Should Daimler Move Maybach Downstream To Compete With The Likes Of Lexus?

"a sub-brand to compete with Buick and Lexus"? Wow, you sure misunderstood the article. According to reports if they do make it a sub-brand, it would be to create the most high end and expensive versions of Benz's most high end and expensive models (i.e. a Maybach S-class, Maybach CL-class, etc.). They wouldn't be creating a sub-brand that is "beneath" Mercedes to compete with Buick.

You don't find me agreeing with JROb very often, but +1.

Exactly my thoughts!

@JRobUSC

Stoopid article!

It's not that the article is silly/simple, but rather that Daimler is having such a hard time trying to figure out what to do with the Maybach brand. Why are they trying their best to not spend (too much) money on re-revitalizing the brand?

It's been my opinion that Daimler should remake the larger Maybach offering into Bentley-like vehicles --- upright grill/facia, wider track, keep the lengthy wheelbase & overall vehicle length. They can work on making the front facia a bit more "different(iated)" from any S-class, but can start by looking at the GL-class for initial inspiration.

But since Maybach was basically a mild aesthetic upgrade for M-B cars originally, a move towards Maybach-edition S-class vehicles may not hurt --- but it won't add much to the S-class overall perception-wise. I still think today's Maybach should be something more than just another version of an S-class.

009, is this the best you can come up in order to start a flame war? We know you need generate traffic for this site, but this is getting desperate! I miss the old Autospies, it was informative not DUMB!

The actual article from automotive news does not even mention Buick or "Lexus". So the car would go from $400,000 to $40,000-$100,000 to compete with these brands? This is an ignorant article, wow!

A sub brand below Mercedes-Benz should be Buick and possibly Lexus.

yeah, it would be, except that's not what the article said they're considering. The word "sub" has several meanings. It can mean "beneath", the way you're using it, but that's not what they're saying. Lexus is technically a "sub-brand" of Toyota. Aston Martin, Land Rover, and Jag used to be "sub-brands" of Ford. All of those are inarguably higher models than the parent company, not "beneath". In this case Maybach would become a "sub-brand" of Mercedes in the same way AMG is a "sub-brand". You'd have the ultra luxury version of Benz vehicles in the Maybach versions, and the ultra sporty version in the AMG. Both would represent the highest, most expensive variants of the respective vehicle models.

Can I nominate this as the stupidest article on AS this year so far?

this is a rather ignorant question. mercedes is already a level above lexus. why would they take an ultra-luxury brand name and drop it down to lexus level? either reinvent the model lineup or drop it altogether.

I lift things up? and put them down!

When did Lexus stop competing with Mercedes and become a buick competitor?

This site is suck!! too pro ( TOYOTA and LEXUS )! LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING , YOU CAN SAY WHATEVER YOU WANT ABOUT BENZ , BUT WE ALL KNOW WHERE YOU CAME FROM ... really, really, really stupid article ideas! YES we really miss the old AUTOSPIES, WASN'T SHOW NO FAVORITISM.

Might as well...they failed at making it a Bentley/Rolls competitor ! Mercedes does need to develop a super premium brand when S Classes are
as common as C Class cars and the ultra rich want to stand out from the crowd. They only get one more chance to get it right or forever be tarnished in the Sultan/Hedge Fund market segment.

They didn't do enough to make Maybach a real Bentley/RR competitor. Instead they did some kind of a minor "GM platform sharing" exercise to see who'd bite --- not many affluent ultra-luxury buyers saw the Maybach as a separate brand, but rather an expensive trim upgrade with a lavish interior content & options. Maybachs looks too much like S-class vehicles --- GM has heard that complaint a thousand times, but they mass produce vehicles at a much cheaper price point, so they can afford to ignore the obvious. Daimler, on the other hand, should be sketching out grandiose Maybach limos that should force the wealthy to consider trading in their plain ole Bentley/Rolls.

Honestly I will love to be driving on something based on S-Class chassis and used S-class ENGINE then the RR ( serie 7) or Bentley ( audi A8 ) PERIOD , There will be a new Maybach based on the next S-Class for sure