Mercedes-Benz has done what only Mercedes can — turned nostalgia into tomorrow’s technology. The Vision Iconic isn’t just a glimpse of the brand’s future; it’s a reminder that progress, when dressed in velvet and chrome, still knows how to make an entrance.

Mercedes-Benz has never shied away from a bit of theatre — and with the Vision Iconic, the curtains have well and truly lifted on a new design era. Revealed in Shanghai, this show car doesn’t just nod to the brand’s past; it practically curtsies before roaring into the digital age. Think of it as the 1930s reborn in pixels and photons — Art Deco meets AI.

At first glance, it’s all about that grille — the reborn “iconic grille” that anchors the front end like a chrome cathedral. Inspired by legends such as the W108 and 600 Pullman, the new version ditches pure metal for smoked glass, contour lighting, and a proudly illuminated three-pointed star that stands tall on the bonnet once again. This face — first hinted at on the 2025 electric GLC — is the brand’s new visual signature: bold, upright, unmistakably Mercedes.

The bodywork glows with a deep black sheen, every curve a study in digital sculpture. Light plays a starring role, from animated front illumination to slender, intelligent headlights that give the Iconic a watchful gaze. It’s emotional design through illumination — a Mercedes speciality.

Step inside, and the Vision Iconic turns from starship to salon. The cabin is an Art Deco daydream — flowing velvet bench seats, silver-gold trim, and intricate mother-of-pearl inlays across doors and panels. At the centre floats “The Zeppelin,” a sculptural glass instrument pod blending analogue beauty with digital smarts. Even the steering wheel is a jewel, its floating Mercedes star suspended within a glass sphere. The floor? Straw marquetry — a craft from the 17th century, revived for the electric future.

Behind the glamour, there’s serious tech. A solar paint coating could generate enough energy for up to 12,000 km of range a year under ideal conditions, while neuromorphic computing promises tenfold efficiency in autonomous driving. Add steer-by-wire and Level 4 automation, and this sculpture doesn’t just move — it thinks, relaxes, and parks itself.

Mercedes even matched the car with a capsule fashion collection — six Art Deco-inspired outfits in dark blue and silver-gold — celebrating Shanghai’s fashion week debut. And for those who prefer their style on paper, the Iconic Design Book chronicles this new design philosophy: the bridge between history and hyperspace.

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Key Specs (Show Car)

Model	Powertrain	Autonomy	Innovation Highlights	Design Theme	Status
Vision Iconic	Fully electric	Level 4 capable	Neuromorphic computing, steer-by-wire, solar paint	Art Deco modernism	Concept (2025)

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