comfort.

This adaptive activation and deactivation of the 'comfort' air volume and the automatic adjustment of shock absorber stiffness are the result of a practically instantaneous calculation process (algorithm) during which the micro-processor compares current sensor data for the steering angle, linear and lateral acceleration and vehicle attitude with specified values stored in a memory.

The Adaptive Damping System (ADS II) supports these control processes with the so-called Skyhook algorithm. This allows the damping forces at each wheel to be regulated within less than 0.05 seconds so that the forces acting on the vehicle body from the wheel movements are noticeably reduced. During a braking manoeuvre, for example, the system increases suspension compression at the front axle and rebound at the rear axle, reducing the tendency of the body to dive.

To make this lightning-fast intervention possible, the shock absorbers of the Maybach are equipped with electrically operated solenoid valves which separately influence the compression and rebound of each wheel according to the situation and its requirements.

In addition the driver is able to adjust the spring rate and damping himself at the touch of a button. There is a choice between a comfort-focused basic setting (switch position 0) and two positions with tauter spring and damper settings. To reduce drag and improve handling stability the level of the body is automatically lowered by 15 millimetres when the speed reaches 140 km/h. Below 70 km/h the body is raised to its normal level again.

In addition to the air springs with their newly-developed, particularly thin-walled and harshness-optimised rubber bellows, the ADS II shock absorbers and the control unit, AIRMATIC DC includes various components which are mainly responsible for a rapid build-up of pressure and reliable pressure storage:

• The pressure supply unit consists of an electrically powered compressor with a regenerative drier and a valve unit.
  The distribution block features the pressure reservoir charge valve, a central pressure sensor and the connectors for the pneumatic lines.
  The two reservoirs maintain a charge pressure of up to 16 bar which the system uses when at rest or at low speed to ensure a rapid and noiseless self-levelling effect.

• Two sensors on the front axle and one on the rear axle monitor the level of the vehicle body. In addition the AIRMATIC control unit receives signals from three acceleration sensors on the bodywork and a steering angle sensor.

Front suspension: double wishbones and an efficiently isolated subframe

In view of the outstanding performance and weight of the Maybach the choice by the development engineers naturally fell on a double wishbone front suspension. This design meets all the requirements for this unique luxury motor car while providing a low level of road roar and tyre vibration. It consists of forged steel and aluminium components, the lower wishbone being of forged steel and the upper of aluminium.

Wheel location is via two control arms on each side: the upper wishbone is directly connected to the body via large rubber mountings, while the lower wishbone supporting the air suspension spring strut is attached to a large sheet steel subframe, also via rubber mountings, which is in turn isolated from the body by four hydraulically dampened bearings. This technology makes a major contribution to the high vibration comfort of the Maybach.

Steering: a system with many comfort benefits

In the case of the steering the engineers likewise opted for the system that offers the most comfort benefits with the front axle load and steering forces of the Maybach, namely recirculating-ball steering.

This operates with speed-sensitive power assistance and has an electronically controlled regulating valve to reduce the steering effort from approx. five Newton metres on fast roads to only approx 2.5 Newton metres when parking or manoeuvring at low speeds. The design features an inner and outer jacket tube which can be moved relative to each other via a spindle, enabling the steering wheel to be individually adjusted for reach from the normal position by up to 21 millimetres to the front and up to 35 millimetres to the rear. The driver need only operate a lever adjacent to the steering column and an electric motor carries out his wishes. The same applies to the height adjustment by up to 36 millimetres upwards and a maximum of 14 millimetres downwards. This adjustment is carried out by a further electric motor, a gear and two lifting spindles - a high level of technical sophistication for maximum individual comfort.

The rim of the steering wheel (diameter 384 millimetres) is covered in fine leather and wood and is of die-cast aluminium.

Maybach 57 and Maybach 62: key chassis data

Wheelbase	3390 mm	3827 mm
Track width front/rear	1675/1695 mm	1675/1695 mm
Turning circle	13.38 m	14.82 m
Wheel size	8 J x 19	8 J x 19
Tyre size	275/50 R 19	275/50 R 19

SBC™: electrohydraulic braking system with eight circuits

The introduction of Sensotronic Brake Control (SBC™) by Mercedes-Benz in 2001 began the company's entry into the world of so-called "by wire" systems, which no longer transmit the driver's commands mechanically or hydraulically, but electronically by cable. Maybach has benefited from the technological lead of its sister-brand and equips its high-end luxury motor car with a further development of the SBC™ system.

By contrast with the Mercedes-Benz SL and E-Class, which are likewise equipped with SBC, the system in the Maybach has two central control units, two high-pressure reservoirs, two hydraulic units and therefore a total of eight brake circuits. In this way the engineers have done justice to the higher hydraulic volume requirement of the larger braking system in the Maybach.

The two powerful microprocessors interact constantly and control all braking processes. When the driver depresses the brake pedal, sensors register the pressure and speed of pedal operation and transfer this information to the control units to initiate an almost instantaneous and highly dynamic brake management process. At the same time the SBC™ microprocessors are also receiving sensor signals relating to the current driving situation from other electronic assistance systems, and are therefore able to adapt the braking command precisely to the actual conditions for optimal deceleration and handling stability. During the process SBC™ individually calculates the brake force for each wheel.

The brake fluid in the two high-pressure reservoirs is under a constant, high pressure of 140 to 160 bar, which guarantees the extremely short response times of this innovative braking system. The microprocessors regulate this pressure to suit the requirements, and also control the electric pump connected to the reservoir. The eight pressure modulators in the hydraulic units transfer the braking pressure to the wheels, with two responsible for each wheel. In this way the commands from the electronic control units can be precisely implemented at each wheel.

The extremely dynamic build-up of pressure and precise monitoring of driver and vehicle behaviour by means of a sophisticated sensor system are the greatest advantages of this unique braking system and significantly improve handling safety. During emergency braking, for example: SBC™ even recognises a rapid movement of the driver's foot from the accelerator to the brake pedal as an indication of an emergency situation and responds automatically. With the help of the high-pressure reservoir the system increases the pressure in the brake lines and immediately brings the brake linings into light contact with the brake discs, ensuring that they are able to exert their full pressure at once when the brake pedal is operated.

SBC™ also improves handling safety in other respects, as the system works together with other control systems in the Maybach via a databus:

When skidding is imminent SBC™ supports the Electronic Stability Program ESP® and ensures extremely rapid, finely metered braking impulses which reliably and comfortably stabilise the vehicle.

When braking on bends the variable brake force distribution actively influences the oversteer and understeer characteristics of the car: SBC™ enables the brake pressure to be metered in such a way that it is automatically increased at the outer wheels, transferring greater brake forces as a result of larger tyre contact forces. At the same time the brake forces at the inner wheels are reduced in favour of the lateral stabilising forces which are important for directional stability. The result is more stable braking behaviour with optimal deceleration values.

In wet conditions Sensotronic Brake Control removes the film of water from the brake discs by briefly applying the brake linings at regular intervals, thereby ensuring that the system can operate with full efficiency at all times. This automatic brake-drying function is activated when the windscreen wipers have been in operation for a certain time. The finely metered braking impulses are not noticeable to the driver.

Mechanically isolating the SBC™ brake pedal from the remaining braking system together with proportional pressure control improves comfort when braking – especially during heavy deceleration or when the anti-lock braking system is activated. The pulsing usually felt in the brake pedal during ABS intervention no longer occurs.

The Soft-Stop function is another comfort-enhancing feature of the braking system. This enables the vehicle to be brought to a particularly gentle stop, e.g. in city traffic with frequent traffic lights. This is made possible by finely metered pressure control, as SBC™ reduces the brake servo pressure shortly before the vehicle comes to a halt and thereby prevents the characteristic jerk frequently felt when braking to a stop. The Soft-Stop function is always active – the system only gives priority to rapid deceleration during emergency braking or during slow manoeuvres.

Braking system: ready for any challenge with six brake callipers

An exceptionally powerful and imposing luxury motor car requires an equally exceptional braking system. SBC™ is a highlight which makes the new Maybach saloons something special in this area, and this system is complemented with large, internally ventilated front disc brakes, each of which features two brake callipers. This means that a remarkable 248 square centimetres of brake lining surface are available to decelerate this high-end luxury car safely and reliably.

Maybach 57 and Maybach 62: key braking system data

	Front axle	Rear axle
Type	2 four-piston fixed callipers	Four-piston fixed calliper
Piston diameter	36/42 mm	36/42 mm
Lining surface	4 x 62 sq. cm	2 x 62 sq. cm
Disc diameter	376 mm	355 mm
Disc thickness	34 mm	32 mm

The rear axle is equipped with four-piston, fixed-calliper brakes with a total lining surface of 124 square centimetres. The front and rear brake discs are of cast iron, the callipers of die-cast aluminium.

Rear suspension: redesigned multi-link independent suspension

The well-proven multi-link independent rear suspension used in Mercedes models also ensure precise wheel location and a high level of rear suspension comfort in the Maybach. Almost all the components of this sophisticated five-link system have however been newly developed for the Maybach.

The radius rods and camber arms as well as the track rods are of forged steel, while the spring links are of sheet steel. The axle carriers are two tubular steel sections connected by two cross-members (sheet steel) and isolated from the vehicle body by hydraulically dampened bearings. The control arms have their mounting points on the sides of the axle carriers and likewise feature large rubber bearings.

Wheels and tyres: a majestic 19 inches

19-inch tyres accentuate the imposing appearance of the Maybach luxury automobile, which is equipped with attractive, cast light-alloy wheels as standard. The wheel size is 8 J x 19 ET 67, while tyres are of size 275/50 R 19. On request the wheels can be fitted with a run-flat feature in the form of a steel supporting ring which allows a defective tyre to continue running. The innovative tyre sealing kit TIREFIT is standard equipment in the Maybach – a fully-fledged spare wheel is available at no extra cost as an alternative.

An electronic control system which constantly monitors the tyre pressures is also provided as standard. This function is performed by sensors in the four tyre valves which measure both the inflation pressure and inside temperature of each tyre. These data are usually transmitted to special antennae in the wheel arches by radio once every minute, then transferred to a microprocessor by cable. This evaluates the signals from the four transmitters according to their different identification codes and is therefore able to provide the driver with specific information concerning the air pressure in each tyre. The values appear in the central display in the instrument cluster. In the event of a sudden and rapid pressure loss in any of the tyres an appropriate signal is immediately sent to alert the driver in good time.

Electronics - Music and more

Up to 76 electronic control units work together on board the Maybach saloons and exchange their information via four high-performance CAN databus networks and an optical databus. This high-tech system provides a large number of functions which relieve the driver of stress and improve safety, comfort, entertainment and communication.

Where the assistance systems are concerned, Maybach substantially benefits from the high technological expertise of its sister-brand Mercedes-Benz. The Maybach 57 and Maybach 62 high-end luxury saloons feature the same technology as the top models bearing the Mercedes star. This includes:

• The parking aid PARKTRONIC is standard equipment in the Maybach. When manoeuvring or parking, ultrasonic sensors on the front and rear bumpers register the distance to any physical obstacles. The driver is informed by a display and acoustic signals.

• The proximity control system DISTRONIC uses a radar sensor located behind the front bumper to monitor the traffic ahead of the Maybach. Vehicles in front reflect these radar signals and enable a microprocessor to calculate the distance and relative speeds of both vehicles. The driver of the Maybach selects a desired speed and DISTRONIC automatically reduces the throttle or if necessary applies the brakes to maintain the correct distance from the preceding vehicle. If the distance between the two vehicles increases, the system accelerates the Maybach back up to the selected speed.

• The LINGUATRONIC voice control system operates the audio, communication and navigation systems in the Maybach. It is activated by a stalk on the steering column. A few words from the driver are sufficient to make the radio search for or store a new station in the memory automatically, skip to the next track on a CD or program the navigation system with the required destination. Only the sound volume cannot be adjusted by voice control; this can be done quickly and simply using the rotary control switch on the COMAND unit or the illuminated keys on the steering wheel.

• The electronic "door opener" KEYLESS-GO automatically unlocks the doors and boot lid as soon as the driver approaches the car. The electronic ignition key of the Maybach receives signals from induction aerials which are located in the doors, in the centre console, beneath the parcel shelf and in the rear bumper. The key then sends out an identification code by radio which is verified by an onboard electronic control unit in the Maybach. If this code corresponds to the value stored in the memory the driver can enter the vehicle immediately or open the boot lid. Starting the engine is also easier and more convenient with KEYLESS-GO: pressing a button on the shift lever of the automatic transmission causes the powerful twelve-cylinder engine to spring into life.

Rear section: fully-equipped for the perfect audio or viewing experience

Passengers in the Maybach by no means have to do without high-quality entertainment, up-to-date information and perfect telecommunications while travelling. The DVD player, radio with VHF/medium wave and the TV receiver provided as standard enable them to arrange their own entertainment programme and also connect external units such as a camcorder, MP3 player or video games.

The various units are controlled via an infra-red remote control system using clearly arranged menus which appear in the two colour monitors located in the backrests of the front seats. These advanced, flat screens with TFT technology (9.5-inch screens) are also used to view DVD films and TV programmes. The DVD player and CD changer for six CDs are accommodated in the centre console between the rear seats. The TV tuner for the rear section is able to receive TV programmes under any system (PAL, SECAM, NTSC).

Sound system: Dolby surround sound on every seat

The Maybach also has advanced, high-tech entertainment electronics in the form of the newly developed Bose sound system. This converts the interior of the luxury limousines into a mobile concert hall and cossets each one of the four occupants with digital Dolby surround sound effects. What is more, during its sophisticated sound control of the seven high-performance amplifiers the system also takes the current level of travel noise into consideration to ensure consistent sound enjoyment. A microphone monitors the interior of the Maybach and detects any sound fluctuations, which are immediately taken into account by the sound processor. The sound system has a total output of 600 Watts and has 21 high-performance loudspeakers.

Telecommunications: mobile and fixed-installation telephone with two handsets

Two telephones located beneath the padded armrest in the rear centre console of the Maybach are available to the rear passengers: a mobile phone and the cordless handset of a fixed-installation telephone system. The latter system also has a second handset located in a special compartment in the dashboard. Both telephones are linked to the central transmission and reception unit of the car telephone via "Bluetooth" radio technology, therefore cable connections are entirely dispensed with in the interior.

COMAND: navigation, entertainment and communication in one unit

For the driver and front passenger the standard COMAND APS system in the centre console is the central operating and display unit for numerous functions. The features of the extremely versatile electronic unit include a large colour display (6.5 inches) in TFT technology, a DVD player and, in conjunction with fixed-installation car telephone, all mobile communication functions: Short Message Service (write, edit, send), WAP, email and Internet-based online services.

The driver and front passenger are able to select the different systems by pressing a button next to the colour display. They are operated using the controls on the right side of the unit, where the functions can be activated by pressing the integral "OK" key. The driver is also able to input instructions to the COMAND system using the illuminated keys on the four-spoke steering wheel: sound volume, receiving incoming calls, ending calls, telephone directory, station search and track search in CD mode. The corresponding information is then displayed both on the COMAND screen and in the central display in the instrument cluster, where it is always in the driver's field of vision.

Other features and capabilities of the COMAND system include:

• Car radio (VHF, MW, LW) with twin VHF tuner operation and aerial diversity;
  Ten station presets per waveband;
  Connectors for an external CD-changer, MP3 player and cassette player;

• Fixed sound settings for classical music, speech and pop music.

The DVD player will play both audio CDs and video DVDs, so the front occupants are also able to watch films on the colour screen – though not while on the move. Up to a road speed of approx. eight km/h it is also possible to receive TV pictures on the COMAND screen.

Navigation: dynamic route guidance based on up-to-date traffic information

COMAND APS features a navigation computer with an integral DVD player. The data stored on the DVD include the entire European road network as well as additional information such as the locations of filling stations, railway stations, airports, hotels or restaurants. The driver is able to choose between three route modes: dynamic route guidance, fastest route or shortest route.

In dynamic route guidance mode the system also takes into account up-to-date information about the traffic and road conditions which is broadcast via the Traffic Message Channel (TMC) of the Radio Data System (RDS). These reports are free of charge and currently available to drivers in Germany and the Netherlands. The system is presently being prepared for use in other European countries.

Online services: WAP service, email and the Internet while on the move

The fixed telephone installed in the Maybach provides the technical basis for various telematic, information and mobility services. It can also be used by the rear seat passengers to e.g.

• ...send or receive messages by the Short Message Service (SMS) within Europe and the USA;
  ...surf the Internet by WAP service anywhere in Europe and send or receive e-mails;

• ...connect to the Internet-based "Mercedes-Benz Portal" to access various personal services. This service is available in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

Passengers are able to use these online services on both colour monitors in the rear section of the Maybach.

In conjunction with the optional business package which Maybach is able to provide by individual arrangement with the customer the electronics engineers in Sindelfingen can also connect a high-performance notebook computer to the telephone system. In addition to fax reception this makes even more extensive Internet communication facilities available.

Telematics: automatic emergency call system as standard

The tried and tested telematic services developed by Mercedes-Benz are also available to owners of the Maybach saloons. These include the standard, automatic emergency call system TELEAID, which uses the fixed-installation car telephone. Following an accident the system automatically transmits an SOS signal to alert the emergency services and guide them to the scene. Depending on the nature of the accident, the emergency call function is activated by a standard crash sensor which is also responsible for the reliable activation of the airbags and belt tensioners, or by the rollover sensor. The vehicle occupants are also able to send out an emergency call manually at any time using two red SOS keys located in the rear centre console and the front overhead control panel. TELEAID is currently operational in Germany, Japan and the USA, and will be gradually introduced in other countries as well.

On pressing a button on the handset of the car telephone, the telematic service TELEDIAGNOSIS establishes contact with a central Customer Assistance Centre (CAC) where a customer adviser is able to speak to the driver by radio phone and provide advice and assistance. For this purpose the system automatically sends all the necessary vehicle data to the Centre: vehicle and engine model, year of manufacture, engine temperature, battery voltage, mileage and any fault or warning messages stored in the memory. The telephone also sends out the exact location so that service technicians can be quickly despatched to the scene of the breakdown. The TELEDIAGNOSIS breakdown service is currently available in Germany and the USA; other countries are to follow.

Last but not least, modern telematics also assist the owner when maintaining the Maybach: shortly before the next service is due the car telephone in the Maybach automatically sends all the required information relating to the vehicle's condition and any necessary maintenance work to the Customer Assistance Centre, which in turn advises the relevant Personal Liaison Manager who will arrange all the necessary further steps with the customer.

Story by Maybach