Daimler may kill Maybach if Aston Martin will not help

Germany’s Daimler is reportedly weeks away from deciding the fate of its struggling Maybach brand. The exact date is set for July 1, when Daimler will decide if Maybach will be pulled over, or will partner with Aston Martin for a second generation.

‘There is a higher likelihood to come to a positive decision’ for a second-generation Maybach sedan if a partner is involved, Dieter Zetsche told Automotive News Europe on the sidelines of company event last week.
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0to60 - 6/14/2011 11:00:41 AM

-2 Boost

Yay!

Caraficionado - 6/14/2011 11:46:06 AM

+2 Boost

I love the serenity with which these behemoths make turns in the busy streets here in NYC.

Yonder7 - 6/14/2011 12:27:29 PM

+1 Boost

A Maybach with Aston Martin interniors could be something extraordinary.

Denali - 6/14/2011 6:45:56 PM

+3 Boost

correction, aston martin like shapes with amg engines and maybach interiors

Steve - 6/14/2011 10:21:54 PM

0 Boost

Didn't they sell something like 5 units last year?

quizz - 6/15/2011 11:14:13 AM

+1 Boost

To top it off, this thing is UGLY. There's nothing visually appealing about it. Price aside, both the Rolls and Bentley look better than the Maybach. If you're going to make a statement car, it better look GOOD. It looks like a Lincoln Continental concept car from the 90s.

LACMAN - 6/15/2011 2:23:10 PM

+2 Boost

For the life of me, I'm trying to figure out why Daimler would need any outside help or resources to build another Maybach. Kinda answers a lot of questions about Daimler I've kept to myself.

If I were you Aston, I wouldn't partner with Daimler for sh*t.
*points at the history of their "joint" ventures*

JUGNU - 6/15/2011 5:45:42 PM

+1 Boost

Mercedes don't have the experience to make/design a serious Rolls Royce competitor. Seems like they struggle to think something above a S65 AMG. I don't think Mercedes will be able to successfully sell a car above S65 AMG, even S65's market will be eaten by new RR Ghost, new Continental Flying spur, Rapide, rumored Lamborghini Estoque...etc.
One example is SLR Mclaren, that car was supposed to rival the flagships of Ferrari(Enzo) and Porsche(C-GT) but we all know it wasn't really a successful model especially performance wise. So Mercedes decided to quit that market and concentrated more on Entry level Ferrari(458) and Porsche(911 Turbo) market with SLS AMG.

Similarly i think Mercedes will be forced to discontinue the failing Maybach brand and most likely would focus on competing with entry level Rolls and Bentley. Maybe more 4 door coupes, A 4 door convertible S class...etc. Why compete directly with RR Phantom, make something different and appealing like how Porsche made Panamera. It isn't a direct S class rival but is more expensive and selling very well.