Maybach Exelero: a piano's place is not in the bushes, but on the hood of a car

The Russian idiom about a keyboard musical instrument in the bushes was remembered for a reason. The manufacturer of the ultra-luxurious Maybach Exelero claimed that a grand piano could be placed on the spacious hood of the sedan. Mechanical engineering experts tried to find a second car with such a wide engine compartment lid. In vain! Just as no two identical Maybach Exeleros were found: all copies were made to individual orders.


By the way, how many of them, the models? The company sold about 300 units a year. Not only ordinary people, but also seasoned billionaires were left gaping at the incredible bells and whistles of the cars. We consider ourselves to be among the first category of motorists.

Let's talk about "absolute luxury". But we will "sing hosannas" not so much to the beauty, technology and power of the car. Our laudatory cry is more intended for the name Maybach.

About the Maybach brand

The thought came to mind that we know very well whose names are given to automobile brands: Henry Ford, David Buick, Walter Bentley, Ferdinand Porsche and so on down the list. We remember the merits and biographies of these personalities. But what about Maybach? Is it even a surname?


The brand had a difficult fate. It raised the manufacturer to a magnificent heyday and glory, then brought it down to almost complete oblivion. At some point, at the turn of the millennium, the fair process of "reincarnation" of the brand began. The honor of revival fell to the hero of our review - the sedan "Exelero".

We read the press and see reports that the super-cool, terrifyingly beautiful hypercar ("Beauty is a terrible force") was created to test high-speed Fulda Carat Exelero tires. We'll add the dimensions - 315/25 ZR 23. Well, we remember a similar phenomenon (a car as a testing ground), for example, from the "Red Pig" Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6,8.


Another emphasis was made by automobile reviewers on the Maybach SW38 1939 model. The current "streamliner", they say, was created in memory of the luxurious pre-war car. We agree: the old 140-horsepower convertible is worth a kind word and human gratitude.

But not a word about the founder of the brand. As if there is no one behind the word "Maybach". We will, to the best of our ability, correct the omission.

Who are you, August Wilhelm Maybach?

They call them "mad scientists". This is the level of Albert Einstein. The brain of W. Maybach (1846-1929) seemed to be created to invent, make discoveries, and construct complex mechanisms. But the boy was an orphan, growing up in a shelter for poor children "Brothers' House of Reutlingen". The pastor of the social institution, a noble man, noticed the boy's passion for drawing and encouraged his studies in natural sciences.


Gottlieb Daimler (1834-1900) was the patron of the orphanage. Yes, that's right, the same one – the founder of the great automobile empire. The design engineer and industrialist saw a technical genius in the young man. He took him under his wing and helped him continue his education. At 19, Maybach became Daimler's right hand.

Two owners of extraordinary minds became brothers. Wilhelm was Gottlieb's deputy until the latter's death. Together, they made discoveries one after another that had a powerful influence on the development of the global mechanical engineering industry. It is not for nothing that Maybach is called the "pioneer of the German automobile industry", the "father of the global automobile industry". Even during his lifetime, the outstanding engineer bore the title of "king of designers".

Achievements of the pupil of the "Brotherly House"

The brothers served in the Deutz company, which produced stationary internal combustion engines. Dissatisfied with the design of heavy units, they developed and patented their own compact and powerful engine in 1883. They worked in an extension of Daimler's house.


Two years later, they created the forefather of all modern engines – the “Grandfather Clock Engine”, capable of operating on land, water and in the air. The younger partner installed a smaller version of the engine on a wooden bike. Hi, motorcycle!

The scientist was the first to guess about more efficient ignition of fuel in combustion chambers when mixed with air. Salute, spray carburetor with a jet! Then the designer figured out that gasoline, which was sold in pharmacies for cleaning clothes, would be perfect as fuel for internal combustion engines. Long live AI-92 and others like it!

The friends co-founded one of the first automobile companies in human history, Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft (DMG). They built the world's first real automobile from scratch: before that, engines were installed on carriages.


After the death of his comrade, Wilhelm Maybach presented the public with a new type of car with a classic layout in 1902. The model with the index 35 PS was created according to the specifications of Emil Jellinek. The latter was a member of the board of DMG. The car was named after Emil's daughter... Can you guess? Drum roll, fireworks - Mercedes!

The prototype of the Mercedes brand nameplate – the three-pointed star – is considered to be that universal unit that is “on land, water and in the air”. True, the creators put a hint of the Germans’ superiority in the aforementioned elements into the brand logo…

The circumstances of the birth of the Maybach Exelero model

In 1907, Wilhelm left DMG: he was sad without his friend. Together with his son Karl, on whom Nature, contrary to custom, decided not to rest, he designed aircraft engines for Count Zeppelin's airships.

A "modest" touch: the Count's aerostat with five V12 engines with a capacity of 550 hp made a 448-hour round-the-world flight. The power plant was designed by father and son Maybach.


The graduate of the poorhouse organized his own brand and production of luxury cars after the First World War. The period between the wars was successful. The concern became famous for its 8-liter 200-horsepower engines, beautiful bodies, and comfortable interiors. A detailed review of the Zeppelin Cabriolet Sport model from the 30s awaits our readers in the following material.

In 1945, the Maybach plant in Friedrichshafen was reduced to rubble by Allied bombs. Karl was arrested and exiled for collaborating with the Third Reich. The brand lost everything. The son of the "brilliant madman" did not have the means to try to revive production in the 50s.


And only at the end of the millennium Mercedes-Benz decided to bring the forgotten brand, which was listed as its sub-brand, back into the light of day. To be completely honest, the company had lost some of its power by that time. They hoped to improve its reputation by creating the Maybach Exelero model. And then, just in time, the tires turned up, which needed to be tested on a high-speed car.

Model overview

An outstanding thing, let's be honest. You can't find fault. They didn't spare any money on development and advertising. "The king of super sedans", "a fantastic project" - a two-seater car with a monocoque body.

The prototype, which took 5 years to develop, was ready for display in 2002. Engineers used the most modern and advanced technical solutions in the car's design. They decided to hold the presentation overseas. America cannot remember a more pompous and pathetic viewing.


The car was placed in a glass sarcophagus and taken to England. From there it was delivered to the United States on the liner Queen Elizabeth. It was unloaded with the help of helicopter. Accompanied by a motorcycle escort worthy of presidents of countries, the sedan made its way down Wall Street to the prestigious Regent Hotel. A live symphony orchestra accompanied the Excelero's appearance to the public.

Those present were presented with cars of the following dimensions:

✅ Length – 5835 mm, extended version – 6200 mm
✅ Width - 2140 mm
✅ Height - 1377 mm

The truly Aryan appearance – purposeful, confident and angry – shocked the audience. However, the silhouette was both swift and flying, so there was nothing to indicate the weight of 2660 kg.

Interior, engine, chassis

In the interior trim, users could order nappa, crocodile, snake or ostrich leather. For their 350-390 thousand dollars, the buyer chose trim made of valuable wood species, gold, granite or Swarovski crystals. However, let's stop: we were going to leave the luxury of the Maybach Exelero in the background, focusing on the name of the brand's founder.


Just one "trifle": the sedan's cigar box is equipped with separate climate control. But much more interesting is the super-powerful 12-liter V6,0 engine. The turbine-powered unit had a capacity of 600 and 700 "horses". Peak torque is 1020 Nm.

The engine is the pearl of the Mercedes. The powertrain conquered the speed of 351 km/h, and the first "hundred" gave up after 4,2 seconds. In the softest independent suspension in a circle, air cylinders worked. The five-speed automatic transmission was configured so that gear changes were imperceptible. Slowdown was handled by dual disc brakes. There were two large calipers on the front wheels.

Fate

The car was grabbed by stars and celebrities. For the American rapper Brian Williams (Birdman), the company made the only 700-horsepower "Exelero". Not being a fan of this good man's work, we are glad that he paid $8 million for the car.


The excitement around the hero of the review lasted, however, no more than 2 years. Then the seventh generation Rolls-Royce Phantom appeared, the 2005 Bentley Flying Spur. At the same time, the Mercedes S-class came out. All V12, but much cheaper than our beauty.

Then the big "Oops!" of "Maybach" happened. Analyzing the reasons for the failure, analysts considered that the "pedigree" of the brands plays a significant role in the success of the model. And our Wilhelm and Karl have long been forgotten... We hope we refreshed your memory?