Maybach 57 SC Xenatec Coupé

The history of Maybach can be divided into several distinct periods, but the years from 2002 to 2012 are not regarded as the most successful chapter. Yet it was precisely during these years that the two-door 57 SC was created. A car that quickly became a cult object, defined by its rarity which stems from a total production of less than a dozen cars.

The raison d’être of the Maybach 57 coupé is rooted in the 1990s revival of the brand. For a first-hand account of this, we spoke to Leon Hustinx, a Dutchman who moved to Germany at a young age and joined Daimler-Benz as a trainee in 1982. ‘In 1996 I had worked my way up in the organisation and started the role of assistant to CEO Dieter Zetsche. That position can only be fulfilled for a few years due to company policies, so I knew another job would be inevitable. With a  broad international network I was then asked if I would be interested in taking responsibility for the newly reestablished Maybach brand, working within a small team. This was a wonderful opportunity, because I got to travel the world, organise and attend customer clinics, and meet fascinating people. I was responsible for sales and marketing, while Hon. Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Hermann Gaus oversaw the car’s technical development. It was a privilege to work alongside Professor Gaus, who had even been involved in the development of the legendary 600 Pullman (W 100).’