DAIMLERCHRYSLER'S vision of the ultimate in luxury motoring finally made its world debut in Geneva, as the long-awaited Maybach finally appeared - or almost, given that the car remained concealed behind tinted glass.

This aquarium approach was designed to whet the appetite of a customer base with a cool £250,000-plus to spend on a car, rather than on a studio flat in Kensington, a yacht for the Mediterranean, or a fleet of four S-class Mercedes-Benzes.

In real terms, the Maybach is likely to cost closer to £280,000 with the potential to exceed this as customers bespoke the car to their own requirements.

The car measures more than five metres in length and is powered by a twin turbo V12 engine producing 550bhp.

DaimlerChrysler will sell the car from one London showroom and its Experience centre (still to be built), with specialist service and display points in Birmingham and Manchester.

The company anticipates annual UK sales of about 60 Maybachs.