What's all this about?

Excess and exclusivity: Mercedes-Maybach is offering its most wealthy customers a Maybach badged version of the S-Class Cabriolet. At €300,000 a pop (well north of £250,000 at today's rates) it's not going to be selling in big numbers, and Maybach is limiting production to a series of just 300 units.

Wow...

Yes, that's what we thought, as the price elevates the S-Class Cabriolet into serious Rolls-Royce and Bentley territory, but the chances are buyers will have those in their garages too, so it's incidental. The S 650 is basically an AMG S 65 with some trinkets, meaning it's powered by a 630hp 6.0-litre biturbo V12 petrol engine. So it's silly fast, even with all the hand-finished leatherwork and bespoke luggage that comes as part of the deal.

Anything else?

There are certificates signed by Mercedes-Benz boss Dr Zetsche for those 300 buyers worldwide rich and mad enough to dip into their expansive pockets and order one. It comes with a car cover, too, so it'll stay nice and dust free when parked alongside the rest of your collection.

Bonkers right?

We think so, but then we've not got a bank balance like a small country's GDP, and it's difficult to get into the mindset of such buyers. Maybach should not have any trouble selling all 300, and if it does we doubt it'll be long until we see a similarly limited number based on the coupe, too.

Kyle Fortune - 16 Nov 2016