By: IOL Motoring Staff
Stuttgart, Germany - Almost certainly the longest car on display at the 2015 Geneva motor show will be this one - the 2016 Mercedes-Maybach Pullman.
Its overall length of 6499mmm provides space behind an electrically-operated partition window for what Daimler AG justifiably calls a club lounge, with two extraordinarily luxurious 'executive seats' facing forward over enough legroom that there's room for two fold-down, rear-facing jump seats as well.
Built on an imposing 4418mm wheelbase, the Pullman is actually 1053mm longer than the recently announced Mercedes-Maybach S-Class, which is itself longer than a standard long-wheelbase S-class. At 1598mm tall, it's also more than 100mm higher than a normal S-Class, providing extra headroom for ceremonial headgear such as tiaras, crowns or oak-leaved caps.
ABSOLUTE PRIVACY
The backrests of the executive seats can be adjusted, without affecting the footwell or seat reference point, to any angle from 19 degrees (for working comfortably on the notes for your speech) to 43.5 degrees, for quiet relaxation.
The squab cushion can be adjusted separately for both position and angle, as can the built-in calf support, while the head restraints come with extra cushions as standard.
The entire cabin, including the headliner, door frames and seat consoles, is trimmed throughout in leather, and there's a neat overhead console housing three analogue instruments to inform passengers of the outside temperature, time and speed.
The glass partition wall between the passenger compartment and the front seats can be lowered electrically, and can change from transparent to opaque at the touch of a button. Also standard are curtains for the rear windows, for extra privacy, as well as a 47 centimetre wide-screen TV monitor stowed in the lower section of the partition, that rises electrically into view when needed.
ABSOLUTE POWER
The top-of-the-range model is the Mercedes-Maybach Pullman S600, powered by a 5980cc biturbo V12 delivering 390kW, with 830Nm available from 1900rpm.
Pricing for unarmoured models will start at about €500 000 (R5.8 million), with the scope for individualisation limited only by the customer's imagination; first deliveries are scheduled for the begining of 2016.