Ever so often, there comes a vehicle that defies all odds and completely breaks the mold. The 2016 Mercedes-Maybach G650 Landaulet is exactly that. One of just 99 ever made, this particular example has surfaced for sale at Prestige Imports in Miami. But to truly understand why this unique take on the G-Wagen commands such a premium, you’ll have to look beyond the chrome, leather, and carbon fiber to understand the Landaulet connection.
100+ Years Of Landaulet Legacy
A Landaulet is a throwback body style to the days of coach-built state cars of the early 20th century. Picture royalty, dictators, heads of state, and prominent figures in government waving at crowds through half-open roofs, while being chauffeured in the back. It is essentially a limousine built for the ultra-powerful, with a convertible rear section and a fixed roof upfront for the driver. Mercedes-Benz has a storied history with this format, going back to models like the Benz 25/45 PS of 1910, the famous 600 Pullman in the 60s, and, more recently, with the Maybach 62S in 2008.
While the aforementioned models were all based on stately cars, when Mercedes and Maybach teamed up to create the G650 Landaulet in 2015, the result was a truly absurd contradiction of luxury with military-grade capability and off-road prowess. The G-Class, after all, has military roots going back to 1979.
Mercedes-Maybach G650 Performance
Under the hood, you’ll find a twin-turbo 6.0-liter V12 engine hand-built by AMG, which produces 630 horsepower and 738 pound-feet of torque. This powerplant also does duty in the Pagani Huayara hypercar. Despite weighing 6,500 pounds, performance is still brisk for such a beastly machine, with 60 mph coming up in 5.9 seconds. The top speed may only be 112 mph, but where any G-Wagen truly shines is off the pavement.
But with the G650, Mercedes went a step further with portal axles and massive all-terrain tires, and 17.7 inches of ground clearance (standard G-Class has just under 10-inches GC); essentially transplanting he hardware from the G500 4×4² onto this Maybach. While the G is immensely capable off-road with its locking diffs, low-range transfer case, and high-tech four-wheel drive systems, you may want to be careful with the 22-inch rims on the G650 Landaulet.
Mercedes-Maybach G650 Specs
| Engine Displacement | 6.0 L |
| Engine Configuration | Twin-turbocharged V12 (Mercedes-AMG M279) |
| Horsepower | 630 hp @ 5,250 rpm |
| Torque | 738 lb-ft @ 2,300–4,300 rpm |
| Transmission | 7-speed automatic (7G-TRONIC) |
| Curb Weight | 6,498 lbs (DIN) |
| 0–60 mph | ~5.9 seconds (manufacturer estimate) |
| Top Speed | 112 mph (electronically limited) |
Mercedes-Maybach G650 For Sale
The pièce de résistance of the G650 Maybach, without a doubt, are the back seats. With a 23-inch longer wheelbase compared to a standard G-Class, legroom is something that you won’t have to worry about. This particular example features a white-on-white color scheme inside and out. Rear-seat passengers will be treated to massaging seats from the S Class, which fully recline.
You also have an electronically operated glass partition that separates you from the driver’s cockpit, and at the touch of a button, you can turn it from transparent to opaque. Add dual-10-inch rear-seat entertainment screens, fold-out tables, and a convertible roof, and what you have is a truly unique open-air experience on offer.
With only 99 examples built, the G650 Landaulet is amongst the rarest Mercedes-Benz Maybach models ever made, and so if you’re looking to own one of the German marque’s most unique creations, check out this listing below.
Images Source: Prestige Imports/Mercedes-Benz