2006 Maybach 57 Test Drive

Three Tons of Fun

Maybach sharpens its massive luxury cruiser for those who like to drive a little, rather than just be chauffeured around.

Performance

A drive around the block won’t provide much of an idea of the Maybach's subtleties. Get in, start, drive away and nothing seems immediately remarkable other than the high quality of materials and appointments.

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It’s not as though road imperfections completely disappear; they are nicely smoothed out without the floating feeling of some expensive luxury cars, but there is definitely a disconnect from reality. Next you’ll notice that the steering wheel offers no sensation of the mechanical linkages that are articulating over bumps, yet steering response is quick and precise.

The body aerodynamics reduce wind noise, double-pane glass makes it cathedral-quiet and there’s nary a creak out of the upholstery. While it does take a brief moment to get this three-ton car moving, the incredible power is delivered smoothly and silently.

Breathtaking speeds are achieved in an eerily relaxed manner. Our local car wrangler, accustomed to delivering vehicles at less than a fifth of the price, aptly called it a “magic carpet.” A V12 engine is inherently well-balanced, but it’s still hard to believe this engine can churn more than 600 hp without even an occasional shudder at idle.

The 57 S delivers sports-car-like cornering without any body lean; this behemoth is actually fun to drive, and your passengers won’t get tossed around in the process. Braking performance is phenomenal, with an unheard of two calipers on each front wheel to reign in this sizable beast's speed. The brakes are electronically actuated and incorporate a “soft stop” feature to prevent any jolt upon full stop so that everyone behind the wheel of the 57 S becomes a smooth driver. The stability and traction control systems have also been reprogrammed to allow more aggressive driving and not intervene with braking and throttle modulation as early.

It’s hard to imagine any vehicle that could make shorter, or more comfortable, work out of even a transcontinental trip.