Colossal Chrome Grille, Shining Star, Huge Hood, and Tons of Tech: Mercedes-Benz Vision Iconic Concept

Heritage and future tech combine in the Mercedes-Benz Vision Iconic show car. It’s an all-electric car with a massive chrome grille, solar paint, full self-driving capability, a glass “Zeppelin” dash, and a blue velvet interior.

“Inspired by the golden era of automotive design of the 1930s, this show car embodies the pure essence of Mercedes-Benz. With its hood giving it a majestic presence, sculptural flowing lines, and a touch of Art Deco, it rises to become a true icon of automotive beauty. The interior, with its continuous bench seat and the elegant rear, evoking memories of the legendary 300 SL.

“Our Vision Iconic is more than just an automobile — it is a sculpture in motion, an homage to timeless elegance, and a statement for the future. The symbiosis of traditional craftsmanship, state-of-the-art technology, and an unmistakable design language makes it the ultimate expression of value, prestige, and grace: the most beautiful, most prestigious kind of thing,” said Gorden Wagener, Chief Design Officer Mercedes-Benz Group AG.

Mercedes-Benz Vision Iconic

I look at this latest Mercedes concept car and see a modern, luxurious, and electrified take on the Mercedes-AMG GT. It has a long hood, short overhangs, a big grille, a smooth and sculpted rear end, two doors, and a flowing fastback design.

While I think this design language is rad, Mercedes has yet to explain why such a long nose is needed — besides good looks — on an all-electric car like this. The reality is that there is no massive motor to package under that hood, and the interior could have way more room if the hood weren’t so long. But, I do love the look.

Classic, But High-Tech, Front End

The front end of this show car is what really shows off the design direction that Mercedes-Benz is going for with its electric range moving forward. The idea is to link the past with the future.

No electric car needs a big radiator grille, as they don’t have radiators. But, grilles are a design element that has given vehicles personality since the invention of the automobile. The “iconic grille” seen here was first introduced earlier this year on the forthcoming electric GLC. Mercedes says it helps the brand “stand out from the sea of sameness.”

The chrome upright grille is inspired by “legendary models such as the W 108, W 111, and the Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman.” It has a wide chrome frame, a smoked-glass lattice structure, and integrated lighting.

But, what truly sets it off on the Vision Iconic show car is the illuminated standing star on the hood. The hood ornament is back!

Interior

While the exterior is gorgeous, the interior of the Mercedes Vision Iconic presents “hyper-analog luxury paired with a lounge-like feel.” While I chalk up that description to marketing gibberish, this show car does have a very unique and cool interior. It blends the analog and digital worlds well.

The four-spoke steering wheel offers a throwback and classic design, while also feeling sporty. In the wheel’s center is a glass sphere housing a floating Mercedes star logo — like a piece of jewelry.

Behind that artful steering wheel is a full pillar-to-pillar “Zeppelin” floating glass structure that acts as the dashboard. Inside the glass structure are a mix of analog and digital elements. It has an analog-looking instrument cluster as well as a center stack with four clocks. One of those clocks is shaped like the Mercedes-Benz logo and acts as an AI companion.

Behind the Zeppelin dash and along the doors are inlays of faux mother-of-pearl. This helps keep the luxury Art Deco theme going. It also turns into a star pattern around the polished brass door handles in silver-gold tones.

The front bench seat is finished in a deep blue velvet — again, as a throwback to the opulence of the ’20s.

Even the floor is a throwback design. It is an “elaborate straw marquetry, a luxurious decorative technique dating back to the 17th century and revived in the 1920s.”

Future Tech

Of course, the Vision Iconic is just a show car, designed to showcase some of the latest tech that Mercedes is working on bringing to market soon.

The car is coated in a photovoltaic-active surface, one that doesn’t contain any rare earth elements or silicon, so it can be easily recycled. The idea is that the surface of the car becomes a solar panel, charging the battery and extending the car’s range.

Mimicking the way the human brain functions, this concept car uses neuromorphic computing to optimize energy efficiency and response time. This is important in order for the car to attain fully autonomous driving and provide high-level AI features. Mercedes says this type of computing “has the potential to reduce the energy requirements for data processing in automated driving by 90% compared to today’s systems.”

Along with the computing power, this concept comes with steer-by-wire, four-wheel steering, and a Level 4 highly automated driving system. It also comes with Level 4 parking functionality, which essentially means you can show up at your destination and tell the car to go park itself.

If the Mercedes-Benz Vision Iconic is our electrified transportation future, I’m excited!