DaimlerChrysler has recently released its "Maybach" luxury sedans - amongst the most expensive cars ever built and certainly the most complex.

The cars are simply jammed with electronics - there is barely a function or component that isn't either electronic or controlled electronically. In fact, there are no less than 76 electronic control units in the car! Let's have a quick look at some of the highlights.

To suggest that the rear compartment is luxurious is something of an understatement. Seated behind a glass partition that can vary in transparency via a sandwiched liquid crystal membrane (a glass sunroof uses the same technology), passengers can electrically adjust the fore-aft movement and backrest angle, with the latter able to be reclined to 47°. A memory facility allows these settings to be recalled.

In addition, the seats contain a pneumatic lumbar massage function, whereby an internal bag is alternately filled and relieved of air.