A true Renaissance man, Virgil Abloh’s design prowess was not limited to the runway. In an ongoing collaboration with Mercedes-Benz, the late Louis Vuitton artistic director worked with Mercedes-Benz chief design officer Gorden Wagener to create the Project MAYBACH. The result of a collaboration driven by a shared passion to enrich the conversation around luxury design, Project MAYBACH marks the second and final cooperative venture between Abloh and Mercedes-Benz, the first being a race car take on the G-Class released late last year.
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Built entirely from scratch, Project MAYBACH sees Abloh given full artistic license over the Mercedes-Maybach, working with Wagener to infuse its luxury identity with a new design language. Reinterpreting the distinctly urban Mercedes-Maybach for an off-road environment, the resultant Project MAYBACH is a 2-seater, battery-electric off-road coupé with oversized Gran Turismo proportions, large off-road wheels, and unique attachments.
With both Abloh and Wagener free to conceive a vehicle untethered by production requirements, the duo focused on a responsible take on future design. Conceptualising what electric travel may look like, the Project MAYBACH features solar cells under the transparent front hood that work to increase the car’s range. Boxy bodywork, statement circular LED rear lights, curved bash plates, chunky tires, and an external roll cage give the vehicle a definitively off-road aesthetic, while the back and tan interior colour scheme and transparent roof exude luxury appeal.
Mercedes-Benz paid tribute to Virgil Abloh, celebrating his work through the release of the Project MAYBACH which will be showcased to the public in the Rubell Museum from 1st to 2nd December, with exclusive access offered to local design students from 11.30am to 12.30pm on 1st December.
Words by AR Staff
