Mercedes-Benz has released images of its final collaboration with late fashion visionary, Virgil Abloh, called the Project Maybach.
The fully-electric vehicle is the second creation Abloh penned with Mercedes-Benz, with the German maker given permission by the designer’s family to release details of the car following the Louis Vuitton Artistic Creator’s death earlier this week following a private battle with cancer.
The striking motor takes a usually luxury-soaked Maybach – the limousine arm of the Mercedes business – and makes it capable of taking on all forms of terrain, with a raised ride-height, off-road wheels, safari lights and desert-raid livery.
Virgil Abloh’s vision for a luxury off-road coupe: Project Maybach is a two-seat premium limo designed in collaboration by Mercedes-Benz and the late fashion designer
The German car maker was given permission by the designer’s family to release details of the vehicle following the Louis Vuitton Artistic Creator’s death earlier this week following a private battle with cancer
Project Maybach is purely a concept model and unlikely to go into production.
However, it’s a glorious tribute to Abloh’s automotive vision, with the iconic creative having already worked with Mercedes design boss Gorden Wagener to develop a racing G-Wagen concept, called Project Geländewagen.
The two-door, two-seat Maybach is certainly not small, with the matt sand-colour body measuring in at a ‘breathtaking size’ of almost six metres.
Much of this length can be attributed to its enormous nose section, which is shroud in solar cells designed to power the battery on board.
It’s a far cry from the finessed Mercedes luxury limos that are well acquainted with red carpet events, with the Project Maybach less about star-studded runways and more intended for the dunes of the Sahara Desert.
The striking motor takes a usually luxury-soaked Maybach – the limousine arm of the Mercedes business – and makes it capable of taking on all forms of terrain, with a raised ride-height, off-road wheels, safari lights and desert-raid livery
Project Maybach is purely a concept model and unlikely to go into production. It will remain a glorious tribute to Abloh’s automotive vision, with the iconic creative worked on the design alongside Mercedes design boss Gorden Wagene
The two-door, two-seat Maybach is certainly not small, with the matt sand-colour body measuring in at a ‘breathtaking size’ of almost six metres
That’s why it has safari-style lights, a exoskeleton crash bars running over the sloped roof and includes a rack on top to transport whatever nomad items are needed for a weekend away from civilisation in a bespoke luxury motor.
The clean profile of the car is courtesy of its completely flat and flush body panels – though this is contrast by wheel arches that show their rivets and all.
Huge off-road wheels and tyres, metal crash plates front and back and brake lights that incorporate Maybach’s logo inside them complete the mad design.
Yet it does retain some Maybach traditions, including the trademark barred grille with the brand’s emblem above.
The stunning motor features safari-style lights, exoskeleton crash bars running over the sloped roof and includes a rack on top to transport whatever nomad items are needed for a weekend away from civilisation in a bespoke luxury motor
The stunning vehicle has been displayed during Art Basel Miami in the Rubell Museum in Florida and is one of a number of tribute to the late fashion icon
Star of the show on the inside is the seats, which themselves are a work of art, with metal shells, a ribbed internal chair and seatbelts that fit over the top of the driver and passenger’s legs rather than across their torso and waist
It’s clear from the inside that Abloh’s fashion influence has been put to work on the cabin, with the interior covered in tan leather to match the sand paint on the outside.
The box-shaped dashboard is simple but wonderfully cool and features a cinematic infotainment screen.
Star of the show is the seats, which themselves are a work of art, with metal shells, a ribbed internal chair and seatbelts that fit over the top of the driver and passenger’s legs rather than across their torso and waist.
Mercedes describes the car as a ‘humble contribution to Virgil’s vast legacy’ that ‘exemplifies the possibilities of future luxury design’.
Much of the vehicle’s near-six-metre length can be attributed to its enormous nose section, which is shroud in solar cells designed to power the battery on board
The clean profile of the car is courtesy of its completely flat and flush body panels – though this is contrast by wheel arches that show their rivets and all
Virgil Abloh (right) and Mercedes design bos Gorden Wagener (left) pictured together during their collaboration on Project Maybach (picture courtesy of Mercedes-Benz Instagram)
In a statement given for its unveiling, Mercedes-Benz AG said: ‘Mercedes-Benz is devastated to hear of the passing of Virgil Abloh.
‘Our sincere thoughts are with Virgil’s family and teams.
‘Now opening the world of our collaboration, and Virgil’s unique vision, to the public we want to respectfully celebrate the work of a truly unique design talent, who created endless possibilities for collaboration through his unbridled imagination and inspired all that knew his work.’
The stunning vehicle has been displayed during Art Basel Miami in the Rubell Museum in Florida.
