Long saloon cars have always been in vogue but parking them can be a real pain. What if there is no long driveway? What good is a car, be it a Maybach if it can’t take you where you want to take it. And the reason would be as puerile as its size, the length to be more precise. Word is that Mercedes is working on the smallest Maybach to date ˆ dubbed the 51 for its 5.1-meter length, following in the tradition of other Maybach models on the market ˆ with an expected launch sometime in 2009. Because of its smaller size, they’re calling this the most driver-oriented model in the lineup. Driver-oriented indeed, because the 51 will sport a V12 engine capable of between 500 and 600 horsepower. It might even rock the same platform as the W221 S-Class Mercedes. In addition to the four-door sedan, there are rumblings of a coupe version as well, further pushing the driver-oriented nature of this new vehicle.
(Pictured is a Maybach 57)
While exact pricing is far from being confirmed, it is likely that the Maybach 51 will fall into the same range as the Bentley Continental Flying Spur (the world’s fastest 4-door production vehicle). But if they are cutting down on the length why couldn’t they double the act with the price too…what say?