The late Virgil Abloh’s cooperation with Mercedes culminates in the launch of a limited-edition bespoke S-Class and capsule collection, inspired by Project MAYBACH.
On 5 April 2022, Mercedes–Maybach unveils the final chapter of Project MAYBACH – its cooperation with a trusted partner, the late polymath artist, architect, creative director, fashion designer and philanthropist, Virgil Abloh. Designed in partnership with Mercedes-Benz Group AG Chief Design Officer Gorden Wagener in 2021, the vehicle was finalised before Abloh’s untimely passing in November and is available in a strictly limited run of 150 units.
The launch coincides with the release of a capsule collection designed by Virgil Abloh and in collaboration with Off-White™. It has been developed in connection to the Project MAYBACH electric showcar and is exclusively available to buy on Off-White™, Farfetch and Maybach Icons of Luxury online stores, as well as Off-White™ stores in select markets.
For over a century, Mercedes–Maybach has defined the boundaries of luxury experiences, and the limited edition Maybach by Virgil Abloh, a fully equipped Mercedes-Maybach S-Class S680 continues this tradition. Created by Mercedes-Benz’s most specialised customization and craftmanship team in the manufacturer in Sindelfingen – the vehicle exterior features the unique two-tone colour combination created for Project MAYBACH. While the upper part of the vehicle is lacquered in a glossy obsidian black, the lower part, side flanks and special forged rims are painted in a sand hue.
The highest levels of craftsmanship continue into the vehicle’s interior with an identical two-tone colour scheme. The four-seat configuration, steering wheel, doors, lower dashboard and ceiling are lined in black and sand-coloured Nappa leather, complete with sand-coloured décor trims and strips.
The high-pile floormats are black with a sand-coloured leather border and embroidered Mercedes-Maybach logo. To enhance its monolithic appearance, the window frames are painted, and a special Mercedes-Maybach and Virgil Abloh logo are inscribed on the piano black middle of the centre console, rear cushions, head restraints and door sill panel.
Unique to the limited-edition S-Class is a bespoke user interface, which presents the driver with an even more luxurious variation of the Maybach MBUX suite of cutting-edge technologies. Hand-picked visual elements are used to enrich the digital content: from a home button with a coloured border and brand logo denoting the edition, to profile pictures decorated with luxurious fashion accessories. The result is an even more intuitive vehicle that exudes the limited edition’s distinctive style from exterior to interior. Every moment the driver spends on the road is elevated.
The capsule collection – also launching on 5 April 2022 – has been designed by Virgil Abloh together with Off-White™, in connection to the Project MAYBACH electric showcar. It comprises of sand-coloured vintage washed cotton t-shirts and half-brushed cotton fleece crewnecks and hoodies, as well as canvas baseball caps and racing gloves crafted in canvas, neoprene and suede, coated with a black spray effect and embroidered.
Gorden Wagener, Chief Design Officer Mercedes-Benz Group AG said: “I’m incredibly proud of the work we have created in collaboration with Virgil. From Project Gelaendewagen, which set the benchmark for fashion/automotive collaborations with our iconic G-Class, to Project MAYBACH which brought the distinguished Mercedes-Maybach heritage into the future, together with Virgil we truly broke new ground. The limited-edition Maybach by Virgil Abloh exemplifies the symbiosis between innovative design and ultimate craftsmanship now available on the road.”
Looking to the future, Mercedes-Maybach will launch its first fully-electric model for retail in 2023. Sustainability is not only associated with the drive technology, but also with the materials the vehicle is fitted with. During the development process, Mercedes-Benz prepares a recycling concept for each model in which all of its components and materials are examined with a view to their suitability for the various stages of the recycling process. The ultimate goal is to reduce the environmental effects of materials used in the production of every Mercedes-Benz vehicle.