Yes, you read that right – Mercedes-Benz has unveiled the new Mercedes-Benz Vision Iconic concept, and its most unique feature – aside from all the talk about design – is its self-charging paint job.
The innovative paint job uses integrated solar modules that are embedded into the finish itself, enabling the Vision Iconic to harness solar energy. Mercedes-Benz describes it as a wafer-thin, five-micrometre thick paste, made without rare earths or silicon, making it easily recyclable. Under ideal conditions, the Vision Iconic can regain somewhere around 12,000 km of range annually.
Naturally, the figure increases the closer you get to the equator due to greater sun exposure. For context, Mercedes-Benz estimates you could regain 14,000 km annually in Beijing and up to 20,000 km in a sun-drenched city like Los Angeles. Therefore, in Malaysia, the Vision Iconic might be able to charge itself just by being parked outside without needing to be plugged in.
Anyway, this high-tech paint job covers an exterior that is undoubtedly inspired by pre-war era coupes, complete with a long front bonnet. The front is dominated by a large grille, which Mercedes-Benz says takes inspiration from iconic models like the W108, W111, and the Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman.
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And just like on the all-new Mercedes-Benz GLC, that grille is also illuminated. The company says this front grille design “radiates presence, status and a strong sense of Mercedes-Benz identity.” Altogether, when viewed from the front, the Vision Iconic certainly looks the part of a villain’s car, especially in that menacing black paint job.
The interior of the Mercedes-Benz Vision Iconic echoes the exterior’s retro-futuristic styling. It’s decked out using what the company calls a “luxurious decorative” technique from the 17th century, which incorporates elaborate straw patterns alongside other art-deco motifs.
The steering wheel, in particular, looks like it has time-travelled from the 1930s with its classic four-spoke design, featuring a glass sphere at its centre that houses the Mercedes-Benz logo. Despite its classic appearance, the wheel uses a futuristic steer-by-wire system, which means there is no mechanical connection between the steering wheel and the front wheels.
Instead, steering inputs are transmitted electrically via control units and actuators. Mercedes-Benz says this improves handling and makes manoeuvring much easier, as it eliminates the need to re-grip the steering wheel while parking.
The main centrepiece is what Mercedes-Benz calls the “Zeppelin”—a dashboard housed within a transparent floating glass structure. Like the airships of its namesake, it has an almost oval, bulbous-like shape. It houses an instrument cluster with analogue dials inspired by high-end chronographs, and at its centre is a clock shaped like the Mercedes-Benz logo that also acts as an AI companion.
This dashboard also features a decorative “mother-of-pearl surface” that extends onto the door cards, which are finished with door handles made from polished brass in silver and gold tones.
Despite its old-school looks, the Vision Iconic packs serious futuristic tech, including neuromorphic computing. This is a computer that supposedly thinks like the human brain, which could make AI calculations significantly faster and up to 10 times more energy-efficient than current systems, according to Mercedes-Benz.
This advanced computing allows the Vision Iconic to come standard with enhanced SAE-Level 2 automated driving for urban environments. Mercedes-Benz also states that a logical next step would be to equip a car like the Vision Iconic with a Level 4 system, which would allow the driver to relax, take a nap, or stream videos while on the highway.
Will the Mercedes-Benz Vision Iconic become a production model? That’s anyone’s guess. If it were to enter production, it could be a fully-electric, ultra-luxury grand tourer. For now, only time will tell what Mercedes-Benz has planned for its latest concept car.
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