WaBenzi, in the Bantu language of Swahili, denotes politicians; it literally means “the people who drive in a Benz.” When was the last time a car made you feel upper-crusty? We’ve just had that sensation while riding in the rear seat of the most over-the-top vehicle imaginable, brought to you by the fine people at Mercedes-Benz, who took their iconic G-class and converted it into the Mercedes-Maybach G650 Landaulet.
You read that model designation correctly: The team working under Dr. Gunnar Güthenke, CEO of Mercedes-Benz G (yep, the Geländewagen platform has its very own CEO), started out with a basic G-wagen, took the portal axles of the ultra-aggressive 4×4² version, stuffed the G65 AMG’s twin-turbocharged V-12 under the boxy hood, stretched the wheelbase by 22.8 inches, and added the “first-class” rear seats from the Mercedes-Maybach S-class. For good measure, the rear portion of the standard fixed roof has been replaced by a power-operated fabric top (last available nearly four years ago). Sure, it’s a parts-bin production—but using only parts from the shelf above the top shelf. Cars don’t get much more extreme. Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche reacted with enthusiasm when he first saw the project and jacked up the production target, originally planned to be minuscule, to 99 units.
The amply padded fabric top can be lowered electrically in about 20 seconds and only by command from the rear seat. One of the great appeals of this vehicle is doing precisely that, the better to stand up and survey the surroundings, to enjoy a breath of fresh air, or simply to be seen by adoring throngs.
The G650 Landaulet won’t be sold in the United States, officially, although we’re sure that those with the right plutocratic tendencies and the right connections could find a way to get one here through semiofficial channels. What good is money or power if it doesn’t alleviate such problems with a wave of your wrist? The price remains a secret, but we’re guessing a G650 Landaulet could be yours for around half a million euros, or about $550,000 at today’s exchange rates. And while it is very convincing as a Maybach, it sure made us feel like one of the WaBenzi.
Backsound credit by bensound.com
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