Cars you didn't know existed...

[BrabusMog]

Blown2CV said:

and even worse than what you've said, it actually looks no more special than a £25k sport spec E-class coupe!

A "25k sport spec E-class coupe" is a car I didn't know existed but do let me know if you find one as that sounds like a bargain. Bizarre reference when the Maybach is a convertible, too.

[BarbaricAvatar]

r11co said:

BarbaricAvatar said:

valiant said:

Saw one of these the other day in Majorca while sitting down for some dinner. Nearly put me off my food. Ssangyong's idea of what an X6 should look like...

That looks better than an X6.

He didn't show its 'best' angle....



In the Actyon's defence, the above is a very old model which was improved somewhat by a facelift, and then replaced entirely with something altogether less offensive.

It's never going to be mistaken for anything else. Distinctive and cool, the newer shape is much blander.

r11co said:

poing said:

LuS1fer said:

1967- OSI-Ford Taunus 20M TS Coupe from the designer of the Karmann Ghia, Sergio Sartorelli

That might be the nicest thing I've seen in this section, very lovely.

Looks like a mashup of a Triumph GT6 and a Lancia Beta.

TBH that is its best angle, it's got weird things going on at the rear.

[rodericb]

Ares said:

Blown2CV said:

it used to be a different car range, now it's an S-Class spec level.

Yes (ish), and having been in both, the current incarnation suits it better....and make far more commercial sense I don't doubt.

One wonders why VAG persist with Bentley and BMW with Rolls Royce - they could just rebadge an A8 or Seven series, slap on some more chrome and a 'more sumptuous interior' and be done with it.

[Ares]

rodericb said:

Ares said:

Blown2CV said:

it used to be a different car range, now it's an S-Class spec level.

Yes (ish), and having been in both, the current incarnation suits it better....and make far more commercial sense I don't doubt.

One wonders why VAG persist with Bentley and BMW with Rolls Royce - they could just rebadge an A8 or Seven series, slap on some more chrome and a 'more sumptuous interior' and be done with it.

Strong contender for "daft comment of the day award".

[Exige77]

Ares said:

rodericb said:

Ares said:

Blown2CV said:

it used to be a different car range, now it's an S-Class spec level.

Yes (ish), and having been in both, the current incarnation suits it better....and make far more commercial sense I don't doubt.

One wonders why VAG persist with Bentley and BMW with Rolls Royce - they could just rebadge an A8 or Seven series, slap on some more chrome and a 'more sumptuous interior' and be done with it.

Strong contender for "daft comment of the day award".

Yes indeed. Rich people are stupid and easily parted with their money

[Ares]

Exige77 said:

Yes indeed. Rich people are stupid and easily parted with their money

Most rich people I know are rich because the are not stupid, ironically.

Envy affects all levels though.

[swisstoni]

va1o said:

Maybe we need a separate thread for “New mass produced cars which you didn’t realise had been released

Fair enough. Sorry I bothered.

[NomduJour]

Fast Bug said:

Worked out pretty well they sold out as soon as they were announced, maybe there a market for a Liberace revival?

Of course - the world is awash with new money.

[HTP99]

Fast Bug said:

Worked out pretty well they sold out as soon as they were announced, maybe there a market for a Liberace revival?

Totally off topic but I know the guy who bought and renovated Liberace's Vegas mansion; Martyn Ravenhill, the wife is very good friends with his sister.

[Chris944_S2]

rodericb said:

Ares said:

Blown2CV said:

it used to be a different car range, now it's an S-Class spec level.

Yes (ish), and having been in both, the current incarnation suits it better....and make far more commercial sense I don't doubt.

One wonders why VAG persist with Bentley and BMW with Rolls Royce - they could just rebadge an A8 or Seven series, slap on some more chrome and a 'more sumptuous interior' and be done with it.

Have a look and Mercedes and the flop that was Maybach.
German ideas of luxury is tech, which misses the point when going into really plush cars. RR and Bentley definitely have their place, it is not the same segment as a top of the range A8 or 7 series. Even if on paper the German luxury saloons look like the better car, they miss the point of what is actually luxurious when entering that field.

[Ares]

NomduJour said:

Fast Bug said:

Worked out pretty well they sold out as soon as they were announced, maybe there a market for a Liberace revival?

Of course - the world is awash with new money.

Yes, how dreadful that car manufacturers sell modern cars to people who have made their own money, rather than churning out crap to people who have done nothing but inherit generational family wealth.

Never can understand the green-eye/vitriol towards 'new money'.

[NomduJour]

My eyes aren’t green, but you aren’t about to persuade me that vulgarity is some sort of badge of honour.

[Ares]

NomduJour said:

My eyes aren’t green, but you aren’t about to persuade me that vulgarity is some sort of badge of honour.

I've not mentioned vulgarity? Is new self-made money automatically vulgar now?

[NomduJour]

Car styling is increasingly aggresive and vulgar; Mercedes under Gorden Wagener are among the worst offenders.

[Ares]

NomduJour said:

Car styling is increasingly aggresive and vulgar; Mercedes under Gorden Wagener are among the worst offenders.

This is amongst the most vulgar car.....?




I can see how you might not be in love with it, and the interior colours might not be your optimum....but vulgar??

The Maybach we went in last week, all black, was the epitome of understatement in New York streets.


....but you've still not qualified your 'new money' comments?

[NomduJour]

Of course it’s vulgar - it would be no surprise if a gold tissue box was on the option list. Large German saloons have always been a bit infra dig in the UK, and that one doesn’t even have the reserve and dignity of the Sacco era to help it.

[Veeayt]

valiant said:

Saw one of these the other day in Majorca while sitting down for some dinner. Nearly put me off my food. Ssangyong's idea of what an X6 should look like...

To be fair to Actyon, it predated the X6 by a few months. And yes, looked better than the BMW effort in the real life. At least people weren't paying for the badge

[Ares]

NomduJour said:

Of course it’s vulgar - it would be no surprise if a gold tissue box was on the option list. Large German saloons have always been a bit infra dig in the UK, and that one doesn’t even have the reserve and dignity of the Sacco era to help it.

You do know what Vulgar means??

And large German saloons are Infra Dig in the UK?? Really

[Hugo a Gogo]

NomduJour said:

Of course it’s vulgar - it would be no surprise if a gold tissue box was on the option list. Large German saloons have always been a bit infra dig in the UK, and that one doesn’t even have the reserve and dignity of the Sacco era to help it.

Mercedes have alway been a bit 'medallion man', the big star poking up out of the bonnet for example, big chrome grills etc, all through the Sacco era too

[rodericb]

Chris944_S2 said:

rodericb said:

Ares said:

Blown2CV said:

it used to be a different car range, now it's an S-Class spec level.

Yes (ish), and having been in both, the current incarnation suits it better....and make far more commercial sense I don't doubt.

One wonders why VAG persist with Bentley and BMW with Rolls Royce - they could just rebadge an A8 or Seven series, slap on some more chrome and a 'more sumptuous interior' and be done with it.

Have a look and Mercedes and the flop that was Maybach.
German ideas of luxury is tech, which misses the point when going into really plush cars. RR and Bentley definitely have their place, it is not the same segment as a top of the range A8 or 7 series. Even if on paper the German luxury saloons look like the better car, they miss the point of what is actually luxurious when entering that field.

I was being a bit on the facetious side. People tend to go for brands which they not only recognise and trust but which they think others know and trust. I thought Maybach might have been a bit of a stretch as it doesn't (well, didn't) carry as much of a presence in brand recognition terms. It'd be like someone bringing out a new Horch or whatever. Look at how hard it is for existing manufacturers to get a foothold into any sort of premium or luxury automobile segment - VW Phaeton, Lexus LS etcetera....!

And then when you think that Maybach is going to live on as a S class with more chrome, massage seat options and fancy trims along they come with the Mercedes-Maybach Luxury SUV concept, which has a boot! Then there was the (very nice) Mercedes-Maybach 6 coupe and convertible last year or so. You can see that MB still want to spin up a different car but it looks like they see they had trouble with recognition so they're tying Maybach to Mercedes Benz quite strongly, getting the Maybach name out there and then, in the future, onto a model or two visually nothing like a Mercedes Benz.