mtu_2 - Referenzen.frehner-consulting.de

Technological History
as Brand Identity.
Mega sailing yachts and MTU have long since
become virtually synonymous. They constitute a
global benchmark for the ultimate in propulsion
system performance and user-friendliness. But
more than that, they represent a glittering
epoch in European technological history in
general and engine production in particular.
That period is associated with a famous name –
Maybach. A name that began the history of
MTU. And one that remains a symbol of the
quality of MTU engine technology today.
Maybach and MTU are names that have stood for inventive
genius, engineering quality and manufacturing performance
for generations. Both have their roots in Friedrichshafen
on Lake Constance where Maybach Motorenbau
GmbH set up in 1912 to build engines for Count Zeppelin's
airships. The importance and achievements of the
present-day DaimlerChrysler subsidiary MTU as a producer
of high-performance diesel engines and complete propulsion
systems for off-highway applications would have
been inconceivable without those beginnings.
Pioneers who Set Standards
Wilhelm and Karl Maybach had founded their enginebuilding
business in the town of Bissingen on the river
Enz in 1909. The two Maybachs – father and son –
gained wide recognition in the automobile industry as
well. Between 1919 and 1941, Maybach made luxury
limousines. They embodied the essence of automotive
style and elegance. All 1800 cars built by Maybach were
of the highest quality. And it was they that established
the brand's reputation for luxury, exclusivity and individuality.
In 1929, Maybach caught the attention of the motoring
world with an exceptional product – Germany's first 12-
cylinder car, the Maybach Type 12. The model became a
symbol for extravagance, luxury and high performance.
And the fact that its engine was a down sized derivative
of the engine that powered the famous Zeppelin airships
that had captured the imagination of the world with their
transatlantic flights further enhanced the Maybach
legend and its worldwide appeal. Appropriately, Karl
Maybach called his top model the "Zeppelin" from 1931
onwards.
Unlimited Applications
on Land, Sea and in the Air
Exclusivity provides no guarantee of expansion. In the
1920s and 30s, only small numbers of the high-performance
zeppelin engines could be sold. Maybach looked
for new areas of application. They presented themselves
through the product itself. Precisely those characteristics
that gave the Maybach 12-cylinder its outstanding qualities
as an airship engine also made it the ideal power unit
for racing speedboats and fast yachts. And that proved to
be the case in practice. Almost inevitably, the "Type VL"
became the engine of choice for "express cruisers", the
predecessors of today's mega-yachts.
It was the golden age of sailing, a time of society get-togethers
on polished decks with canvas overhead. German
and American shipyards built a large variety of impressive
motor yachts – between 100 and 300 feet long and
fitted with Maybach Type VL 2 airship engines. Smaller
craft were equipped with Maybach six-cylinder gasoline
power units, the marine versions of proven car engines.
Such express or racing cruisers offered high performance,
a long range and luxurious interiors. With two or
three V12 engines each producing 570 horsepower (419
kW), the faster among them could reach top speeds of up
to 56 kph.
A typical press review from around 1930 concluded,
"Those who want the best and most reliable for their
boats choose Maybach engines."