Motorclassica debut for exclusive Benz pair

MERCEDES-BENZ has leveraged its sponsorship of Motorclassica by staging the Australian debut of its Maybach flagship sedan at the official opening of the classic car show in Melbourne tonight.

This year marks the third year in a row that Mercedes has used the event to present its latest metal.

In 2013 the German car-maker kicked off the event by showcasing its new-generation S-Class sedan, while last year the striking S-Class Coupe was the star attraction on the company’s stand.

Mercedes-Benz Australia/Pacific CEO and managing director of Mercedes-Benz Cars Horst von Sanden said Motorclassica provided an ideal opportunity to celebrate the brand’s history and to showcase its future.

“Motorclassica is the perfect platform to display our latest vehicles while looking back to our past,” he said.

The top-end Mercedes-Maybach S600 limo reintroduces the Maybach moniker here and is offered in a single specification, priced from $448,610 plus on-road costs.

This represents a $31,500 premium over the S600L on which it is based, but it is not the priciest S-Class on offer – that title goes to the V12-powered long-wheelbase $489,610 S65 AMG.

Among the features that distinguish the Maybach-badged model over a regular S-Class include more interior space – thanks to a wheelbase that is 200mm longer than the LWB S-Class – plus a more lavishly designed cabin, greater level of individualisation and more standard features.

Mercedes also claims that the rear compartment of the Maybach S600 is the quietest of any production car in the world.

Powering the hulking limo is a twin-turbocharged 6.0-litre V12 engine producing 390kW of power and 830Nm of torque from 1900rpm.

Also on show at Motorclassica is a limited-edition version of Mercedes’ SL sportscar.

The SL Mille Miglia Special Edition 417 is being shown in Australia for the first time and commemorates the 60th anniversary of a Mercedes 300SL winning the ‘Mille Miglia’ production sportscar race in Italy in 1955.

Available for order as an SL400 or SL500, the special edition adds red exterior highlights, including on the lip of the front spoiler, on the callipers and on the surrounds of the 19-inch front and 20-inch rear black AMG Performance wheels. It also has more premium cabin materials.

The SL400-based edition commands a $15,900 premium over regular 245kW V6-powered model, bringing the price to $244,510 plus on-roads, while the 335kW V8-powered SL500-based edition is priced from $327,510.

A black metallic paint finish is standard, but the special edition can be optioned in ‘designo night black magno’ and ‘designo cashmere white magno’ matte paint finishes or the glossier ‘designo diamond white bright’.

It is not all about new metal for Mercedes at Motorclassica this year, with the company using the event to show off a 1967 600 Grosser as well as a number of other current models and classics.