Mercedes has a bit of a surprise for us all. Following on from the re-invention of its big, classical, upright grille as seen on the new electric GLC SUV at the Munich motor show, Merc has just shown off this, the Vision Iconic concept car, which takes that big grille, runs with it, and just possibly gives us a hint of what the new S-Class is going to look like.
Wow, that's some grille!
Isn't it, though? And it certainly looks better here on the Vision Iconic than it does on the GLC, and the way the styling flows backwards from the glowing, backlit grille — topped, for the first time, by a light-up Mercedes three-pointed star — into that striking, art deco shape is really quite something.
Is this really what the new S-Class will look like?
Quite possibly. The next S-Class will go all-electric and will be based on the new MB.EA platform, also found under the new GLC and the upcoming new C-Class, although the current combustion-engined S-Class will be given a major upgrade at the same time and kept on sale alongside the new one.
According to Marcus Schafer, Merc's head of technology: “Vision Iconic embodies our vision for the future of mobility. With groundbreaking innovations such as neuromorphic computing, steer-by-wire, solar paint and Level four highly automated driving, along with state-of-the-art technology, we are setting new standards for the electric and digital age. This beautiful vehicle is a testament to our commitment to making the mobility of tomorrow a reality today.”
That sounds like a lot of tech…
Yes, it does. Neuromorphic computing is, says Mercedes, the next step for in-car computational power, and it will allow cars to cope with the huge demands of more automated and assisted driving, but without drawing too much power from batteries to do so. Neuromorphic computers theoretically mimic the way human brains work, so they're more efficient and less power-hungry. According to Mercedes: “Safety systems, for example, could better recognize traffic signs, lanes and other road users, and react faster, even in low visibility conditions - and would be 10 times more efficient than current systems. Neuromorphic computing has the potential to reduce the energy requirements for data processing in automated driving by 90 per cent compared to today's systems.”
And the solar paint?
Yes, that seems like something about which Mercedes is pretty serious. Mercedes reckons that if you cover 35.7 square metres — about the total surface area of a large SUV — in solar paint, it can theoretically add as much as 12,000km worth of extra charge 'under ideal conditions.' That sounds more like Palm Springs than Port Laoise, but even so, every little helps, right? Mercedes says that it's “researching innovative solar modules that could be seamlessly applied to the body of electric vehicles, similar to a wafer-thin paste”, which have a 20 per cent efficiency rating and constantly absorb solar energy, even when the car is switched off. Don't expect to see solar paint as an option straight away, but it's certainly possibly one for the future.
What other tech is on board?
Mercedes describes the Vision Iconic as having a sort of split-level autonomous driving setup. For in-town work, there's Level Two assisted driving, which is about the level most cars have on motorways now — the steering and braking are taken care of for you, but you keep your eyes open and on the road so as to snatch back control when needed. When you get out of town and onto motorways, Mercedes says that the Vision Iconic — which is still just a show car, we'll remind you — has Level Four autonomy, which means you can basically switch back and relax.
There's a new steer-by-wire system too, which does away with the need for a steering column, and which Mercedes says offers both improved handling and safety, as well as more options for the four-wheel steering system to work with. You can pretty safely expect to see that in production fairly soon.
What's the interior like?
Really quite striking. If the rear styling of the Vision Iconic harks back to the rounded lines of the 1955 300SL Gullwing, and the big grille is a throwback all the way to 1900 and the original Mercedes 35hp, then the interior couldn't be more steampunk 1920s if it tried.
The interior surfaces are covered in a mixture of blue velvet, a patterned veneer and actual mother-of-pearl. There's a huge four-spoke steering wheel that looks as if it came off of Camille Jenatzy's 1903 Gordon Bennett Cup racer, at the centre of which is a Mercedes star floating in a literal glass bubble. Behind that wheel, and running the full width of the dash, is the dramatic glass 'Zeppelin' shape. This is both a screen and a structure in which are housed analogue instruments designed to look as if they really could have come from one of Count Von Zeppelin's famous airships (airships for which a certain Maybach company once made engines, as it happens…).
The driver and passenger share a massive, wraparound bench seat, also in blue velvet, which is designed to be comfy to relax back into when the car is driving itself.
Anything else?
Mercedes is so chuffed with the design of the Vision Iconic that it has not only created a coffee table book to go with it, but it's also designed a series of outfits for both men and women that match the car's sense of style. “With dark blue nuances and silver-gold accents, the outfits reflect the luxurious colour scheme of Vision Iconic and play with the graphic elements of the show car's interior. The collection captures the essence of Art Deco by combining the lavish luxury of the 1920s and 1930s with the finest craftsmanship and exquisite materials. Each piece celebrates the attention to detail and use of distinctive fabrics characteristic of this iconic period. The capsule collection pays homage to Shanghai Fashion Week, which takes place during the world premiere of Vision Iconic,” said Mercedes.
"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 Mercedes head of design, Gorden Wagener.