When George Clooney and his family need to reach their Lake Como estate, they opt for a helicopter, completing the 50-mile journey from Milan’s Malpensa airport in under 20 minutes. However, if they were to take the hour-long drive on Italian roads, the ideal vehicle for the task would be the Mercedes-Maybach Haute Voiture.
Only 150 units of this $400,000-plus stunner will be produced—our test vehicle is number 2, as per a lacquered plaque in the backseat—and it differs little from the standard Mercedes-Maybach S680 in terms of powertrain. It’s equipped with the same 6.0-liter V12 bi-turbo engine, capable of generating 621 horsepower and 664 lb-ft of torque, more than sufficient to propel the two-and-a-half-ton luxury land yacht.
The Haute Voiture’s allure lies in its exquisite design flourishes. The exterior boasts an exclusive two-tone combination of metallic nautical blue over a shimmering light rose. The nautical blue extends to the 22-inch rims, resulting in a captivating appearance that draws admiring glances and camera clicks as it departs from Milan’s Palazzo Cordusio Gran Melia hotel. The hotel’s piazza is adorned with rough cobblestones, but with the windows closed, you’d never notice. The vehicle’s exceptional dampening system absorbs the bumps, ensuring a velvety smooth ride. The Maybach’s suspension rivals the legendary magic carpet suspension of Rolls-Royce.
As we embark on the autostrada towards Lake Como, with the snow-capped Italian Alps in the distance, the Maybach Haute Voiture truly shines. Put on some bossa nova tunes and let the Burmester immersive surround sound system transport you. You’ll hear every breath the musicians take; the speakers are that exceptional, and the cabin effectively blocks all exterior noise. My preferred driving mode in any Mercedes is Sport; in the Haute Voiture, it’s enjoyable and responsive, allowing the 5,346-pound sedan to accelerate effortlessly. However, the true star is the Maybach dynamic mode. It smooths out the accelerator, eliminating jerkiness regardless of how you press the pedal. Additionally, it softens the suspension in the rear, ideal for backseat passengers, especially during the tighter switchbacks as we approach Como. The ride was so seamless that my passenger was able to recline in the massaging rear seat and catch up on some work.
The Haute Voiture is a colossal vehicle, measuring nearly 7 feet wide at the mirrors. The streets around Lake Como are narrow, and navigating through them requires deep breaths and whispered prayers as Fiat 500s and Mercedes A-Classes whiz by. Despite its size, the Maybach feels manageable thanks to its rear-wheel-steering. This feature proves invaluable when we miss the turn for the Mandarin Oriental Lake Como and have to execute a three-point turn in a tight parking lot, only one foot longer than the Maybach’s 17-foot wheelbase.
