Maybach Exelero Concept: A Closer Look At Maybach’s Design Marvel

The Maybach Exelero concept is arguably one of the most promising cars ever made, with just a single example of it existing in the world. 

Every automobile enthusiast loves concept cars since it is an excellent way by the respective manufacturer to showcase where the company could be heading in the future. They are also made to showcase the engineering prowess and technological marvels that one can expect from future cars. On most occasions, these concept cars make their way into the production stage with a few changes here and there while mostly retaining the silhouette and the design language. However, there have been more than a few occasions where the company showcased the concept car, but it never made its way into production because it was just too good to be true. As concept cars don’t need to be practical or viable in any way, the creators of these cars are allowed to run their imaginations. One such car that was initially made as a concept but never made its way into production is the Maybach Exelero. 

Maybach brought the vehicle into limelight back in 2004, and even two decades after its one production, the car still looks fresh and desirable. The sole purpose behind designing this vehicle was to test tires. A machine that was so big and powerful that it would push most production tires or even some high-performance tires to their absolute limits. The vehicle was unveiled in Tempodrom in Berlin in 2005 and did turn many heads. 

The Development Of The Exelero 

The idea behind the Maybach Exelero concept was that a tire manufacturing company could not find a suitable car to max out or test some of the best tires. The company in discussion happens to be Fulda, a renowned German tire manufacturing giant. Fulda approached Maybach with their problem and commissioned them to make a powerful sports car that could test their high-performance tires. Fulda Had recently developed new high-performance tires, which were named Carat Excelero. These tires were specifically designed for vehicles that could go well over 217 MPH (350 kmph). This was not the first time the company approached Maybach to create a specific automobile. In 1938, these two companies collaborated for the first time, and a vehicle by the name of W38 Stromlinienfahrzeug was made to test tires for the company. The W38 also stands as a design inspiration for the 2004 Maybach Exelero, so they have similar design languages. 

The vehicle was designed by Frederick Burchhardt, who himself was a student back in the day at the prestigious Pforzheim Design Academy. The design of the Maybach Excelero was An ode to the original W38 concept but also very distinct in its own way. Even at a standstill, the vehicle had a commanding road presence and stood for elegance and power. 

An Ultra-Massive Powertrain 

Fulda Had a specific demand that the vehicle should be fast and powerful, which is precisely what they got since Maybach used all their engineering prowess behind this vehicle. The Exelero was based on the Maybach 57, a mass production car with a 12-cylinder engine, but all of its components, including the engine, were replaced to make it even faster. The automaker upgraded the engine from a 5.6 liter V12 to a 5.9-liter unit, and even the turbochargers were updated. The 5.9-liter twin-turbocharged V12 engine had three valves per cylinder head, resulting in a power output of nearly 700 HP and 752 lb-ft of torque. These monstrous power figures were enough to propel a 5000 lbs car from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.4 seconds, and Flat out, it could go well over 217 MPH. 

A Stellar Design 

With the power and performance figure sorted out, the Maybach Exelero also needed to look at the part. One of the most noticeable design aspects of the vehicle happens to be the sheer proportions that it has, 7 ft wide, 20 ft long, and over 5 ft tall. Everything about the Maybach Exelero screamed wealth and bling. The rounded edges of the vehicle elongated the silhouette, and the curved lines were a reminiscence of the W38. The long door made a statement for themselves thanks to their massive size. The interior of the vehicle was just as impressive as the exterior. A large part of the interior was dominated by a color combination of black and red, giving it a very sporty appeal. There were also gloss black carbon fiber inserts and a red seat belt to enhance the look even further. 

As a one-off production vehicle, the Maybach Excelero was initially sold to Diakite Jackson for a price of $5 million, who lent the car to Jay-Z for his music video. Later the vehicle was acquired by Arnaud Massartic, who tried to sell it for $8 million. An extraordinary vehicle like this is only made once in a while, and it is less likely that the masses might see another one of these cars any time in the near future. Besides, due to the rapid demand for electric vehicles, gasoline-powered vehicles are slowly nearing their end.