LA MOTOR SHOW: Topless Maybach debuts

The superb Mercedes-Benz S-Class Cabriolet is about to get a new flagship with the launch of the Mercedes-Maybach S 650 Cabriolet.

The first ever Maybach convertible, the four-seat S 650 Cabriolet will be sold in very limited numbers at what seems like an almost unlimited price tag.

Mercedes-Maybach will only sell 300 of the soft-top V12 roadsters and each of them will cost a minimum of €300,000 ($A425,000), with Mercedes-Benz Australia/Pacific confirming it expects its local allocation "to not exceed 10 vehicles".

Delivering a combination of more power and hand-crafted interior extravagance, Daimler is dwelling mightily on the Maybach S 650 Cabriolet’s interior craftsmanship and even its nine additional seat colours, and well it might.

Where the Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 concept car from the Monterey speed week is all about a future of environmentally responsible indulgence, the Maybach S 650 Cabriolet triumphs in profligacy today.

Let your finger settle on the engine details (that it is a 6.0-litre twin-turbo V12 and that it has 463kW of power and 100Nm of torque) would make it quite obvious that it’s the exact same mechanical package as you get in the (only a bit) cheaper S 65 AMG Cabriolet.

That car gets hurled to 100km/h in 4.1 seconds and on to 300km/h (but only for those who tick the Driver’s Package to move the standard limiter from 250mk/h). Its power peak arrives at 5400rpm and the torque peak hits from 2300-4300rpm, so it’s plenty flexible for the seven-speed transmission.

The Maybach S 650 Cabriolet does all of that and has the same sort of top speed(s) from its 5027mm overall length, but the cost is an NEDC fuel consumption number of 12L/100km.

It doesn’t just need this much power and torque because it’s heavy (and, again, Maybach isn’t saying exactly how heavy), but because the little siblings are strong and getting stronger.

The standard S 500 Cabriolet has 335kW and 700Nm and gets to 100km/h in 4.6 seconds, while the 5.5-litre biturbo S 63 AMG V8 has 430kW, 900Nm and offers all-wheel drive, which smacks the Maybach out of the park with a 3.9-second sprint to 100km/h. Even the rear-drive version of the S 63 AMG (you know, the right-hand drive one) gets there in 4.3 seconds.

So the Maybach version isn’t the one to go to if you want the fastest S-Class Cabriolet.

Even the constantly variable air suspension is a straight lift out of the S-Class Cabriolet book of tricks.

However, it just might be the one you want if you need the best trimmings.

The front bumper is new, with dabs of chrome all over it; there are new 20-inch forged alloy wheels and Maybach logos, mostly discreet, everywhere. The logo appears on the front wings, on the headrests, in the carpet, on the inner roof lining and is even projected onto the ground at night from the side mirrors.

It gains new upholstery with diamond quilting, a finer wood veneer in the cabin, thick pile carpet mats and each car is individually numbered and comes complete with a certificate of authenticity signed by Daimler boss Dr Dieter Zetsche.

Each car also comes with its own tailored four-piece luggage set, made from the same leather as the car’s seats.