Whether it ’s big sedans or sport utility vehicle , Mercedes - Benz is one of the top public figure in opulence vehicle for masses who ca n’t be bother to force back themselves . And now the automaker is stress to apply that expertise to a very different form element .
Mercedes is launching a new propagation of vans that are also its first to be designed from the ground up for galvanising powertrains , while still perform all of the functions of its current van lineup . But before it shows the everyday obstetrical delivery vehicles and hotel shuttles , Mercedes is annunciate the arrival of these new van with the Vision V — a concept vehicle that shows just how luxurious a vanguard can be .
The Vision V is a chauffeur - drive living room on wheel . A partition house a monolithic television separates the number one wood ’s compartment from the rear of the vehicle , where instead of the usual multiple run-in of seats , two reclining thrones , a server of speakers and a massive silver screen provide an immersive audiovisual experience . It ’s the luxury fomite you did n’t make love you wanted .
Stephen Edelstein/Digital Trends
An opportunity for something different
sumptuousness minivans are democratic in Japan and China , but anything with sliding doors generally is n’t considered fancy enough in the United States and Europe . With its next - generation vans , based on new modular architectures called Van . EA ( for electric vans ) and Van . CA ( for combustion vehicle ) , Mercedes hopes to change that with a van “ designed as a chauffeur - driven limousine , ” Benjamin Kaehler , chief applied scientist for Mercedes - Benz Vans , told Digital Trends and other media at a preview event near the carmaker ’s headquarters in Stuttgart , Germany .
And why should n’t a van play that part ? If you ’re hold out to be driven around in something , it might as well be a big box on bike with plenty of interior space . They ’re already used as hotel and aerodrome shuttle , sometimes with elaborated interior upgrades via the aftermarket . And SUVs have shown that it ’s possible to make the changeover from workaday vehicle to panjandrum conveyance .
A plain boxy van does n’t exactly have the muscular caché of an SUV , though , or the refinement of definitive luxury saloon like theMercedes - Benz S - Class . So while Mercedes was able to cram the Vision V conception full of high - end features , intriguer had to create a decidedly un - vanguard - like outside to temper curiosity about what ’s indoors .
Stephen Edelstein/Digital Trends
A glitzed-up van
After signal confidentiality agreements and check credential , a false paries lifted up , Hollywood - style , and the gaggle of journalists was usher into a concealed room where , bath in coarse studio apartment firing and exceptional - essence bullet , the Vision V awaited .
This is the type of fomite that deserves such a dramatic introduction . It ’s decidedly a vanguard , but with its sloping ceiling , delimitate persona lines in the body sides , and a simple tailgate with a circular firing ingredient that recalls Star Trek impulse engine , it ’s also definitely futurist .
the Vision V proudly wears an pretentious wicket and bright 24 - inch wheels .
Stephen Edelstein/Digital Trends
But the Vision V also hits all of the luxuriousness - fomite marks . At a time where many automakers are abandoning chrome for blacked - out outside trim , the Vision V proudly hold out an pretentious grille with a mirror goal , along with equally bright 24 - inch mono - block wheels similar to what you ’d normally see onMercedes ’ ultra - luxury Maybach models . The traditional hood ornament ties the Vision V to Mercedes ’ luxury cable car , as do the segment headlamp that arc up and away from the grille , as well as twinned power bulge in the hood .
One affair the Vision V has that current Mercedes sumptuosity cars do n’t is electrochromic glass . acquire things up a pass from heavy window tinting , this tech can switch the side deoxyephedrine ( as well as the interior segmentation ) from transparent to opaque instantly , providing maximal secrecy for rearward - prat passenger .
Are you not entertained?
The doors slid receptive ( thanks to an attendant run a distant ascendance , this is a construct cable car after all ) to reveal a febrility ambition of an DoI . The two rear seats were comprised of tube - similar elements , accompanied by equally strange - look speaker assemblies ( there are 42 speakers in all ) and a roof lamp . Apple Store lily-white and milled atomic number 13 were the vividness of selection — punctuate by the color - vary ambient firing that ’s become a key signature feature of late Mercedes interiors .
Once situated , a process that required shrinking wrapping my shoe and get one of the Vision V ’s attendants lie down a protective binding over the bottom ( even blue denim could maculate the one - off leather upholstery , plain ) it was amazingly comfortable , give the unorthodox design . Mercedes was able to build in lounge chair - levels of recline thanks to the amount of space available , although clearance was a little tight with the seat in its vertical position . Integrated seatbelts allow the seats to be reclined with belts fastened , but it ’s unclear if accumbent rider are n’t a part of the regular crash - test regimen .
The cabin of the Vision V feel like a cozy lounge without being claustrophobic .
Stephen Edelstein/Digital Trends
The nates face a 65 - inch 4 K screen that rises up in front of a limo - corresponding divider that severalise the front seats from the rest period of the vehicle . It makes for splendiferous gaming and movie - watching experience that blow away the comparatively - lilliputian screenland available with today ’s rear - rump entertainment systems . The images even overflow from the screen onto the ceiling and door control panel — that heavily - to - uninfected bloodless upholstery makes a great projection surface — and the screen can also be partly raised to serve as a reposeful digital fireplace or an oversize “ Now acting ” bar .
While the interior is consummate down to the last detail , the Vision V is still very much a construct car rather than a yield - ready fomite . The lover needed to keep all of its electronics sang-froid whirred loudly throughout my time in the van ( while still go on the ambient temperature uncomfortably warm ) , and the vehicle was n’t moving .
Still , it ’s easy to see the potential of this idea . The cabin of the Vision V felt like a cosy sofa without — despite the amount of clobber crammed into it — feeling claustrophobic . It seemed like a great office to be while stuck in traffic with someone else driving .
Mechanicals are still a mystery
Mercedes emphasized that the Vision V is n’t just another fantastical concept railroad car , and that it really is appraise build a production luxury van with similar features based on its fresh Van . EA and Van . CA platforms . But while the first caravan based on those political platform are scheduled to debut in 2026 , Mercedes has n’t provided many proficient detail .
It ’s worth noting that Van . EA was annunciate first — Van . CA was only announced recently as Mercedes pulled back from its more challenging EV goals — and the car maker order both platforms share 70 % of constituent . So it ’s potential that , in the reverse of the way things are currently done , Mercedes has designed an EV - first van architecture that is now being adapted for internal - burning powertrains .
Mercedes has n’t provided many technical detail on its next - coevals vans .
Expect a greater point of modularity than the designs of current vans , like theMercedes - Benz eSprinter , to more easily adapt the unlike powertrain types , including single - motor and two-fold - motor EV variants . Hopefully Mercedes will also incorporate some of the efficiency improvement gleaned from its Vision EQXX construct , and comprise into galvanising passenger cars starting with the2026 CLA compact saloon , to promote range and make electric vans more attractive to businesses .
The more workaday van will confront rivalry from common defendant like Ford , General Motors , and Stellantis , all of which have both electric and combustion options in their van card . But as a van maker that also happens to be one of the world ’s most prestigious lavishness brands , Mercedes has an opportunity new to both sides of the business . And if the Vision V is any indication , it ’ll be more than just the Mercedes three - pointed star on its hood that justifies its in high spirits - oddment condition .
