Mercedes-Benz Honors Designer Virgil Abloh With Project MAYBACH

December 8th, 2021 by

 

German automaker, Mercedes-Benz is paying homage to fashion designer and entrepreneur, Virgil Abloh, following his recent passing. Due to the wishes of the late artist’s family, the luxury car company has revealed Project MAYBACH, a collaborative electric show car made to inspire the next generation, and continue to question the status quo.

According to a recent small press event, Mercedes-Benz is paying tribute to Abloh by opening the doors of the Rubell Museum art museum in Miami, Florida. It’s there that the public showcase of Project MAYBACH will transpire between December 1st – December 2nd, with admission offered solely to local design school students from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm on December 1st. A respectful contribution to Virgil’s significant legacy, the Mercedes-Maybach show vehicle represents the possibilities of future design and is the culmination of a progressing collaboration with the famous creative director, it’s also sparked by a shared passion to heighten the conversation around luxury design.

“Mercedes-Benz is devastated to hear of the passing of Virgil Abloh. Our sincere thoughts are with Virgil’s family and teams.  Now opening the world of our collaboration, and Virgil’s unique vision, to the public we want to respectfully celebrate the work of a truly unique design talent, who created endless possibilities for collaboration through his unbridled imagination and inspired all that knew his work.”  Mercedes-Benz AG.

Project MAYBACH 

A concept that is far removed from the traditional design formula of Mercedes-Benz, every component of Project MAYBACH has been constructed from scratch. Abloh previously teamed up with Daimler’s chief design officer, Gordon Wagener, in which they interpreted the Maybach’s luxury persona while also discovering a new design language, in which they could push the limits of what could be done design-wise, functionality, and collaborative creativity. Using elements from the countryside and reconceptualizing a conventionally urban brand within an evidently off-road environment. This 2-seating, battery-powered adventurous coupe fuses large proportions, and huge off-roading wheels and unique attachments.

Vital for both Abloh and Wagener was a principled vision of future design. Absolute creative freedom (meaning not obligated to production requirements) allowed the design teams to make up what the future of electric travel could potentially become. For example, hiding beneath the transparent show cars’ transparent front hood are solar cells that augment the assumed range of the Project MAYBACH.

Not one to shy away from conversation through the use of provocative design, Project MAYBACH funnels Abloh’s passion to challenge conventional themes and revamp the rulebook of industrious design. The design is indeed breathtaking, and one of those reasons is because of its large size, which is specifically nearly six meters long. Not to mention, this coupe obviously had unique design elements, such as the incorporation of outdoor features onto a luxury cruiser normally not known for off-roading.

The power of Abloh’s ingenious work isn’t just from the project design, but it’s how his work sparked exploratory conversations. Although the Project MAYBACH show car was derived from the idea of how one could explore nature in a more luxurious context, the teams of Mercedes-Benz thank Virgil Abloh for his inspiration in exploring the daily power of cross-industry dialogue to conceptualize a better, more diverse future.

Mercedes-Benz of Washington

If you want to see more innovative designs from the luxury automaker, take a look at Mercedes-Benz of Washington, where we sell a wide range of vehicles from the brand ranging in various different styles and prices.

Those who are interested in any of our vehicles can simply view our online new car inventory and chat with a representative for further assistance.

Photo Source/Copyright: Daimler Media