Words by Kenneth Lee
Limitierte Edition MAYBACH by Virgil Abloh
As it turns out, Project Maybach – the collaboration between the late Virgil Abloh, who tragically passed away last year, and Mercedes – was about much more than a wildly imaginative off-road concept coupe sporting solar cells under a see-through bonnet.
In fact, the liveries of the off-road concept car were taken as inspiration for the next phase in the project: a limited-edition Maybach by Virgil Abloh, based on the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class S680, decked out in the twin hues of obsidian black and sandy beige last seen on the concept car.
Except this time, you can actually get behind the steering wheel yourself, provided you’re one of the lucky 150 customers that snag the limited-edition model.
The four-seater carries the two-toned colour scheme in both its exterior and interior. Outside, the upper part of the vehicle sports a glossy black sheen, while the sandy hues are apparent on the lower portion, sides and rims.
Inside, expect black and sand-coloured Nappa leather-lined upholstery, bespoke floor mats and logos representing Mercedes-Maybach and Virgil Abloh etched into the vehicle’s detailing. The limited-edition S-Class also comes with a bespoke user interface for the in-car infotainment suite, with curated visual elements to further up the luxe factor.
Only 150 cars will be available globally – each of these customers will also get a 1/18 scale replica of the car within a custom-made wooden box (also gussied up with sand-coloured nappa leather and the Mercedes Maybach and Virgil Abloh logo).
If you can’t get the car, then go for the capsule collection designed by Abloh, together with his streetwear brand Off-White, featuring vintage washed cotton tees, half-brushed cotton fleece crewnecks and hoodies. There’s also embroidered canvas baseball caps and racing gloves – in short, everything you need for an outfit that matches the Maybach.
This limited-edition S-Class is the designer’s third cooperative project with Mercedes-Benz. Project Maybach was showcased at the Rubell Museum last December at the behest of the late designer’s family. Before that, Abloh reimagined the Mercedes-Benz G-Class as a Nascar-inspired racing car with Project Gelandewagen.
(Read also: Project Maybach: Virgil Abloh and Mercedes-Benz’s Solar-Powered Electric Concept Car)
