Mercedes-Benz showcased the Vision Iconic concept, which previews the design direction of future Mercedes EVs. The long hood and sweeping back seat evoke images of luxurious Mercedes coupes from the 1930s. The Vision Iconic is equipped with tiny solar cells that enhance its range. Mercedes says it is studying these cells for use in future electric vehicles. For a company as old as Mercedes-Benz, striking the right balance between staying true to its roots and innovating something new and different can be challenging. After the blob-like EQE and EQS were a style misfire, Mercedes is now rethinking its approach for an electric future. The new electric GLC SUV and the brand’s other EVs take a more traditional method. Now, Mercedes has released the Vision Iconic, a statement about the company’s design direction that looks into the future and draws from the proud past of the brand. The Vision Iconic resembles Mercedes-Benz cars from the 1930s, such as the SSK and 500K, and appears to be the kind of car Cruella de Vil might have driven. With a football field-length hood, a smoothly sloping roofline, a blunt front end, and huge wheels, the proportions are both beautiful and scary. The front of the car shows off the new electric Mercedes family grille in all its shining beauty. Like the electric GLC, the grille has a chrome edge that circles hundreds of small square LEDs. These lights are on panels that are divided by ribs branching out from a spine that is illuminated. The Mercedes three-pointed star hood ornament, displayed boldly on top of the nose, is illuminated by the Vision Iconic, which takes it even further. The headlights have a three-pointed star design and are housed in a thin, pointed housing with vertical slats. This light signal is already used in Mercedes cars currently on the market, such as the new GLC EV, the CLA-class, and the upcoming facelift for the Mercedes-Benz S-class. Along the long sides, the only decorations are a chrome strip on the side sill and a polished edge around the gun-slit windows. There are also two curved vents right in front of the doors. The back resembles the 300 SL from the 1950s, featuring curved fenders and simple LED taillights at the top. Despite Mercedes’ claims that it offers “lounge-like comfort” for self-driving, the Vision Iconic’s cabin is still much more traditional and less like a living room on wheels than earlier Mercedes concepts, such as the Vision V. Behind it is a mechanical gauge that resembles the intricate gears inside expensive clocks. The large, four-spoked turning wheel resembles something from a 19th-century sailing ship. More than anything else, the instrument panel looks like a glass case. Mercedes calls it the “Zeppelin” because of its oval shape, which evokes images of rigid airships from the early 1900s. A thin LED strip goes along the doors and across the bottom of the windshield. On either side of the dashboard, there are small glass structures that give off a blue glow. A bracelet featuring several clocks in its center. One of the clocks has the Mercedes-Benz logo on it and is used “as an AI companion.” There appears to be a large metal bottle inside the Zeppelin, covered in what look like maps of mountains. Mercedes doesn’t specify what this is, but it reminds me of the Gallery in modern Rolls-Royces, which features art on the dashboard on the passenger’s side. There is classy mother-of-pearl trim on the doors, and behind the brass door knobs is a string of little blue lights. The floor features a beautiful blue pattern crafted from straw marquetry, and the seats are upholstered in deep blue velvet. One thing that makes the Vision Iconic unique is its style. Mercedes says they are looking into “wafer-thin” solar panels that could be attached to the body of electric cars to increase their range and harness more energy from the sun for the Vision Iconic. Mercedes claims that a room of 118 square feet, approximately the size of a mid-size SUV, could enable the car to travel up to 7,450 miles a year under ideal conditions. Mercedes claims that its solar surface can be easily recycled, doesn’t contain any rare earth metals, and may even generate energy when the car isn’t in use. Mercedes still wants their cars to be able to drive themselves, even though the Vision Iconic has a turning wheel. In cities, Level 2 point-to-point automated driving will be used. On roads, Level 4 automated driving will take over. By using neuromorphic computing, which makes the computer act like the brain, Mercedes says it is making progress in artificial intelligence and that “AI calculations significantly more energy-efficient and faster” may be possible. Mercedes says this could help safety systems act more quickly and save up to 90% of the energy needed for data processing in self-driving cars. The Vision Iconic also features steer-by-wire technology, which means the steering wheel is not directly linked to the front wheels. Mercedes says this makes it easier to integrate with rear-axle steering, which is necessary to maneuver such a large vehicle in tight spaces. They also say that parking is easier because the steering ratio can be changed for low-speed maneuvers, so the driver doesn’t have to turn the wheel end over end. Mercedes will not be releasing any dramatic coupes with a retro look anytime soon, and the Vision Iconic is unlikely to be produced. However, the Vision Iconic’s mix of futuristic technologies with modern and retro design elements will likely have an impact on how the next generation of Mercedes EVs look and function.
