[SchnellM3]

From Jalopnik..

Maybach will soon be kaput!

There's a sad sort of clanging from the clock in the hall, and the bells in the steeple too... Daimler AG is killing the ultra-pricy Maybach brand effective in 2013, the Wall Street Journal reports today. Something, something, something, something, oooo.

Daimler Chief Executive, Dieter Zetsche reportedly confirmed the kill-switch plan in an interview with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung to be published tomorrow. Instead, the company will expand the Mercedes-Benz S-Class line. That makes sense, considering hardly anyone could tell the difference between the cars, anyway.

Daimler resurrected the Maybach brand nine years ago amid economic boom times. Still, the brand's $375,000 sedans failed to gain a foothold, even as other ultra-high-end marques like Volkswagen's Bentley and BMW's Rolls-Royce flourished. Now, amid a sad trickle of sales and a vexing dearth of profits, Daimler will sunset Maybach the same year the next-gen S-Class will emerge.

To fill the void to be left by Maybach's departure in 2013, Mercedes-Benz will look to eventually double sales within its flagship's segment. Daimler had considered partnering with Aston Martin to reduce production costs — not that cost-cutting along could have saved Maybach. Fewer than 200 Maybachs were built worldwide in 2010, according to WSJ.

http://jalopnik.com/maybach/


Not too surprised.. I was never really a fan of their Zeppelins although the Exelero and Xenatec coupe were pretty slick....

[TheBingoBalls]

What is Jay-Z and Kanye going to destroy now when they're bored?

Who's really surprised though? It was rarely talked about and any hype around the Maybach recently were because of celebrities like Jay-Z. Daimler should've started from scratch like BMW did with the Rolls. Details are sparse but how are they going to extend the S-Class? If no one purchased a Maybach before which had it's own line, I doubt anyone is going to put down that much money for a S-Class.

[UltimateBMW]

[comar1979]

Kaputt

The Sterling Moss SLR is

[Robin_NL]

Very interesting car the SLR^^^^^

Is that pic taken in Stuttgart/Böblingen? I think so.

That's Puff Daddy with ????

[Year's_End]

I've waited for this news for awhile. This doesn't surprise me in the least.

[TK-421]

Sterling Moss <3

[MikeyV]

People bought the 600 Grosser in the 60's ,70's and 80's so I can't see why folks with big bank accounts wouldn't buy an S600 Pullman today; the main problem I think with Maybach was brand recognition, they also really needed a coupé.