Mercedes-Benz Vision Iconic: a solar-boosted coupe with Level 4 autonomy

© A. Krivonosov для SPEEDME.RU

At the Guangzhou auto show, Mercedes-Benz unveiled one of the event’s most talked-about show cars: the two-door Vision Iconic coupe. The car instantly drew attention with its futuristic body and a vast illuminated grille inspired by the brand’s classics—the W108, W111, and the legendary 600 Pullman. A chrome surround, contour lighting, and animated graphic effects turn the Vision Iconic’s nose into a digital design statement that feels more like a signature than a traditional fascia.

There’s substance beneath the spectacle. Under the glossy black finish sit solar modules; Mercedes estimates that on a mid-size crossover this technology could provide enough energy for up to 12,000 km of driving per year. If realized, that would be a meaningful contribution rather than a mere talking point.

The interior leans into Art Deco: a floating glass display, a full-width podium screen, velvet trim, and brass accents create the feel of a lounge from the near future. Vision Iconic uses steer-by-wire, while its Level 4 autonomous system runs on a neuromorphic computing architecture that mimics the human brain and can cut the self-driving system’s energy consumption by up to 90%.

Vision Iconic isn’t a production car, but it clearly signals the design language and technologies that future Mercedes models are set to explore.