Mercedes-AMG says that the interior of its new brand-defining Concept AMG GT XX is reduced to the essentials, like in a race car, but it still offers a luxurious look and feel. The main highlights include high-quality bio-based materials with unique textures as well as visible body structures and interior components inspired by high-voltage cables to create a close connection to motorsport.

For the concept vehicle, the UI/UX design team in Sindelfingen designed an interface that highlights the electric drive system, including the high-performance electric battery as a video animation on the multimedia display. The cockpit is almost entirely black, but with silver and orange accents to help visually emphasize the technical elements.

Focused on driving, front and center are two large displays—a 10.25-in instrument cluster and a 14-in multimedia touchscreen ergonomically angled toward the driver under a seamless glass look. They are backed by the MBUX (Mercedes‑Benz User Experience) based on the in-house MB.OS (Mercedes‑Benz Operating System), with a deeply integrated chip-to-cloud architecture networking and controlling all domains and functions.

The steering wheel is like that in the AMG ONE, with its almost rectangular shape and two horizontal struts on either side inspired by motorsport. Its paddles control brake energy recuperation. A steering column display uses different colors to indicate the state of charge (blue) and current performance (red). Two round AMG steering wheel buttons control other functions and display options with colored icons.

The center console features exposed extrusions of the body structure with illuminated orange tubes creating an association with high-voltage cables. Another design element takes the form of the AMG crest, expressing its top electric performance with features machined from solid metal and illuminated.

The instrument panel has minimal cladding, a matte-black finish, references the look of a classic sports car engine block with the AMG logo machined into it, and contains the ducting for fresh air and cables. Its structural crossmember forms the upper part of the cockpit, and vertical H-struts positioned centrally beneath it combine the cockpit substructure and center console mount in one module.

The door panels feature minimalist door claddings with orange closing loops and lightweight tube armrest extrusion structures and checkered flag design color-backlit fabric a further reference to motorsport. The fastening points are clad with small buttons of machined aluminum displaying the AMG crest accented with the exterior paint color.

To save weight, the individually formed carbon-fiber bucket seats in the rear, including the cushions, are integrated into the car’s rear bulkhead. The roof has no headliner, which saves weight and exposes the carbon-fiber structure. The floor covering is made of 100% recycled materials with checkered flag elements, again referencing motorsport.

 

Leather and silk alternatives

Beyond the technology innovations, the materials story is headlined by the biotechnology-based materials developed as alternatives to leather and silk.

The Labfiber biotech leather alternative is the result of an exclusive partnership with Modern Meadow, leveraging the next-generation materials technology from the U.S. bio-design startup for series production. The first application of the material in the automotive sector is a combination of recycled rubber, vegetable proteins, and biopolymers.

The material mimics the most important characteristics of the collagens found in leather to offer a level of design freedom equivalent to that of conventional hides. It can be produced with surface finishes such as nubuck, full grain, or suede, as well as a variety of colors.

Creation of the material begins with a chemical recycling process using pyrolysis oil produced using old tires and certified biomethane from agricultural waste. These are then processed into plastic fibers in accordance with the mass balance method. The microfibers are used to create a semi-finished product to which vegetable proteins and bio-based polymers are added.

In contrast to artificial leather, this innovative combination of materials has the same structure as genuine leather and can also be processed like genuine leather in re-tanning processes. As a result, it has the same look and feel as materials like nubuck leather and natural aging properties. The material is breathable and waterproof as well as being lighter than real leather. Its maximum tensile strength is twice as high as that of genuine leather, so it is more robust, and because of its low thermal conductivity, the material does not heat as quickly as in the summer.

For the concept vehicle application, the material is used on the front bucket seats. The seat pads are covered with the leather alternative in a Nappa-look Pearl Black variant.

The carbon-fiber racing shells, with ventilation openings and integrated headrests, feature 3D-printed seat pads that are easy to swap out and offer a new level of customization with optimized ergonomics adapted specifically to each user.

The idea behind the seat pads comes from motorsport, in which each driver has a set of individual seat cushions that can be quickly swapped out, for example, during driver changes in endurance races. The ergonomic data is provided by a body scan of the respective individual.

Mercedes-AMG uses pyrolysis oil from racing tires that were used on AMG GT3 customer racing cars.

Configured for closing material loops, it embraces complete chemical recycling in which the end product (Labfiber biotech leather alternative) is of a higher value than the starting material (scrap tires). One scrap tire can provide enough for about 43 ft² (4.0 m²) of new Labfiber biotech leather alternative.

The concept vehicle also uses Labfiber biotech silk alternative for the door handles produced in orange to match the exterior. Starting with silk proteins produced by genetically modified bacteria, the material is then refined into a silky yarn using a wet-spinning process. The synthetic silk has the same functional properties as animal-based silk. The 100% biodegradable material is said to be very light and strong.

 

Material tech transfer

In June, Modern Meadow showcased its new leather-alternative material as Innovera (formerly known as Bio-Vera) in Copenhagen at the Global Fashion Summit, the leading international event for fashion sustainability presented by the Global Fashion Agenda non-profit organization. Its primary product going forward, the material aligns with the company’s focus on offering the premier sustainable leather alternative in the market.

Beyond the automotive applications, Modern Meadow’s commercial production capabilities make Innovera readily available to customers and simplify supply chain issues across the fashion, footwear, and interior design spaces.

“Innovation centered on bioengineering, nature-inspired proteins, and commercial-scale solutions is essential to the future of fashion sustainability,” said David Williamson, PhD, and Modern Meadow CEO. “By dedicating our resources to Innovera, we are positioning Modern Meadow to drive sustainable change and deliver the most advanced leather alternative available. This singular focus allows us to scale commercial production more efficiently, deepen industry partnerships, and ensure that designers and brands have access to a luxurious, high-performance material that is beautiful and better for the planet.”

The company described the material, using plant-based proteins, biopolymers, and recycled rubber, as achieving more than 80% renewable carbon content. Completely animal-free, it requires no special preservation or storage conditions, which reduces complexity and costs, and is adaptable to any standard manufacturing process.

At the summit, Williamson participated in a panel discussion that included Frank Fiedler, CEO of Heller Leder and Helcor-Leder-Tec, and European Parliament Member Rasmus Nordqvist. The diversity of the panel—from bio-design to tannery and policy—emphasized the importance of collaboration across the global leather ecosystem. Participants discussed the need for reduced reliance on petrochemical inputs for fashion, a focus on sustainable alternatives, how renewable carbon content materials are transforming luxury landscapes, and how the unique properties of plants can be harnessed for creativity.

 

To read more about the Mercedes-AMG Concept AMG GT XX, check out Futurride’s deep dive on the pioneering technology program that produced the concept car’s three-axial-flux-motor drive, fast-charge high-voltage battery pack, and other innovations like luminescent paint, headlight speakers, and rear MBUX Fluid Light Panel.