These are the most expensive cars in the world, usually bought by the kind of people who don’t even break a sweat amidst the worst economic crisis. Forbes' list in not without its flaws as the publication added two vehicles (the Enzo's successor and the upcoming Pagani Zonda C9) that have yet to be revealed, let alone be priced. Nevertheless, you can check out the complete list of exclusive toys for the real tycoons after the jump.
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The Maybach-endorsed coupe, which carries the 'Cruiserio' nametag, is priced by AutoKingdom at €715,000, or about US$943,000 at the current exchange rates, according to Jameslist. Previously, Xenatec had announced that the über-luxurious coupe will be offered at an ex-works price of €675,000 (US$890,000) excluding local taxes.
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All these murmurings involve a lot of back-and-forth; in this case, Aston would do Mercedes's Maybach work, while Mercedes could provide powertrain tech to the British marque (think smaller displacement engines). Apparently outsourcing the next Maybach's assembly and coachwork to Aston could be cheaper than if Mercedes did it on its own.
The theme for the 2010 Design Challenge is the creation of a super-efficient and lightweight four-passenger car: "The objective is to envision an efficient, light-weight, four passenger vehicle (not to exceed 1,000 lbs.), that is both comfortable and safe, while delivering satisfactory driving performance without sacrificing the styling consumers demand. "
Follow the break for the first group of concept models by Cadillac, Honda, Maybach and Mazda, and stay tuned for the second part.
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Just 100 units of the Xenatec Coupe will be built, with the high asking price of €675,000 (US$923,198) before taxes. And that's even before you add taxes or options. It was designed by Fredrik Burchhardt, who created Maybach's retro-modern Excelero concept back in 2005.
While you think about it let us tell you that, as with the first installment of the male-snoozefest that is "Sex and the City", the sequel to the movie that hits cinemas on 27 May will see most characters driving or being driven in a bunch of Mercedes-Benz and Maybach models.
Said to be developed in close cooperation with Maybach, the 57S Coupe special will be built in a strictly limited number of 100 examples each priced from a hefty €650,000 or about US$805,000 at today's exchange rates.
The transformation from a limo to a coupe includes redesigned A-, B- and C-columns with the second column moved back by 200mm, a more raked roofline, restyled front and rear ends, and a slightly wider body while retaining the same 3.39m-long wheelbase as the sedan model.
First off, the body gets a few pinches here and there: a redesigned front bumper gets some extra trim, the new arrow-shaped hood gets snazzy edges and bigger, aerodynamic mirrors improve merging and now reduce driving noise.
Outside, the newish models will also feature more bling in the form of "a large new chrome radiator grille", LED daytime running lights, "high-quality dark red taillights", and "stylish wheels".
Admittedly, the Landaulet is pretty unique, but why anyone would end up paying almost $1.4 million for a stretched, previous-generation S-Class with a cloth top and a 5-speed automatic transmission is beyond me.
Thanks for the tip Allen!
Parent company Daimler is out testing thinly camouflaged prototypes of the Maybach 57 and its long-wheelbase sibling dubbed 62. Even though the test cars don't appear to feature any visible styling changes, prospective buyers (yes, all 100 of you...) should expect to see similar modifications to those given to the facelifted Mercedes-Benz S-Class. In other words, minor cosmetic tweaks up front including a revised grille and quite possibly, reworked tail lamps.However, the real improvements will be in the bits you cannot see with both Maybach models receiving upgraded or new technology and safety features as well as minor engine tweaks to improve fuel consumption and reduce CO2 emissions.
Expect to see the 2010 Maybach models appearing in showrooms towards the end of the year, or early 2010, depending on the market.
Shortly after the official presentation of the Zeppelin 57 and 62 at the Geneva Motor Show, Maybach published a new promotional film of its limited edition model that will be built in a mere 100 units. The uber-luxury limo revives an old Maybach badge from the 1930s which you can also see in the video after the jump. For more details and high-res photographs on the Zeppelin click here.
What Maybach's parent company, Daimler -slash- Mercedes calls a new model that revives the spirit of the 1930's Maybach Zeppelin, is in fact a special edition version of the Maybach 57 S and the long-wheelbase version, the 62 S. To be officially revealed in Geneva, the Maybach Zeppelin will be produced in a limited run of just 100 units with prices (excluding tax) set at €406,000 ($526,500 US) for the Zepelin 57 and at €473,200 ($613,600 US) for the Zeppelin 62. In both cases, power is provided by a tweaked version of the firm's twin-turbocharged 6.0-liter V12 which now delivers 640HP (+28 hp) and a peak torque of 1000 Nm or 737.6 lbs-ft.
Hallmark features of the Zepelin include a two-tone special paint finish, newly designed 20-inch wheels in a Chrome Shadow finish and streamlined exterior mirrors.
Inside, the range-topping Zepelin gets leather appointments in California beige leather and trim elements in piano lacquer finish. Also, the centre console in the front, the partition screen that is available as an option for the Maybach Zeppelin 62, plus the silver champagne flutes included as standard are all marked with the lettering "MAYBACH ZEPPELIN", while the door sill panels as well as the key ring are engraved with the word "ZEPPELIN".
For those that like to pay attention to details, of the most prominent interior features of Maybach's 'uber' luxurious sedan is a perfume distributor. The system's core component is an internally illuminated Plexiglass sphere on the rear center console, into which owners can insert a vial of their preferred fragrance. A regulator pump then directs a flow of air into the Plexiglass sphere, fanning the vial's perfume molecules into the vehicle interior. The perfume atomizer that is exclusive to the Zeppelin can be ordered for an extra €3,950 or around $5,100.
