The Ultimate Open-Air Luxury

RebornMaybachThe Laundalet is the fifth model to be released under the new Maybach marque. A Laundalet is an elegant open-top car with a chauffeur, where the driver's compartment is covered by a roof, while the rear passenger seats feature a folding roof that can be opened or closed at the guests' whim. While Maybach previously produced Laundalets, this luxurious open-top model has been revived for the new Maybach era.

The base for this model is the "Maybach 62S," the most powerful and chauffeur-driven oriented model in the Maybach lineup. By replacing the rear half of the roof with a soft top, while retaining the side roof arches and rear pillars, a distinctive style has been achieved. Naturally, the soft top can be opened or closed with a single switch on the center console. A wind deflector that automatically deploys at 70 km/h is also provided.

The engine is the same 6-liter V12 twin-turbo found in the "Maybach 57S/62S." The "AirMATIC DC" electronically controlled air suspension and the Adaptive Damping System (ADS II) provide an exceptionally smooth ride. It can truly be called the ultimate open-top model. The price in Europe is said to be 900,000 euros, with the first models scheduled for delivery to customers in the autumn of 2008.

Maybach Laundalet

Body | Length - x Width - x Height - mm
Engine | 6.0-liter V12 twin-turbo
Max. Output | 450 kW [612 ps] / 4800-5100 rpm
Max. Torque | 1000 Nm [102.0 kgm] / 2000-4000 rpm
Drivetrain | FR
Transmission | 5-speed automatic
Price: -
(Photo: Study model)

BRAND HISTORY
For about 20 years, from the 1920s until the Second World War, the German ultra-luxury automobile manufacturer MAYBACH produced approximately 1,800 luxury sedans, exemplified by the "Zeppelin." It was in 2002 that models bearing its name reappeared before us. The brand's revival was spearheaded by Daimler, a company with deep ties to Maybach.

In the late 19th century, during the era when Gottlieb Daimler was intensely focused on developing the gasoline automobile, Wilhelm Maybach supported him as an engineer. Though often overshadowed by Gottlieb and Karl Benz, it is no exaggeration to say that the history of Daimler-Benz and the automobile would not have begun without Wilhelm. Indeed, some have lauded Wilhelm as the "king of design."

Wilhelm left Daimler in 1908 to establish his own engine development company. The engines for Germany's famous Zeppelin airships were also products of his company. After World War I, Wilhelm's son, Karl Maybach, founded an automobile manufacturer. This was the Maybach in question. After the war, the company supplied diesel engines for ships and railways, but upon Karl's retirement, Daimler-Benz acquired the majority of its shares, bringing it under its umbrella.

In tribute to this illustrious history, Maybach is being developed as a luxury brand that surpasses Mercedes. Currently, the lineup includes the "57" and "62," along with their high-performance variants, the "57S" and "62S."