Mercedes-Benz Vision Iconic: An SL-Inspired Electric Coupe With A Retro Interior

• The Vision Iconic, Mercedes-Benz’s new two-door concept, harks back to the sumptuous grand tourers of the 1930s.
• Besides its menacing looks, the long-nose electric coupe packs the latest and greatest technology, all wrapped up in an analog-like package.
• Solar paint, steer-by-wire and a Level 4-capable driving system are all part of the proposition.

This is the Mercedes-Benz Vision Iconic. It’s the German brand’s latest concept, and it’s meant to act as a bridge between the iconic cars from the 1930s and the next generation of Mercedes-Benz models.

Its long hood harks back to the long-nosed pre-war grand tourers, while the large illuminated grille at the front is a reinterpretation of legendary upright grilles of cars like the W108, W111 and the 600 Pullman. The three-pointed standing star on the hood is also illuminated.

The rear draws inspiration from the world’s first supercar, the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL. It’s simple, it’s menacing and it’s stunning. Normally, such a long hood is just wasted space on an electric car, but here we’re talking about the pinnacle of luxury and design. The German company experimented with jelly bean-shaped EVs in the name of efficiency, and it didn’t go too well for it. Now it’s going back to its roots, and I think it’s all for the better.

It looks like something Batman would drive, and I imagine that’s what the world’s elite dreams of when shopping for a new car. 

The outside of the Vision Iconic is covered in a black solar paint, which Mercedes-Benz claims can be applied to the body like a wafer-thin paste. In ideal conditions, a mid-size SUV with an area of 118 square feet covered with the innovative solar coating could produce energy for a driving range of up to 7,450 miles per year, according to Mercedes-Benz. The integrated cells have a 20% efficiency, which is on par with most consumer-grade solar panels on sale today.

Inside, the lavish coupe has a “hyper-analog” dash layout, with an Art Deco-inspired “Zeppelin” floating glass structure. When one door is opened, the instrument cluster starts a cinematic and entirely analog animation inspired by high-end chronographs. The center of the dash houses four clocks, one of which is shaped like the brand logo and also acts as an AI companion.

The four-spoke steering wheel looks like something lifted straight from a 1930s luxury limousine, with a Mercedes-Benz logo that floats inside a glass sphere. It’s worth noting that the steering wheel is not physically connected to the front wheels because the electric concept has steer-by-wire. Not having a steering column in the way allowed designers to go mad with the interior layout, and it shows.

The floor is clad in straw marquetry, a decorative technique that dates back to the 17th century. Meanwhile, the driver and passenger sit on a sumptuous bench seat upholstered in deep blue velvet. The door cards are decorated with intricate mother-of-pearl trim that encircles finely crafted and polished brass door handles in silver-gold tones.

Mercedes-Benz claims the Iconic Vision concept was made with Level 4 autonomy in mind, meaning eyes-off, hands-off driving. Besides doing all the hard work while rolling down the highway, the advanced driver assistance system can also handle the hassle of parking all by itself. After dropping off the driver and passenger at their destination, the car can drive itself to a parking spot, giving customers back some time.

All of this is enabled by what the German automaker calls neuromorphic computing. By using artificial neural networks that mimic how the human brain works, the system can process a lot of information more efficiently than current computers, with Mercedes-Benz saying it has the potential to reduce the energy requirements for data processing in automated driving by 90% compared to today’s systems.

As with any concept, most of what we see here is pure fantasy, but some of the elements will eventually make their way into future Mercedes-Benz models. The reimagined front grille is already one of the main talking points of the new GLC electric crossover, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the next S-Class will borrow something from the Iconic Vision.