Core77

Virgil Abloh Had Been Collaborating with Mercedes-Benz on an Off-Road Electric Maybach

The company unveils the car in Miami, with Abloh's family's blessing

By Rain Noe - December 3, 2021

in Cars

Following the untimely death of Louis Vuitton designer Virgil Abloh this week, Mercedes-Benz released a statement revealing that Abloh had been collaborating with them on an under-wraps project. "Following the wishes of Virgil's family," the company writes, "Mercedes-Benz is honored to reveal Project MAYBACH: a collaborative electric show car designed to inspire the next generation, and forever question the status quo."

It is, in essence, a 20-foot-long off-road electric Maybach:

"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."

"The power of Abloh's work is not only from the product design, but also the exploratory conversations that his work ignited. While the Project MAYBACH show car was inspired by how one could explore nature within a uniquely luxurious context with Maybach, the Mercedes-Benz teams thank Virgil Abloh for the inspiration to explore the power of cross-industry dialogue to imagine a better, more inclusive future."

Mercedes put the car on display at Miami's Rubell Museum for two days this week—blocking out an hour each day where only design students were allowed in. That's a classy move, and I'd like to see that policy extended to other venues and institutions.

o
1

Favorite This
Q
3

Comment

Comments

Zach W

3 years ago

Z

1Z

Reply

It's nice to see they finally made the car Homer Simpson designed....... except worse.

!Report as spam
Daniel Jordache

3 years ago

Z

Z

Reply

Its like what madmax would drive if he was super rich and liked meh colors.

!Report as spam
Anders H

3 years ago

Z

Z

Reply

About 10 times better than current Maybach's.. Abloh will be missed

!Report as spam