Royal families have it so tough. Every step is seemingly an exhausting endeavor. Even waving to their subjects when en route between photo-ops can be emotionally and physically exhausting for this sensitive group.
They are constantly pulled one way or another, with no time to just relax and mellow out. I mean, it is Gstaad skiing this week and then RIGHT to St. Barts for some beach thing. No break.
Double vacations can be so tiring, right? Just getting from private chalet to private jet can be a taxing experience.
These poor, pampered beings are never happy.
But they are most unhappy being treated like the simple 1-percent. This is 0.000001-percent, thankyou.
Rich with a capital Wealth Management Responsibility.
To stay serene on demanding journeys, the Maybach Pullman has a taller roof, a four-pack of thrones and an extra 3.3-feet of wheelbase to never spill your much-needed morning drink.
It all seems ridiculous, to be honest. And it is.
Most of these Mayback Pullmans will live a thankless life, destroyed like rental cars by inbred and barely-literate royalty across a variety of sandy dictatorships.
2015 Mercedes-Maybach PULLMAN
The new Mercedes-Maybach Pullman: High-end luxury-class motor vehicle with a proud pedigree
Stuttgart
Feb 18, 2015
Stuttgart. The new Mercedes-Maybach Pullman is being introduced at the Geneva Motor Show. Mercedes-Maybach’s second model assumes the top-of-the-range position, with vis-à-vis seating in the partitioned-off passenger compartment, and at the same time stands as a proud example of the high-end automotive luxury traditionally associated with Maybach.
Its length of 6.50 metres alone is a sign of the special status of the Mercedes‑Maybach Pullman. It provides the space for a generously-sized and tastefully-appointed club lounge in the rear, with a multitude of creature comforts fitted as standard, thereby ensuring the chauffeur-driven limousine lives up to today’s expectations of what constitutes total exclusivity and luxury. The VIP occupants sit on two standard-specification executive seats facing the direction of travel. They can enjoy the greatest legroom in the segment; and can get into and out of the car with the greatest of ease and comfort. As is typical for a Pullman, the four passengers can sit facing each other in the compartment with an electrically-operated partition window. Prices start at around half a million euros; the first customers will be taking delivery of their vehicles, which of course offer unrivalled scope for individualisation, at the beginning of 2016.
Many governments, heads of state and royal families around the world have for decades chosen Mercedes-Benz saloons with the designation “Pullman” to drive them with the stateliness and style befitting their status. With its new model, the company is now extending its unique position in this demanding segment: “Quite apart from providing spacious seating in first-class comfort for high-ranking passengers, the new Mercedes-Maybach Pullman is of course the embodiment of exclusivity at its highest level,” commented Ola Källenius, Member of the Daimler AG Management Board responsible for sales and marketing of Mercedes‑Benz Cars. “One can sense the significance and greatness of it in every detail.”
The Mercedes-Maybach Pullman provides extremely spacious seating combined with unique features characterised by their extraordinary and perfect craftsmanship. It goes without saying that Mercedes-Maybach offers its customers unique opportunities to individualise the appointments of their top-class limousines. These include the exquisite Maybach paint finishes, which are applied in several layers.
With a length of 6499 mm, the Pullman is another 1053 mm longer than the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class. The wheelbase is an impressive 4418 mm. Furthermore, at 1598 mm in height, the Pullman is more than 100 mm higher than a Mercedes S-Class, resulting in a tangible increase in headroom.
The V12 biturbo engine in the Mercedes-Maybach Pullman has an output of 390 kW (530 hp). It has a displacement of 5980 cc and maximum torque of 830 Nm from 1900 rpm.
The name Pullman was originally applied to railway carriages with luxurious open-plan compartments manufactured by the American Pullman Palace Car Company. This name was soon also applied to the motor cars from Mercedes-Benz which were based on an extremely long wheelbase and offered a very generously-sized passenger compartment. In the rear, separated from the driver’s area by a partition, there was space for four passengers to recline regally in four single seats facing each other.
Extremely spacious seating in the rear, entire vehicle interior is leather-clad
As its name suggests, the four seats in the rear of the Mercedes-Maybach Pullman are arranged vis-à-vis. The owner and VIP guests are seated in the direction of travel on two executive seats which are part of the standard specification; other passengers can sit on the fold-down seats facing backwards. If specifically requested, the Pullman can also be delivered in an exclusive version without the additional seats.
The executive seats offer a unique level of comfort thanks to their special adjustment kinematics. In contrast to the norm, the backrest is adjusted separately while the footwell and seat reference point remain unchanged. The cushion can be adjusted separately, with inclination and horizontal adjustment combined. For the executive seats, the maximum backrest angle is 43.5 degrees. The most upright backrest position of 19 degrees allows relaxed working in the rear. The reclining seats feature a calf support, which is freely adjustable for length and angle. The luxury head restraints come with an extra cushion as standard. The two first-class travellers in the rear have the greatest amount of legroom of any car in the segment, as well as 60 millimetres more headroom than in a Mercedes-Maybach S-Class.
It is easy and convenient to get to any of the seats, thanks to the large rear doors and the position of the passengers on the executive seats, which is even further to the rear. A real boost in comfort for those heads of state and monarchs for whom protocol dictates that they must take their places ahead of their interpreters. This seating arrangement also preserves their privacy, as a large proportion of their bodies is hidden by the rear roof pillar.
The interior of the Mercedes-Maybach Pullman is upholstered in leather throughout as standard. Not only is the roof liner upholstered in high-quality leather, but also the door frames and seat consoles. As one would expect of a Maybach, there are three analogue instruments in the roof liner informing passengers in the rear of the outside temperature, speed and time.
The partition wall between the rear and the driver’s area ensures discretion. The glass partition wall can be lowered electrically. It can also change from transparent to opaque at the touch of a button. This allows – in combination with the equally standard-specification curtains for the rear windows – for different levels of privacy. The standard-fit 16:9 format 18.5-inch (47 cm) monitor located in front of the partition can also be extended electrically.
Those who demand uncompromising quality of sound and appreciate perfect music reproduction can choose between two innovative Burmester sound systems. The existing Burmester® surround sound system delivers the legendary and unmistakeable magical sound for which the high-end audio specialist from Berlin is famous. But as an option par excellence, the Burmester® High-End 3D Surround Sound System provides matchless listening pleasure and outstanding sound quality.
It goes without saying that Mercedes-Maybach offers its customers unique opportunities to individualise the appointments of their top-class limousines. The key account managers in the exclusive Maybach centres throughout Europe as well as the sales advisors in the Mercedes-Benz sales and service outlets are happy to provide further information on this.
The history: Pullman limousines from Mercedes-Benz
Happy birthday: the special protection version of the most famous Pullman limousine, the Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman, is celebrating its 50th birthday in 2015. The first version of this luxury armoured version was built in 1965 to complement the portfolio of the luxury vehicle that was introduced in 1963. Having said that, the tradition of offering exclusive limousines with the Pullman name goes back even further at Mercedes-Benz: three special-design examples of the model 300 in Pullman dimensions, referred to in the vernacular as the “Adenauer Mercedes”, were made in 1960. And following on from the model 600, Pullman versions of the S-Class 109 and 126 model series (special production) and the 140, 220 and 221 (both series production) were produced in subsequent years.
Tom Burkart is the founder and managing editor of Car-Revs-Daily.com, an innovative and rapidly-expanding automotive news magazine.
He holds a Journalism JBA degree from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Tom currently resides in Charleston, South Carolina with his two amazing dogs, Drake and Tank.
Mr. Burkart is available for all questions and concerns by email Tom(at)car-revs-daily.com.