Luxury German car-maker Mercedes-Benz is selling more of its flagship Maybach cars in China each month than it used to sell globally in an entire year.
Wealthy Chinese buyers are snapping up the 1.44 million Yuan ($298,000) ultra-luxury version of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class to the tune of 500 each month.
It’s a staggering number given the previous peak of 600 Maybachs in 2003, which at the time cost more than 2.2 million Yuan ($455,000).
It was mainly Chinese demand that provided the catalyst for the revival of the Maybach brand this year, but this time, as a sub-brand that would appeal to the wealthiest buyers that might otherwise purchase a Rolls-Royce or a Bentley.
The new Mercedes-Maybach S600 is 200mm longer and better equipped than the ‘regular’ long-wheelbase S600L S-Class on which it is largely based. There’s also more headroom thanks to some restyling, which also provides more privacy for rear-seat passengers.
Mercedes also claims the Maybach version is the quietest car in the world, despite packing a 6.0-litre V12 engine producing 390kW and 830Nm – the later available from just 1900rpm.
It’s quick, too, accelerating from 0-100km/h in a blistering five seconds flat.
Extra kit on top of that in the standard S-Class includes: a Chauffeur Package with reclining rear seats, front and rear heated seats with ‘hot stone’ massage function, higher-grade Nappa leather, head-up display, an Air Balance car fragrance system and Magic Body Control from the S-Class Coupe.
Mercedes-Benz Australia has already announced a starting price of $449,000 plus on-road costs for the Maybach variant, with deliveries commencing at the end of 2015.
Read our Mercedes-Maybach S-Class review here.
