When you've built what is arguably the world's most over-the-top luxury sedan, where else to launch it but that shrine to conspicuous consumption, Dubai - and who better to give the keynote address than its ruler, the world's fourth richest man, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
"You shouldn't take small steps if you want to achieve something great" he said, and the engineers at Maybach took him at his word.
The unexpectedly successful Maybach 57 S was designed to bring together absolute luxury and dynamic handling, and was aimed at car guys who've made it but who still prefer to drive themselves.
The fourth and latest addition to the Maybach range, however, is intended for customers who consider driving a staff function like laundry or banking and just want to get there in as comfortable and fuss-free an environment as possible.
The 62 S (S stands for Special and you'd better believe it) is built on the longer of Sindelfingen's two chassis and incorporates many features specifically requested by high-end customers - especially in the generously proportioned passenger compartment.
It also includes a ridiculously muscular, six-litre, 450kW engine, making it the world's most powerful series-production luxury sedan - according to Maybach, that is.
The AMG-built V12 engine has an intercooled turbocharger and produces so much torque that Maybach limits it electronically to 1000Nm, which it says is available from 2000 to 4000rpm.
That's enough to take this humungous car (the 62 denotes its length - 6.2m from stem to stern) from 0-100km/h in a claimed 5.2sec, while top speed is, of course, limited to 250km/h. Each engine bears a small plaque engraved with the name of the AMG technician who built it.
The 62 S is distinguished from the "ordinary" 62 by a redesigned grille, new head and tail lights and distinctive 20" 11-spoked alloy rims; it's available either in metallic silver, white or classic black.
The interior hard surfaces are finished in an unusual combination of French polish and carbon fibre and several large and suitably pampered "young bulls from southern Germany", says Maybach, gave up their epidermis to cosset the bums of the fortunate occupants.
Reclining seats
The 62 S has two individual seats, inspired by first-class aircraft seats, that can recline up to 47 degrees while lower-leg and foot supports automatically extend.
The seven electric motors in each seat adjust the head restraint, side bolsters, thigh support and footrest angle, while five memories allow to quickly find your favourite settings.
Pneumatic cushions in the back rest will give the occupant a relaxing eight-minute massage at the press of a button - as often as you like.
The rear seats are also available with an active ventilation system of eight mini-ventilators that supply an even flow of air through the perforations in the seat surface, to cool the contact areas between passenger and seat.
Each rear seat also a has a folding table, hidden in the side of the rear centre console, made of carefully crafted aluminium and trimmed in leather and fine wood, adjustable both for reach and angle.
Multifunctional centre console
Each rear door has 10 lidded storage compartments that open at the press of a button and the "multifunctional centre console" between the seats contains a DVD player, six-disc CD changer, one or two phone systems, a refrigerator with its own compressor and an intelligent system which holds glasses and Champagne bottles securely in position.
The Champagne flutes were specifically designed for the Maybach and made of silver; they are automatically gripped above the base when they are put down. The clips are released as soon as the passenger picks up the glass or flute again.
The rear centre console also has a range of storage compartments and a keypad with controls for the central locking, interior lighting, intercom system (if the Maybach 62 S is specified with a partition) and the curtains on the rear windscreen and rear side windows.
Sockets for a video camera, an MP3 player or a games console are also provided.
Repeaters for the speedometer, ambient temperature and time are mounted in an overhead panel; rear passengers can also monitor and control the navigation system.
Controlled opacity
The optional electro-transparent glass roof is normally transparent but has a laminated layer of liquid crystal film that becomes opaque at the touch of a button.
The front section of the roof can contain 30 solar cells that convert sunlight into electrical energy, generating up to 63W for powering the ventilation blower while the 62 S is parked, ensuring that the air inside is fresh and cool even if the car has been standing in the sun.
There are lights that come on automatically when the doors are opened, reading lights at the push of a button - and an electrically operated sliding section in the roof lining made of electro-luminescent foil that switches on when the roof is closed to emit diffused light across its entire surface.
Rear passengers can dim this light as required by a switch on the rear centre console.
The 62 S is also available with an optional partition; its lower section is made of aluminium sandwich trimmed with leather and carbon-fibre, while the upper section is glass and can be lowered by electric motor.
The glass has the same liquid crystal film as the roof and can be made opaque at the push of a button.
Individual micro-climates
The air-conditioning system allows the two front passengers as well as those in the rear seats to adjust their micro-climates individually, ensuring the desired temperature is maintained at each individual seat with as little draught as possible.
The individual settings for the driver and the three passengers are automatically assigned to and stored in the Maybach's electronic ignition key.
And that's just the beginning
Maybach also offers a practically unlimited range of options and extras, from family coats-of-arms and initials to custom-made luggage sets, humidors and golf bags, from sheepskin carpeting to gold-plated fittings - over two million equipment and appointment options.
In the 1920's and 1930's Maybach, more than any other European manufacturer, symbolised absolute luxury above all else; the latest rendition, it seems, has continued that tradition.