Home, James… but take the back

ONE OF the nice things about having low-volume luxury subbrands like Maybach is that occasionally it allows you to go way, way over the top. In this case, quite literally.

This outrageous sort-of-convertible five-star beetle-crusher is the fifth model – and the first off-roader – from Daimler-Benz’s re-incarnated Maybach division – the Mercedes-Maybach G650 Landaulet.*

Ignoring the historical connotations (see explanation at the end), it’s essentially a long-wheelbase G-Wagen (578mm longer than standard) with a cabriolet-style folding roof from the C-pillar back; the rest of it is nothing more than parts-bin engineering at a truly inspired level.

Its engine is AMG’s flagship 6-litre twin-turbo V12, rated in this application for 463kW and 1 000Nm, driving through a 7-speed automatic transmission with a low-range transfer case and three differential locks, any or all of which can be engaged “on the fly”.

It runs on Unimog-style portal axles and special 22” rims (with Landaulet engraved around the edges), wearing 325/55 tyres that give it a towering 450mm of ground clearance. Which means a huge leap up to get inside, so the running boards extend electrically to form a comfortable step.

The body has been cut away from just behind the B pillar on top and from the C pillars at the sides, and replaced by a power-operated fabric roof.

Under that you’ll find the two fully-reclining individual rear seats from an S-Class Pullman sedan, complete with “hot stone” massage function, inflatable air chambers and calf rests.

A large centre console between the seats includes thermal cup holders and two tray tables with leather tops, so that your tablet or paperwork doesn’t slide around while you’re busy with it. It also houses the controls for the rear-compartment aircon and the glass partition between the front seats and the al fresco rear seating area, which can be raised and lowered, or changed from transparent to opaque, at the touch of a button.

Further forward there’s a proper control panel, with switchgear for the interior lighting and the folding roof, two glove compartments and two 25cm high-definition monitors, each with its own infotainment channel.

Just 99 of these ultra-luxury off-roaders will be built by Magna Steyr in Graz, Austria; the first will be displayed at the Geneva motor show next month and customer de- liveries are