Luxury in ivory-white! LeBron James' Maybach, NBA champion, will be auctioned off.

When Mercedes-Maybach speaks of individualization, the brand means far more than a special paint color or exclusive leather upholstery. How far the possibilities have now expanded is shown by a vehicle that drew attention this spring: the Mercedes-Maybach S 680 by basketball star LeBron James. The four-time NBA champion and long-time Mercedes partner has, together with the designers and craftsmen of the MANUFAKTUR program “Made to Measure,” designed a luxury sedan that is as personal as hardly any other production vehicle. What has emerged is a rolling family album — packaged in a nearly 5.5-meter-long representational limousine with a V12 engine.

Light ivory symbolizes luxury

The very first impression is out of the ordinary. Instead of a dark or two-tone paint finish, the Maybach wears a light ivory tone chosen by Mercedes specifically for the project. In addition, there are specially designed wheels and numerous details that point to the owner. The usual V12 emblems have been replaced by individual “LJ” logos – a nod to the basketball player's initials.

Things become even more personal in the interior. There, Mercedes-Maybach combines dark blue “Stormy Weather” Nappa leather with porcelain-colored contrast stitching and decor elements in Black Piano Lacquer Flowing Lines. On the headrests, cushions and other surfaces, the well-known crown logo of “King James” appears again.

Akron, Hometown Immortalized

But the real story lies in the small details. LeBron James hails from Akron in the U.S. state of Ohio. The city played a formative role in his rise from a talented up-and-coming player to a global superstar. Therefore, the vehicle contains numerous references to his homeland. On the center console are engraved the geographic coordinates of Akron. The birth dates of his children were also integrated into the vehicle. Thus the Maybach becomes less of a status symbol and more of a personal chronicle.

Technically, the limousine remains largely untouched. Under the long hood operates the well-known 6.0-liter V12 biturbo. It delivers 621 hp and provides 899 Nm of torque. The power is transmitted via a nine-speed automatic and the standard all-wheel drive 4MATIC to the road. The sprint from 0 to 96 km/h takes about 4.3 seconds—a pace that seems remarkable given its size and level of comfort.