Mercedes-Benz is well-known for its fast and luxurious cars. From its early years, the partnership between Karl Benz, Wilhelm Maybach, and Gottlieb Daimler showed a very promising future. The 1928 Mercedes-Benz Nurburg 460 is the type of vehicle that attracted buyers. A little over a century later, Mercedes still comes out with insane luxury cars.

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As if top-line Mercedes-Benz were simply not enough, Maybach takes it upon itself to enhance the potential of high-end Mercedes-Benz vehicles. While the relationship between Mercedes-Benz and Maybach is quite complicated, Maybach never ceased to receive the support of Mercedes. This support translated into the creation of several ludicrous vehicles, including the Exelero. The Exelero is one of those stunning cars that were built only as one-offs.

10 Inspiration

2004 Maybach 57 2 Cropped
Via mecum.com

Given the involvement of Maybach during the creation of what is today the Mercedes-Benz Group, it is quite understandable that the board of directors decided not to let Maybach go bankrupt. Starting in 2002, Mercedes and Maybach worked hand in hand to produce the ultimate German luxury saloon. Following the revival of the Brand, Maybach was looking to come up with the most outrageous vehicle.

1937 Maybach SW38 Cropped
Via wallpaperup.com

Almost 100% of the Maybachs made since the inception of the company are simply gorgeous. There is not a single Maybach among the ugliest German cars ever made. Loosely inspired by the Maybach SW 38, the Exelero borrowed several aesthetical and mechanical features from Maybach cars previously released. In fact, the Exelero uses the Maybach 57's platform. As the French like to say, the best soups are made in old pots.

9 Birthplace

Pforzheim University Cropped
Via hs-pforzheim.de

While cars such as the Lamborghini Aventador or the Ford GT came out of departments staffed with some of the best designers in the world, the Exelero originates from a place one would not expect. It is well-known that Germany is one of the best countries in Europe to study a highly-technical subject, and become a skilled worker in any given field.

Pforzheim University 2 Cropped
Via twitter.com

The Exelero is the product of a collaboration between Stola and DaimlerChrysler. Stola is an Italian carmaker known for its insane concept cars. The design that would eventually be signed off by Maybach was made by students from the Transportation Design School at Pforzheim University of Applied Science. It is fair to assume that these students went on to work on much bigger projects upon graduation.

8 One-Off

Maybach Exelero 3 Cropped
Via maybach.com

It is quite normal for well-established automakers to produce vehicles that only a very special kind of people would purchase. Usually manufactured in small numbers over a very short period of time, these cars are sometimes worth as much as a gorgeous mansion on the California coast. These cars are usually timeless.

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Maybach Exelero 2 Cropped
Via twitter.com

When taking a look back at the one-off Maybach Exelero, it is fair to say that it was the most eccentric and exhilarating Maybach ever made. Maybachs are usually based on Mercedes-Benz designs, which makes them very attractive but not necessarily legendary. Being a one-off, the Exelero is a true gem due to its peculiar design and rarity.

7 All About The Wheels

Maybach Exelero Wheels 2 Cropped
Via celebritynetworth.com

Whenever car companies get to the drawing board, they design vehicles with a very specific purpose in mind. On a macro level, companies focus on the nature of the vehicle they would like to offer. On a micro level, the same companies may want to provide a specific feature on their vehicles. This feature should give these companies an edge over their competition.

Maybach Exelero Wheels Cropped
Via facebook.com

As surprising as it may sound, the Exelero was designed around its wheels. Requested by tire manufacturer Fulda, the Exelero was created with one thing in mind: testing tires that would withstand high speeds. The tires, named Fulda Carat Exelero, were engineered to remain in perfect shape at speeds exceeding 217 mph. Needless to say, the Exelero came with one monstrous engine.

6 Heart

Maybach V12 Engine 2 Cropped
Via mecum.com

Maybach has never been a fan of weak powerplants. The 1931 Maybach DS8 Zepellin is literally a beast. Weighing over 6,600 lbs, the DS8 came with a massive 8.0-liter V12 that makes 200 hp. The DS8 will remain one of the most luxurious cars made in the 1930s. Maybach maintained this formula until today.

Maybach V12 Engine Cropped
Via mecum.com

The 2004 Maybach 57 comes with a beastily twin-turbocharged 5.5-liter V12 that makes a serious 550 hp at 5,250 rpm and 664 rpm at 2,300 rpm. This was already a lot of power for the luxury sedan. Maybach upped the ante by giving the Exelero a twin-turbocharged 5.9-liter V12 that develops a frightening 690 hp 5,000 rpm and 752 lb-ft of torque at 2,500 rpm.

5 Once In A Lifetime

Mercedes Maybach 57S Coupe Xenatec Cropped
Via luxurypulse.com

Maybachs are not a dime a dozen. Given their hefty price tags, it is quite rare to see Maybachs on every corner. The 2022 Maybach GLS 600, for example, costs over $350,000. It sure is not your average Mercedes-Benz. In comparison, the Mercedes GLS 550 costs $300,000 less than the Maybach GLS 600. To some people, money is not an issue, and a GLS 600 simply does not cut it.

Mercedes Maybach 57S Coupe Xenatec 2 Cropped
Via luxurypulse.com

Maybachs usually come with four doors and an interior that looks like the lobby of the Burj Al Arab. However, DaimlerChrysler allowed German Xenatec to manufacture a 57 S Coupe. The gorgeous Maybach is extremely rare and is worth close to $1 million. However, the 57 S Coupe does not come close to the Exelero. With a price tag of $8.8 million, the Exelero is the most expensive Maybach ever made.

4 Exelero

Maybach Exelero 4 Cropped
Via hotcars.com

To most gearheads, paying off a regular mortgage can be a daunting task. Putting kids through college while paying a mortgage may seem more difficult than climbing Mount Everest wearing scuba diving fins. However, people who can buy two mansions a year and not feel it financially may not have a problem purchasing various toys. The Exelero can be perceived as the ultimate toy.

Maybach Exelero Cropped
Via commons.wikimedia.org

The Exelero is the type of one-off cars gearheads would love to drive but cannot. The supercar is so exclusive that all the sales were made private. With an MSRP of $8.8 million, it is quite understandable that its owners may want to remain anonymous. It's rumored that the car now belongs to Mechatronic.

3 Pop Culture

Jay Z Cropped
Via rollingstone.com

When listening to Jay Z's Story Of O.J., it is quite clear that the Brooklyn rapper went from being a street hustler to becoming a businessman worthy to sit down with Warren Buffett. Now a music mogul, Jay Z has moved away from the display of flashy cars and half-naked women in his videos to destroying and repurposing high-luxury vehicles.

Kanye Jay Z Cropped
Via freshnessmag.com

A detailed look at the Maybach 57 from Kanye West and Jay Z's Otis will let anyone understand that Jay Z has got more than a couple hundred of dollars in his savings account. Besides destroying a perfectly fine Maybach 57 for a music video, it's also rumored that Jay Z purchased the Exelero. What we do know for sure is that it featured in his music video for Lost One. The hip hop mogul does have a thing for the finest things in life.

2 Flop Culture

Birdman Maybach Cropped
Via YouTube

It is quite common to stumble across self-proclaimed kings in the hip-hop industry. While most rappers never make it past the one-hit wonder stage, some do end up becoming extremely rich. With that said, it is important for most rappers to maintain the image of an accomplished business that started from the bottom and made it to the top.

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Birdman Maybach 2 Cropped
Via wegotthiscovered.com

Bryan Christopher Williams, also known as Birdman or Baby, is the co-founder of Cash Money Records. While it is known that Birdman had issues paying his employees, it became apparent that the rapper also had issues paying some of his cars. After claiming to have put money down on an Exelero, the actual owner of the car claimed that the rapper never actually paid a dime.

1 Succession

Phalcon Coupe Cropped
Via madle.org

At this point, it is fair to say that the Exelero has quite an interesting background. The Exelero's physique came to life thanks to a group of talented university students. The luxury car was eventually featured in the tabloids for being a huge hit in the hip-hop world. With such exposure and positive features, it is quite normal that the Exelero ended up having a successor.

Phalcon Coupe 2 Cropped
Via madle.org

Stola reiterated its experiment three years later with the Phalcon. Loosely based on the Exelero, the Phalcon is Stola's attempt at recreating the success generated by the Exelero. Sadly, the Phalcon is simply hideous. While Stola claimed it would make 25 units of the Phalcon, the car ended being scrapped altogether. It is unclear what happened to the only prototype ever made.