Mercedes-Maybach Stars In Design Essentials IV
The ‘art of creating desire?’ Our trip to Nice for the Mercedes-Benz Design Essentials IV was centred around this. And that obviously means Mercedes-Maybach takes a huge role in this year’s event. The stars? Mercedes-Maybach Haute Voiture concept, a new UI/UX approach, and Mercedes-Maybach S-Class Virgil Abloh shines as well.
Is Mercedes-Benz a car manufacturer or luxury brand? That question echoes through the halls in their design centre in Nice, according to the presentation given there. It is 1 of 5 satellite design studies around the globe. Here the brand vigoursly pursues the goal to be future-proof with their design language and brand image. And with the world becoming more digital by the day, the in-house design team sees oppertunities there too. How? With bespoke UI/UX design for special editions, for example. Want a look into how that looks? Then head over to our Instagram.
Also on the menu for the future of luxury: fading boundries between fashion and cars. Or anything and cars, for that matter. Fashion? Haute couture? Rap? Anything could open a road as to where Mercedes-Benz might end up.
Haute Voiture
And this Mercedes-Maybach Haute Voiture concept is one of those approaches the company is exploring to further solidify their role as a luxury brand. Chief designer Gorden Wagener stated the following on the car:
“We’re fusing the art of high fashion and automotive design at the highest level to create something completely new.”
It might be a concept, but the team was clear: this is happening soon. But if the level of adjustment will follow the concept remains to be seen. Take a close look at all the details though, they’re everywhere. Even the user interface got a tiny tweak, turning the double M logo into a rosé colour.
Virgil Abloh
The Mercedes-Maybach S-Class Limited Edition Virgil Abloh is an embodiment of the brand’s approach: it’s a collaboration with a cultural pioneer, one resulting in something that pulls in new customers. And at the same time, the brand gets a new creative impulse. This car is more than that however, it’s an tribute to a creative mind that sadly is no longer among us. Being a tribute to the fruitful collaboration between Virgil and Mercedes-Benz. 150 units is what this edition is limited to, and hearsay has it that they’re all gone.
In terms of livery and upholstery color, the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class Limited Edition Virgil Abloh might look familiar to some. It is a direct interpretation of the Project MAYBACH collaboration between Virgil Abloh and Gorden Wagener, one resulting in an off-road EV concept. Obviously, that car was present too and it dwarfed the Maybach S-Class. Sadly, the dynamic between these two parties ended too soon, it was truly something unique.
