Maybach is back

Mercedes-Benz plans to resurrect the badge on the top-end version of the long-wheelbase S-Class sedan.

Rolls-Royce among Mercedes-Benz cars - the ill-fated Maybach brand that was killed off due to weak sales — will be revived with the latest luxury brand limousine.

Mercedes-Benz plans to resurrect the badge on top version of the long-wheelbase S-class sedan, a senior executive confirmed at the Geneva Motor Show this week.

"It will be called the S-Class Maybach," said Dr. Hermann Josef Storp, Mercedes-Benz's chief engineer for the S-Class.

“Everyone knows what the S-class means and what the Maybach badge means; in this case it means slightly better equipment, silver champagne goblets, etc.”

Asked if the car would still have the three-pointed star or Maybach symbol, Dr. Hermann Josef Storp said the Mercedes-Benz would take pride of place in the car, but "there will be some indication that it's a Maybach."

The most expensive S-Class on sale today costs over $600,000; The Maybach version is expected to eclipse that figure when it eventually goes on sale in Australia in the next two years.

Mercedes-Benz built the last Maybach on December 17, 2012, 10 years after the brand's reintroduction in 2002.

A a little over 3000 Maybachs have been sold in 10 years., including a total of 13 in Australia (according to VFACTS, five in 2004, three in 2005, one in 2006, none in 2007, three in 2008 and one in 2009) . By comparison, Rolls-Royce sold 3630 vehicles worldwide in 2013 alone, the fourth consecutive record.

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