Mercedes Reveals Virgil Abloh's Stunning Project MAYBACH Coupe Concept

Mercedes-Benz has revealed the four-wheeled outcomes of its collaboration with Virgil Abloh, the iconic designer who died in late November. Project MAYBACH, unveiled based on the wishes of Abloh's family, is really a ground-up reinvention of the flagship luxury brand, combining electrification with a coupe body and off-road intent.

Built entirely from scratch, instead of borrowing a preexisting Maybach model, the two-door is "inspired by the fantastic outdoors," Mercedes said today. Its goal is "recontextualizing a traditionally urban brand inside a distinctly off-road environment," the automaker added.

That's something is – theoretically, at the very least, even though most owners are unlikely to make the most – the preserve of the Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600. An upscale version of Mercedes' already-lavish GLS, the SUV gets sumptuous rear-seat recliners and a lot of chrome. However, compared to Project MAYBACH, it's positively subtle.

The coupe is nearly six meters long, or simply shy of 20 feet, rendering it significantly longer than even the Maybach S650 sedan. The vast hood is topped with transparent panels, as are other portions of the bodywork. They reveal solar power panels, which could be utilized to greatly help top up the EV's batteries.

Inside, it is a distinctly different environment from any Maybach we've seen, though with a similarly obsessive focus on detail. Rugged seats and chunky, milled controls sit alongside high-fashion detailing like the contrast headrest trim. Maybach-branded accessories, like a custom hatchet, double-down on the "outdoorsy, but ensure it is stylish" theme.

Abloh was likely most widely known to be artistic director at Louis Vuitton, though it had been their own brand Off-White which put the creative on the map. The initial African American to carry the positioning at Louis Vuitton, he previously interned at Fendi and caused rap celebrities such as for example Kanye West. Although clothing might have been his most conspicuous creations – including collaborations with Nike among others – Abloh also worked in furniture, graphical design, and music.

Project MAYBACH is Abloh and Mercedes' second collaboration. Announced in October 2021, the automobile followed a reimagined G Class SUV in 2020. "Unlike anything previously seen from Mercedes-Benz," the automaker teased of the new vehicle, "the show car exemplifies the chance of design that's untethered by existing blueprints, or production specifications."

It had been a chance for Abloh to show a few of his broad skillset, not least a background in civil engineering and architecture. "The Maybach legacy celebrates exploration, pushing creativity to new places, living outside the status quo," he said in October. "In this next phase we're embracing these ideals and bringing the Mercedes Maybach heritage in to the future, inviting another generation to become listed on in revering this icon."

Details like drivetrain and proposed electric range aren't being discussed at this time, and although there were regular whispers in regards to a Maybach coupe, there is no telling whether we're seeing the initial inklings of this type of car in this idea. The automaker's first all-electric model, meanwhile, would be the Mercedes-Maybach EQS, an EV SUV previewed in concept form back September.

Yet, it's hard never to hope that components of this new concept collaboration will arrive in future Maybach models. "As the Project MAYBACH show car was inspired by how you can explore nature inside a uniquely luxury context with Maybach," the automaker said today, "The Mercedes-Benz teams thank Virgil Abloh for the inspiration to explore each day the energy of cross-industry dialogue to assume an improved, more inclusive future." Project MAYBACH will undoubtedly be shown this week at the Rubell Museum in Miami, FL.