Mercedes-Benz is unveiling a new concept vehicle—a Batmobile-like, sleek, two-door SL—that blends classic design elements from its golden age in automotive design with advanced electric and digital technologies.
The concept is not to be seen on the roads soon, as it is rather a ‘vision’ that pays homage to historic Mercedes styling cues, especially from the SL lineage, while also introducing futuristic touches and a retro-futuristic interior.
This ‘sculpture in motion’, as Gordon Wagener, Chief Design Officer of the Mercedes-Benz Group, depicts it, comes across somewhat as a mishmash of historical styling details, dressed up in a sleek Art Deco veneer.
The massive grille in front draws inspiration from the upright grilles of legendary models such as the W 108, W 111, and the Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman. And it’s even lit.
“The illumination of the iconic star and the chrome grille in combination with animation scenarios for the grille demonstrate the importance of light integration for the emotionalisation of digital design,” Mercedes states. And even the headlights mimic the Mercedes star on both sides.
The Batmobile’s black paint is something particular, too. It’s a wafer-thin experimental ‘solar paint’, a photovoltaic coating that can convert sunlight directly into electricity.
This coating contains microscopic photovoltaic cells, similar to those in solar panels but ultra-thin and flexible. When sunlight hits the paint, it generates a small electric current that can recharge the car’s battery or power auxiliary systems, providing enough energy for 12,000 kilometers extra per year under ideal conditions.
Hyper-analogue, digital luxury
“Hyper-analogue, digital luxury and lounge comfort: the interior of Vision Iconic represents a new kind of journey,” the carmaker continues. It means that as cars become increasingly automated (self-driving), the purpose and design of the interior are changing.
However, there is still a steering wheel for those who love to drive themselves, a four-spoke one that highlights a sporty yet elegant character, with the Mercedes-Benz logo floating inside a glass sphere.
It is completely steer-by-wire, especially for a perfect interaction with rear-axle steering. For a long car like the Vision Iconic, the advantages of this technology are improved handling, manoeuvring, and parking.
The most distinctive feature in the cabin is a transparent glass pod that appears to float in the middle of the dashboard, a full-width digital screen stretching across the dashboard (like in Mercedes’ MBUX Hyperscreen).
It’s sculptural, more of an art object than a functional display, and contains analogue dials and clocks inside. Mercedes calls it ‘Zeppelin’ because it resembles the shape of a small airship hovering in the cabin. However, you might see more of a U-boat-like submarine design in it.
At the centre, one of the four clocks is shaped like the Mercedes star logo, which actually functions as an AI interface, reacting to your voice, gestures, or driving context.
When you open the door, the dashboard instruments perform a mechanical animation, like the hands of a luxury watch resetting or spinning. It’s designed to evoke a theatrical and precise feel, highlighting analog motion rather than relying solely on digital graphics.
Relax, work, or socialize
Lounge-like comfort” inside means soft, spacious, elegant, like being in a high-end hotel lounge. “Hyper-analogue and digital luxury” is Mercedes’ way of saying they’re blending classic, tactile craftsmanship with real materials, mechanical details, and analogue clocks. With cutting-edge digital technology like AI, smart glass, and ambient lighting.
It’s no longer just a means to drive from A to B. Because the driver no longer needs to control the car constantly, the interior becomes a space where people can relax, work, or socialize while the vehicle handles the driving.
And after arriving at the destination, relaxed and refreshed, one would step out of Vision Iconic and let the Mercedes take care of the rest. No driver is needed for parking. It can do it by itself.
Highly intelligent car
And the car is supposed to be highly intelligent. “Neuromorphic computing revolutionises energy efficiency and latency in autonomous driving” is Mercedes-Benz’s way of mimicking a very futuristic, research-level technology that could one day make self-driving systems much faster and more energy-efficient.
Neuromorphic computing refers to the design of computer chips that operate more like the human brain than traditional CPUs or GPUs. They use artificial neurons and synapses that fire in parallel and adapt dynamically.
The goal is to perform tasks like perception, pattern recognition, and decision-making (all crucial for autonomous driving) with far less energy and less delay (latency) than current AI hardware.
Last but not least, Mercedes-Benz created a small fashion collection inspired by the Vision Iconic’s Art Deco design, materials, and colours.
The clothes mirror the car’s luxury aesthetic, featuring dark blue and silver-gold tones, as well as geometric patterns, which were revealed at Shanghai Fashion Week to emphasize Mercedes’s connection between high fashion and high-end automotive design.
Markus Schäfer, Chief Technology Officer, Development & Procurement at Mercedes-Benz, is immensely proud on the achievement of his teams.
“Vision Iconic embodies our vision for the future of mobility. With groundbreaking innovations such as neuromorphic computing, steer-by-wire, solar paint, and Level 4 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.”
