Mercedes-Benz has revealed four-wheeled collaboration with Virgil Abloh, an iconic fashion designer who died at the end of November. Project Maybach, launched according to the wishes of the Abloh family, is the reinvention ground-up of superior luxury brands, combining electrification with the coupe body and off-road intention.
Built entirely from the start, rather than borrowing the existing Maybach model, two doors “inspired by extraordinary outdoors,” said Mercedes today. The aim is to be traditionally “recalculating urban brands in a clear off-road environment,” added the car maker.
It is something that is – theoretically, at least, even if most of the owners can’t take advantage – currently preserving Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600. The upper class version of Mercedes’ GLS is already luxurious, the SUV gets a rear back seat luxury and lots of chrome. However, compared to the Maybach project, this is positive.
The coupe is almost six meters long, or just ashamed of 20 feet, making it significantly longer than the Maybach S650 sedan. The hood is spacious with a transparent panel, like another part of the bodywork. They reveal solar panels, which can be used to help increase EV batteries.
Inside, this is a different environment from the other Maybach we have ever seen, even though with the same obsessive attention to detail. Rough and chunky chairs, milled control sitting with high fashion details such as trim headrest contrast. Maybach branded accessories, such as a fair ax, double-down on the theme “Outdoorsy, but made it stylish”.
Abloh is probably the most famous for being an artistic director at Louis Vuitton, even though it is his own brand of white that put creative on the map. The first African American who held a position in Louis Vuitton, he previously interned in Fendi and worked with RAP celebrities like Kanye West. Even though the clothes might be the most striking creation – including collaboration with Nike and others – Abloh also works in furniture, graphic design, and music.
The Maybach project is the second collaboration of Abloh and Mercedes. It was announced in October 2021, the car followed the G class SUV which was reorganized in 2020. “Unlike anything previously seen from Mercedes-Benz,” the car maker teases this new vehicle, “Car Show Cars gave an example of the possibility of existing designs with blueprints existing, or production specifications. “
It was an opportunity for Abloh to show some of his extensive skills, not at least the background of civil engineering and architecture. “The inheritance of Maybach celebrates exploration, encouraging creativity to new places, living outside the status quo,” he said in October. “In the next phase we embrace this ideal and bring the legacy of Mercedes Maybach into the future, invite the next generation to join in honor of this icon.”