A futuristic 18 ft-long limo that looks as though it has rolled straight out of a European luxury design studio is the latest product of China‘s rapidly accelerating high-tech car industry.
The Maextro S800 sedan, with its sweeping two-tone paintwork and lavishly trimmed leather interior, bears an unmistakable resemblance to a Rolls-Royce at first glance.
But beneath the polished surface, the Maextro boasts high-end technology in an ambitious push from Chinese manufacturers into the ultra-luxury segment.
Built in Hefei, China, the £130,000 gold-trimmed vehicle is assembled with the assistance of more than 1,000 robots and powered by technology from Huawei – the Chinese tech giant better known globally for its smartphone and electronics empire.
The car represents a broader strategic shift among Chinese automakers, who have already established dominance in the affordable electric vehicle market and are now setting their sights firmly on the luxury end.
They are acutely aware that they lack the century-old prestige of brands such as Mercedes or Rolls-Royce. Instead, their approach is brutally modern in overwhelming the customer with technology, screens, and other gadgets.
Inside the Maextro, rear passengers are treated to a 40-inch display and a sound system boasting around 40 speakers, turning the back seat into something closer to a private cinema than a traditional limousine cabin. The car can also park itself, reinforcing its futuristic positioning.
All of this comes at a striking price point for the segment. Fully equipped versions cost roughly £130,000, while a more stripped-down model can be purchased for about £77,000 – still dramatically below the cost of entry-level Mercedes-Maybach models and a fraction of what a Rolls-Royce commands in the United States.
Daily Mail
