Mercedes-Benz revealed a striking new rear-wheel-drive electric show car today during Shanghai Fashion Week, inspired by the company’s new Iconic Design approach. The car is accompanied by a fashion collection featuring men’s and women’s outfits that reflect the color scheme and graphic elements of the car’s interior. The Vision Iconic concept car’s reveal also coincided with the publishing of a book inspired by the Mercedes-Benz heritage and explaining the brand’s Iconic Design approach.

“Vision Iconic embodies our vision for the future of mobility,” said Markus Schäfer, Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes‑Benz Group AG, Chief Technology Officer, Development & Procurement. “With groundbreaking innovations such as neuromorphic computing, steer-by-wire, solar paint, and Level 4 highly automated driving, along with state-of-the-art technology, we are setting new standards for the electric and digital age.”

The show car is not only inspired by Mercedes-Benz heritage but also the golden era of automotive design of the 1930s, according to Gorden Wagener, Chief Design Officer of Mercedes-Benz Group AG. He pointed to key design elements of the long hood, majestic presence, sculptural flowing lines, and a touch of Art Deco. The interior, with its continuous bench seat, and the elegant rear, evoke memories of the legendary 1950s 300 SL.

“Our Vision Iconic is more than just an automobile—it is a sculpture in motion, a homage to timeless elegance, and a statement for the future,” said Wagener. “The symbiosis of traditional craftsmanship, state-of-the-art technology, and an unmistakable design language makes it the ultimate expression of value, prestige, and grace—the most beautiful, most prestigious kind of thing.”

 

Lit star and solar paste

A central feature of the show car is the reinterpretation of the iconic Mercedes‑Benz radiator grille introduced with the new electric GLC to enable it “to stand out from the sea of sameness.” The forward-looking homage to the traditional chrome grille draws inspiration from the upright designs of models such as the W108, W111, and 600 Pullman. Merging heritage with digital modernity are its wide chromed frame, a smoked-glass lattice structure, and integrated contour lighting.

This new face of the brand was first introduced with the electric GLC revealed at the IAA Mobility 2025 show in September. Vision Iconic builds on the GLC’s design by also illuminating the hood ornament. The illumination of both, in combination with animation scenarios, demonstrates the importance of light integration “for the emotionalization of digital design.” The concept car’s front end also features slim, modern headlights with the latest lighting technology.

The car’s body features a deep-black high-gloss paint finish meant to emphasize the sculptural design and features a coating underneath engineered to generate electricity for range. In principle, the entire car body could be coated with photovoltaic paint, which generates electrical energy. The energy can be used immediately for driving or is stored in the battery when the vehicle is stationary.

Located between the body panel and the colored paint, the completely new type of nanoparticle-based paint allows 94% of the sun’s energy to pass through to the solar coating. It is said to be very effective, with efficiency of over 20%, extremely light at 50 g/m², and extremely thin at 5 µm. The coating does not contain any rare earths or silicon and can be easily recycled.

When applied to the entire vehicle surface of the Iconic Vision, the amount of additional range harnessed from the sun depends on geographical location and local conditions. For example, an area of 11 m² (118 ft²) could produce energy for up to 12,000 km (7500 mi) a year under ideal conditions based on the light incidence in Stuttgart, Germany.

 

Art deco interior with Zeppelin sculpture

Inside, Vision Iconic offers a glimpse into a future characterized by lounge-like comfort and “an entirely new experience of hyper-analog and digital luxury.” The design is aimed at redefining automotive elegance through an opulent Art Deco-inspired composition of the finest craftsmanship and exclusive materials.

The centerpiece of the instrument panel is a floating glass structure called Zeppelin that is meant to highlight a refined interplay of analog and digital instruments. When the door is opened, the instrument cluster comes to life with a cinematic, analog animation inspired by high-end chronographs. At the center of the pillar-to-pillar screen concept is the brand logo acting as an AI companion. The four-spoke steering wheel features a Mercedes-Benz logo floating inside a glass sphere, clasped by the spokes like a jewel.

Behind the Zeppelin, a decorative surface has an inlay of mother-of-pearl look material marquetry, which is also on the door panels, encircling polished brass door handles in silver-gold tones, before flowing into a star pattern that frames the rear seat. The driver and front passenger can share the deep blue velvet upholstered front bench seat for “a sense of joint relaxation and luxury experience.”

The vehicle floor is clad in straw marquetry, a decorative technique dating back to the 17th century and revived in the 1920s. In the concept it is rendered in a classic fan-shaped Art Deco motif; this handcrafted finish brings historic artistry into the modern era.

 

Neuromorphic computing and steer-by-wire

Since future vehicles like the Vision Iconic will include increasingly more functionalities such as autonomous driving, significantly higher energy will be required, so better efficiency is crucial, according to the company. With its research into neural networks, Mercedes-Benz, with partners from research and industry, is aiming to break new ground in the development of computer architectures.

One possibility is the concept vehicle’s neuromorphic computing that mimics the functioning of the human brain, which could make AI calculations significantly more energy-efficient and faster. For example, safety systems could better recognize traffic signs, lanes, and other road users and react faster, even in poor visibility conditions. And neuromorphic computing has the potential to reduce energy requirements for data processing in autonomous driving by 90% compared to today’s systems.

Neuromorphic computing has been a focus for Mercedes-Benz in other projects. The automaker announced in 2024 a research collaboration with the University of Waterloo in the field of neuromorphic computing for automated driving applications. It also announced in 2022 that it was developing systems with BrainChip based on the artificial intelligence company’s Akida hardware and software related to the Vision EQXX’s “Hey Mercedes” hot-word detection, structured along neuromorphic principles for more efficient voice control.

Related to autonomy, enhanced SAE Level 2 point-to-point urban capabilities come standard in concept. With the system, Mercedes-Benz offers the handling of complex urban traffic scenarios with cooperative steering and acceleration, helping the driver navigate busy streets in the world’s biggest cities.

The company says that the next development step would be to prepare a car like Vision Iconic with an SAE Level 4 highly automated driving system with deployable lidar. On a freeway with the system activated, a driver could use the time to relax. It would also be possible and permissible to take a nap or get comfortable while streaming a video, while immersed in a sound and ambient light experience.

After arriving at the destination, the car’s highly automated Level 4 parking feature uses an advanced sensor architecture, without the limitations of an infrastructure assist, for nearly all parking scenarios.

Mercedes-Benz steering gets an upgrade with the concept, which features the company’s first steer-by-wire combined with rear-wheel steering. The mechanical connection between the steering wheel and the front wheels is eliminated, replaced by steering requests transmitted electrically to control units and actuators. For a long car like Vision Iconic, it can improve handling, maneuvering, and parking by reducing steering effort and steering-wheel turning when parking.

Steer-by-wire also enables greater flexibility in interior design. In combination with future automated driving systems, the steering wheel can be retracted for more driver space on the sumptuously upholstered Vision Iconic bench seat.