Mercedes-Benz's Vision V Concept Car is a Luxurious, Futuristic Electric Limousine

Mercedes’s limousine of the future is no stretch for the senior prom.

When was the last time you rode in a limousine? Whether it was at your wedding, the wedding of a family member or friend, or even your senior prom, we can all remember the last time we rode in the back of a stretch limo with friends, family, or the life of the party.

Memories aside, whether you are a head of state, an important businessman, or someone who fumbles putting on a boutonniere or a corsage, the chauffeur-driven limousine is probably the most ostentatious and luxurious vehicle one can be driven in. Whether it has a Lincoln, Cadillac, Mercedes, or any other luxury badge on the hood or grille, the limo is meant to be like a private jet on wheels.

As emissions regulations worldwide creep up on automakers and electrification is the name of the game in automotive innovation, it seems to be a matter of time before limousines become EVs themselves. Through its latest concept car, Mercedes-Benz is trying to demonstrate that its latest platform can be the most ostentatious vehicle on the road—even if it’s a big, sliding-door van.

The Mercedes Vision V Concept is a van designed for the highest high rollers.

The Mercedes-Benz Vision V is more than a concept car. It’s a mockup of the full potential of what Mercedes can do with its latest modular, flexible, and scalable Van Electric Architecture (VAN.EA), which it seeks to underpin vehicles ranging from flamboyant and extravagant limousines for VIPs to family vehicles with a touch of luxury.

From the outside, the Vision V is a unique package that showcases what future Mercedes-Benz MPVs could look like. It combines sleek and modern styling in an aerodynamic package that is more Honda Odyssey than Mercedes E-Sprinter. However, unlike any Honda, the Vision V is treated with gobs of chrome and LED treatments that accentuate the vehicle’s presence both at a stoplight and in motion. To top things off, its 24-inch wheels also feature LED elements that scream its presence.

Though the Vision V can be played off visually out on the road as just another van with a Mercedes grille, hood ornament, and big wheels without hinting at much more, its sliding door reveals a much different story on the inside. According to a statement by Mercedes-Benz, the highlight inside the cabin is the “Private Lounge,” a term Mercedes uses to describe the entirety of the passenger seating area inside the vehicle’s cabin.

The “Private Lounge” is a VIP club on wheels

The Vision V’s “Private Lounge” is no clever branding; it is the perfect way to describe how Mercedes redefines luxury cars by creating an interior that blends spaciousness, elegance, and high-tech innovation. Entry into the vehicle is seamless, thanks to an illuminated running board and a large automatic door it calls the “portal.” Once inside, privileged guests are treated to a breathtaking interior that mixes traditional craftsmanship and futuristic aesthetics in a way that would make even the Jetsons feel jealous.

Much of the surfaces, including the seats are finished in crystal white Nappa leather and shimmering silk, which contrast with open-pore burr wood and polished aluminum accents on other visual and touch surfaces throughout the cabin. Integrated into the side walls are cleverly placed display cabinets for storage. At the same time, a 42-speaker Dolby Atmos surround sound system brings high-end home theatre quality entertainment into your in-car listening experience.

Passengers sit on what Mercedes calls “first-class seats,” but their design largely resembles Knoll MR Chaises, featuring tubular cushions on a polished aluminum base. However, unlike the nearly $8,000 chairs from Design Within Reach, the Benzes’ rear-mounted lounge chairs are fully adjustable to any comfortable seating position. They can even recline into a Delta One-esque fully-flat bed position for those kinds of car trips that warrant nothing but a nice nap.

Between the seats is the center console, which features a touchpad for the infotainment system, a fold-out table that can be turned into a chessboard, and adaptive positioning that adjusts to the passengers’ seating position. Additionally, ambient lighting, a fragrance diffuser, and advanced projection systems add to the air of sophistication inside the cabin. However, the cherry on top has to be the 65-inch retractable 4K cinema screen, which extends and retracts from the floor and combines with seven projectors integrated into the roof liner and floor, as well as the side windows, to create a dynamic 360-degree digital experience.

Mercedes also notes that the Vision V’s “immersive digital environment” offers passengers the opportunity to dive into seven distinct “experiential worlds” tailored to provide an escape from the real world. The Entertainment world is designed for lovers of music and film, while the Relax world allows passengers to chill, as “a soothing landscape moves gently across the cinema screen accompanied by soft music.”

The Vision V also has distinct Gaming and Work modes, the latter incorporating features like video calling and a personal assistant that “structures routine tasks and prepares curated information.” Lastly, Shopping provides a QVC-esque in-car shopping experience, while discovery uses augmented reality to show what’s outside on the inside. Lastly, Karaoke mode turns the Vision V into your very own private Karaoke booth.

Mercedes has not hinted at any intentions for the future of this concept, but it said in its statement that the concept and the Van Electric Architecture (VAN.EA) mark the beginning of a new era for Mercedes-Benz that will begin in 2026.

Final thoughts

A luxury minivan may seem like a far-fetched product, but the Vision V concept is a prime example that Mercedes can create some of the most luxurious vehicles on four wheels. Though this is a concept car, I would not be surprised if something like this is officially released in the near future, especially since this concept car is debuting around the same time as Auto Shanghai.

The Chinese market is one that absolutely adores luxury minivans. The Denza D9, Hongqi HQ9, and Zeekr 009 are prime examples that are touted as Rolls-Royce, Bentley, or Maybach “killers,” as they are loaded with similar features at much lower prices. Though they do feature the same stuff in a cheaper package, what Mercedes offers to the table of Chinese rivals is the image and notoriety that something like a Mercedes-Benz can offer, something you can’t exactly show off on a surface level with a Denza, a Hongqi, or a Zeekr.

To echo an unnamed North Jersey Mercedes-Benz salesperson, “People who need a car for transportation will go out and buy a Kia, and if they don’t like the price there, they’ll go to Hyundai, or Honda, or Subaru. People who want a Mercedes, want a Mercedes; and when people want a Mercedes, they’ll pay any price.”