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Jay-Z and the Maybach Exelero: What You Should Know

Jay-Z drove the one-off Maybach Exelero in the 2006 “Lost One” video, but public evidence does not establish that he owned it. Learn about its Fulda tire-development purpose, recorded specifications and present-day museum display.
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Jay-Z drove the one-off Maybach Exelero in the 2006 music video for “Lost One,” but that appearance does not establish that he owned the car. The Exelero was a 2005 high-performance concept developed by Maybach and tire maker Fulda to demonstrate Fulda’s Carat Exelero tires.

Mercedes-Benz records a 700-hp V-12 and a 351.45-km/h test run at Nardò. Today, the unique car is publicly exhibited by the Nationales Automuseum The Loh Collection in Germany; the sources reviewed do not establish the museum’s legal title.

What is the Maybach Exelero?

The Exelero is a one-off, two-door high-performance concept based on the Maybach 57 S. Fulda commissioned it as a development and demonstration vehicle for its Carat Exelero ultra-high-performance tires. Its long, low grand-touring body and wide tires were part of a project focused on high-speed tire testing, not a production Maybach model.

Mercedes-Benz’s archive describes the car as a unique 2005 concept and records these specifications:

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Specification Recorded detail Source
Basis Maybach 57 S Mercedes-Benz archive
Engine 5,908-cc V-12 petrol engine Mercedes-Benz archive
Power 515 kW / 700 hp Mercedes-Benz archive
Maximum torque 1,020 Nm at 2,500 rpm Mercedes-Benz archive
Documented speed run 351.45 km/h at Nardò on May 1, 2005 Mercedes-Benz archive
Number built One Nationales Automuseum The Loh Collection

The 351.45-km/h figure is a recorded test result, not a general road-car top-speed rating. Mercedes-Benz says former DTM champion Klaus Ludwig achieved it at the Nardò high-speed facility in Italy on standard tires.

Why is the Exelero associated with Jay-Z?

The Exelero appeared in Jay-Z’s 2006 video for “Lost One,” from the album Kingdom Come. Forbes identified it as a one-off concept car in the video, and Complex also documented the car’s appearance there. Jay-Z is shown driving it, which helped link the car to his public image.

A video appearance is not proof of ownership. The most accurate description is “the Exelero Jay-Z drove in ‘Lost One’” or “the Maybach Exelero featured in Jay-Z’s video.”

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Did Jay-Z own the Maybach Exelero?

Ownership is unresolved in the public record reviewed for this article. A 2025 report discussed the misconception that Jay-Z owned the car and distinguished its appearance in “Lost One” from a proven purchase. The dossier identifies no publicly available primary title record establishing Jay-Z as owner.

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Secondary accounts give conflicting versions of later ownership and proposed transactions, including claims involving private collectors and rapper Bryan “Birdman” Williams. Without title, auction, or seller documentation, those accounts should not be treated as settled fact.

What is the Exelero worth?

The frequently repeated figure of around $8 million is a reported historical valuation or asking-price figure, not a verified current sale price. Because the Exelero is unique and has no ordinary comparable-sales market, assigning it a precise current value would be speculative without a documented sale or appraisal.

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Where is the Maybach Exelero now?

In a March 25, 2026 announcement, the Nationales Automuseum The Loh Collection in Ewersbach, Germany, listed the record-setting Exelero among its collection highlights. That supports describing the car as publicly associated with and displayed by the museum. The announcement does not, by itself, establish who holds legal title.

Why does the Exelero matter?

The Exelero brings together several distinct stories: it is a one-off Maybach concept, a Fulda tire-development project, a 700-hp V-12 car with a documented high-speed test result, and a pop-culture object made widely recognizable by Jay-Z’s video. Its engineering purpose and singular status matter independently of celebrity ownership claims.

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For collectors interested in a replica, Schuco-branded 1:43 and 1:87 scale models are documented by specialist retailers. These are collectible models, not additional full-size Exeleros.

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FAQ

Which Jay-Z video featured the Maybach Exelero?

It appeared in the 2006 video for “Lost One,” a single from Kingdom Come, according to Forbes and Complex.

Was the Maybach Exelero built for Jay-Z?

No. Mercedes-Benz describes it as a 2005 concept developed jointly by Maybach and Fulda for the Carat Exelero tire project. Jay-Z’s connection came later through the video.

How fast did the Exelero go?

Mercedes-Benz records a 351.45-km/h run at Nardò on May 1, 2005. This is a specific test result, not a normal road-car speed rating.

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Is Jay-Z’s ownership confirmed?

No. The reviewed public record does not establish that Jay-Z owned the car. His appearance driving it in “Lost One” is not proof of a sale or title transfer.

Can you see the Exelero today?

The Nationales Automuseum The Loh Collection listed the car among its collection highlights in a March 25, 2026 announcement. That establishes a public collection/display connection, but not the museum’s legal ownership.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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