Xanatec Introduces Maybach Coupe

BMW and Volkswagen got into the high-end luxury game in the 2000's through their purchases of British luxury brands Rolls-Royce and Bentley.

As BMW's rival and eager to get a piece of the profits in the segment, Mercedes-Benz launched the Maybach brand.

Since then it hasn't fared quite as well as Mercedes had hoped. For one, the name was virtually unknown to any of the car's target market.

The question now has been whether Mercedes-Benz would drop Maybach, and if not - would it get new product. Corporate pride will likely mean the division will soldier on.

The company has toyed with two-door models in the past like the Excelero Concept, but never put any into production. Xanatec, an aftermarket company, is happy to oblige with its new Maybach Coupe.

The company commissioned the designer of the Excelero Concept, Fredrink Burchhardt to do the design work on the car. The car makes the transition to a flowing, elegant coupe brilliantly.

All four-doors had to be replaced, with two longer ones now doing duty. There is also new side panels, fenders and bumpers. If you notice anything different with the greenhouse , you would be right - that has been changed too.

Interestingly, Xanetec started with the long-wheelbase Maybach 57 S. From there, significant alterations had to made.

The roof has been lowered and the rake of the front and rear windshields raked at a steeper angle. Easy coachbuilding job this is not. Given the car's length, there will still be ample rear seat room, just now unaccessible by its own door.

The car's 612-horsepower twin-turbo V12 is carried over - at that level, it isn't like it needed a power boost or anything. Xanatec says they will only produce 100 examples of the Coupe model, and each can be customized to the individual buyer's tastes.

All that heavy reengineering will come at a cost though - to the tune of 675,000 euros, or $947,839 USD at current exchange rates.