Drum roll, flash of lightning, artificial fog - grand cinema "out of Untertürkheim" - the van division leaves no stone unturned to stage the upcoming generation of the V-Class on the new, electric platform VAN.EA as the "Dawn of a new era": Here comes the "Showcar Vision V". Whew, that's quite a bit much for a "transporter". Because that is ultimately what the next V-Class is, and that's a good thing and not at all discreditable.
Because a van or, better yet, a large minivan should primarily do one thing: Offer a lot of space in a small area, in other words, classic commercial vehicle virtues. But these are being denied, as the next generation, offered a first, somewhat flamboyant, anthracite-high-gloss, LED-sparkling preview with the Concept V, targets a clientele that is primarily growing strongly in China. The Swabians aim to create a "private lounge for the luxury segment" with the new star cruiser. In short: a living room on wheels when spending so much time amid the congested traffic of mega metropolises.
"The Vision V is the beginning of a new era for Mercedes-Benz Vans. It shows how we give space to luxury in the truest sense of the word and define a segment of our own. This sets benchmarks in design, comfort, and user experience - and meets the highest demands of our customers," promotes Thomas Klein, Head of Mercedes-Benz Vans.
And it primarily targets the luxury clientele in China, where large vans, which have become unfashionable in Europe, are suddenly popular again as lounge-seated luxury shuttles. There are said to be converters who use the otherwise too plain V-Class or the certainly not poorly equipped electric EQV to really spruce it up. This business is something they prefer to handle themselves in Untertürkheim.
Lots of space, but not for many
There is already plenty of space in the Concept V's interior, but not for many: Four people fit in, one of whom is intended as the chauffeur. The bosses lounge in the back and feel like they're in a rolling lounge. With the interior lavishly covered in snow-white faux nappa leather, supplemented with plenty of plexiglass, chrome, polished aluminum, and some wood, it's exuding a slightly clinical charm of a dental practice in the posh district, much like the seats slightly recall dentist chairs. Similarly adjustable, but with their "tubular cushions" significantly more comfortable and wider.
Of course, it is meant to be an immersive experience
Experimentally, there is the “curved display” that rolls out from the compartment behind the front seats, which are separated by a milk glass pane that can be dimmed using nanotechnology, into a monstrous 65-inch 4k-resolution format beneath the semi-transparent floor (when it's not blocked) and, together with the incredible 42 speakers and seven projectors in the ceiling and floor, as well as displays in the side windows, is meant to create a true 360° cinemascope atmosphere. Additionally, an “exciter” built into the seats is designed to make the music “tangibly” experienceable. No less than seven experience worlds can be created with all this high-tech equipment: Entertainment, Relax, Gaming, Shopping, Work, Discovery, or even the “Karaoke” popular in the Far East - “Snow Vanchen and the Seven Worlds”, so to speak. Hopefully, it doesn’t lead to a “sensory overload”.
Cocooning: Just right for Shanghai or Stuttgart traffic jams
The creators promise an “immersive user experience to a holistic experience with cocooning effect”, regardless of how sluggishly or smelly the traffic flows outside. But one hardly notices, with all the screens and dimmed windows, and the scenting from the “flacon made of polished aluminum” inside. Especially if you are engrossed in a game of analog chess that unfolds from the central glass display case as a table. The widescreen atmosphere is also present in the front seats, where the dashboard merges into a single screen, which is aptly called the "Hyperscreen" at "Daimler". The question remains: How is one supposed to concentrate on the road? Either way. Instead of watching a movie, you can also become a movie star yourself – a camera is, of course, not lacking and turns the Vision-V rear into a conference room.
Movie Theater: Louver Party at the Front
A light show in itself is the louvered cooler grille with 390 LEDs, which has lost its former function of supplying cooling air for the combustion engine in the electric age, but not its function as a trademark. As the driver approaches, a light performance begins, culminating in the brightly shining star on the hood. They certainly didn’t want to offer merely “old louvers” here. It's all laid thick to make the V-Class, pardon, Vision V, recognizable as a MERCEDES and to emphasize the “iconography” of the legendary Swabian brand.
The LED bars certainly ensure a dramatic appearance and a lot of overtaking prestige, if that is “purposeful” in the true sense of the word in Shanghai or Stuttgart traffic. And with the “welcome screens” in the chrome-plated B-pillars, the Benz also presents an extroverted “greeting-August” outwardly. Of course, an electric, chrome-plated step helps board the refined interior.
Good question: Is it permissible?
Some customers over 60, previously known for their fine discretion, might find it too “over-the-top,” simply too ostentatious, what the Benz van makers let glitter here. Rightly so, the Norwegian colleague asks the blunt rhetorical question whether this “rolling Christmas tree” would get approval from the Nordic registration authorities. And he answers it himself: Never. Doubts also exist for the spectacular light wreath at the rear, consisting of 450 three-dimensional LED louvers, which makes the V-Vision the lord of the rings.
Even the gigantic 24-inch wheels feature illuminated louvers. Oh, with all this LED play, it's of course not bad to have your own power supply on board: A panoramic roof is a must, equipped with 168 IBC solar cells with a module output of 539 watts, which should provide an additional 22 kilometers range in the “best case,” with a vehicle consumption of a futuristically low 15.5 kWh/100 km.
Laboratory for Ideas
It's not meant that way, they reassure at Benz, but merely an idea generator. Like the "steep and proud" standing star in the grille or the "powerdomes" reminiscing old Mercedes race cars, when these bulges still served a purpose like the once large radiator grille. There are also chrome elements borrowed from Maybach on the exterior. The Concept Vision V is said to be a "laboratory" for the series, which should then look significantly tamer.
Technically, the aim is to test the "squaring of the circle" with the concept, in other words, how aerodynamic can you make a "van". For this, a flowing form was chosen, reminiscent of aquatic creatures and meant to radiate "sensual purity". For more slipstreaming of the cube, the "Bonz-Benz" is stretched to 5.48 meters, but kept to a height of 1.89 meters, which leaves it at a truck format with a width of 2.10 meters. The roofline slightly slopes to the rear, and the sides taper slightly, allowing the wind to slip away more easily. The space inside is mainly to come from the long wheelbase of 3.53 meters, combined with short overhangs resulting in a massive 14.5-meter turning circle, which won't remain the same in the "real" V.
The real V is likely to carry less bling-bling - hopefully
It's assumed that such concepts are of course never implemented 1:1. But they serve as a "teaser" for what is really to come, starting next year. The "real" VAN.EA van is likely to come across as much more serious, but also visually further distinguish itself from the next Vito, which is based on the same platform and actually has 70 percent identical parts and technology, where pure utility value is more in focus.
Pragmatically, Mercedes-Benz Vans also views the topic of electric platforms: Due to the ongoing E-slump in the market, the VAN.EA (Electric Architecture) is now being given a combustion counterpart: VAN.CA (Combustion Architecture). This is intended to be launched as a "bridge solution" until the market finally goes fully electric. As flexible as the entirely new platform, so Mercedes aims to be in production.
