- The Mercedes Vision V is a flashy concept that previews a luxury van that should enter production in 2026.
- The Vision V features a chrome-laden exterior with smooth lines and an illuminated Mercedes-Benz hood ornament.
- Inside, there’s a huge 65-inch screen, a 42-speaker surround sound system, and seats that recline into a bed.
In 2023 Mercedes-Benz announced a new platform called VAN.EA which will underpin a series of electric vans starting next year. We got a taste of this new generation of vans when we drove a prototype in March and learned that Mercedes aims to introduce a luxury-focused van targeting private ownership—a niche typically reserved for Asian markets—in the United States. Now we have a better idea of what that high-end van will look like, previewed by the glitzy Vision V concept.A Sleek Shape and Fancy CabinMercedes envisions the Vision V serving as both a fancy limo for celebrities and a luxurious family car, and while it is still, ultimately, a big box, the Vision V is far more glamorous than the white Chevy Expresses currently littering American roads. Short overhangs and bold 24-inch wheels with illuminated elements give the Vision V a purposeful stance, and the body’s smooth surfacing is broken up by chrome decoration and clean lines. Up front, ornate LED headlights are linked by a light bar, which passes below a light-up three-pointed-star hood ornament. The traditional Mercedes grille has been reimagined with a mix of chrome and illuminated pieces, and its nearly circular shape is echoed at the back by a single taillight unit that wraps around a vast pane of glass to create the borders of the rear fascia. While many concepts from the past two decades have featured a “lounge-inspired” interior, the Vision V is the perfect embodiment of this trope. Massive doors slide open—in conjunction with illuminated, retractable running boards—to reveal a spacious cabin decked out in rich wood trim, white Nappa leather, and white silk. Each side of the cabin bears a glass cabinet framed by polished aluminum. The Vision V packs a 42-speaker Dolby Atmos surround sound system, with four speakers sitting in delicate-looking glass housings mounted on pillars protruding from each wall.The center console between the seats features a touchpad for controlling the infotainment system and a fold-out table, mimicking a first-class airplane seat. Similarly, the rear chairs—comprised of a series of flexible tubular cushions—can lay completely flat to form a bed. The table can also extend to become a chess board, with beautiful glass pieces stored in one of the side cabinets. A glass partition between the rear passenger section and the driver’s area can change from transparent to opaque, either completely or in sections. An Immersive Digital WorldThe Vision V is meant to be a vehicle that is ridden in instead of driven, and that focus is apparent when the gigantic 65-inch retractable 4K screen rolls up from the floor in front of the partition. Transparent floor slats let the passengers watch the screen extend upwards after entering the car, and seven projectors hidden in the roof liner and floor—along with the side windows, which can go opaque like the partition—can be used as extra projection surfaces for a 360-degree viewing experience. Mercedes crafted an array of “digital environments”—basically different entertainment modes—for the infotainment system and mammoth screen. The Entertainment function focuses on playing video and audio content, the Relax mode reclines the seats and displays a “soothing” landscape scene with soft background music, while Work mode allows for video calls and gives access to other office-related tools.One of the glass cabinets contains a video game controller, and with the Gaming setting you can “drive” a car virtually while riding in a real, physical car, which sounds like a recipe for carsickness. There’s also a Shopping mode featuring a virtual storefront, presenting everything from tickets to a golf tournament to physical items like a new ring. The Discovery setting uses 3-D graphics and augmented reality to show the vehicle’s surroundings on the 65-inch display to make it seem like you’re immersed in the world around you while in reality you’re cocooned in a luxury van. Lastly, there’s a self-explanatory Karaoke function. Ambient lighting and a ceiling lamp are paired with a fragrance diffuser to add to the immersive experience, and the ambient lighting can adjust to the rhythm of the music being played on the sound system. While the center of attention is the rear seats, Mercedes didn’t skimp out up front, with a huge “Superscreen” spanning the width of the dashboard and plenty of white leather.The flashy Vision V concept looks futuristic and surely won’t reach production in the same form seen here, but we wouldn’t be shocked to see a similarly dazzling and glittery approach on the production van when it arrives at some point in 2026. The production van will need to make a splash if it wants to steal customers away from tried-and-true luxury SUVs like the Cadillac Escalade or Lincoln Navigator, but the Vision V shows that Mercedes is ready to entice big spenders with all manner of glitz and glamour. More on Luxury VansCaleb Miller began blogging about cars at 13 years old, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining the Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to one day own something bizarre like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan.
Source: caranddriver.com
