Simply Abu Dhabi Magazine XXV

A few years back Mercedes-Benz made a very wise decision to squeeze more life out of its top-end, luxury brand Maybach which until that moment had been reserved for an elite few, stretch wheelbase exotic saloons. As gorgeous as they were, the rebirth of the century-old badge got off to a rocky start and it wasn’t until the reveal of the second generation car named the Mercedes- Maybach S-Class in 2015 that things really ramped up. Soon after came the Maybach S60 Cabriolet and now we have a car seemingly perfectly suited to the Middle East: the Maybach G 650 Landaulet. A few weeks before its official reveal at the Geneva Motor Show, Simply Abu Dhabi was given an exclusive sneak preview of the giant, luxury off-roader at a secret location away from automotive paparazzi, deep in the wilderness of Botswana. Flying into a private airstrip and staying at the lavish Madikwe Safari Lodge, it also gave us a chance to walk in the shoes of a typical Maybach owner for a day and experience an African safari in the finest way possible. The Middle East has a long-standing love for the G-Class Mercedes on which this is based. It’s been the preferred mode of transport for the UAE’s rulers and elite almost since it was launched in 1979 due to its highly capable off-road capability as well as its levels of performance, comfort and style when given the AMG touch. So I can’t think of a car better suited to our region than theMaybach G 650 as a vehicle which not only ticks all the typical G-Class boxes but adds even more exclusivity: only 99 will be made, it offers extreme levels of luxury, and thanks to its twin- turbocharged, 6-litre, V12 AMG engine, it has the performance to match. We’re blessed living in the United Arab Emirates because one of the best things you can do during the cooler months is to go camping in the desert. The freedom of being able to pack the SUV after work on a Thursday night and head down the nearest country road and trek off across the sand dunes is a luxury and freedom that few others in the world can appreciate. And having sampled the G 650 Landaulet, I can’t wait until next winter to try it on home soil when it’s on the roads locally. The name Landaulet predates the car and originates from the era of horse-drawn carriages, referring to a cabin which has a folding roof for the rear plus a fixed roof for the driver. The driver would sit up front with a roof over his head while the wealthy passengers or royalty rode in an open carriage, and it has continued as an exclusive option reserved only for the super-elite ever since. 1 8 5 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I