The Mercedes-Maybach G650 Landaulet is a unique blend of luxury and rugged performance. It combines the iconic Geländewagen with the 6.0-litre biturbo V12 engine from the S65, the portal axles from the G 500 4×4², and the plush rear seats of a Maybach S-Class. To top it off, the wheelbase is stretched by over half a metre, and a Landaulet-style soft-top is added, making it a vehicle that stands out in every sense.

It has presence, the G650. And so it should – at 5345mm long and 2235mm tall, the portal axles also give it much ground clearance, like the 4×42. The G650 adds sidesteps that deploy electronically when you open any of the G’s four doors, then retract once you’ve clambered aboard.

The front is typical G-Wagen, albeit beautifully trimmed. Behind the two front seats there’s a glass partition that can be raised, lowered, or made completely opaque with the push of a button. Said button is in the back, as is the button to raise and lower the roof which, interestingly, isn’t fully electric. A motor does the heavy lifting, but first you have to manually unlock it with a couple of fantastically mechanical-feeling handles above the partition screen. Mercedes tells us this is entirely on-purpose, because it’s in-keeping with the nature of the car.

Source: Top Gear