By ROB HULL
Updated: 09:45 EDT, 22 April 2025
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Mercedes has declared the 'dawn of a new era' for luxurious limousines as it previewed a flashy electric people carrier overnight at the Shanghai Motor Show with an impressive cinematic setup.
Called the Vision V concept, it's what the German brand has dubbed a new 'benchmark' for VIP travel from its next generation of battery-powered vehicles arriving in 2026.
The opulent shuttle concept is crammed with technology and lavish features - many of which you'd expect to find in the living rooms of mansions rather than a car's interior.
It has stripped out the conventional rear seats and fitted only a pair of first-class plane style chairs in the back, each featuring tubular cushions and bed-like reclining settings for supreme comfort on the move.
The 'private lounge' area is divided from the chauffeur by an enormous 65-inch TV screen, which can retract into the floor when it's not being used as a movie display or a partition wall between the deep-pocketed passenger and Jeeves at the wheel. A 42-speaker sound system, seven projects to create varying ambiences, and rear windows that can be switched from transparent to opaque at the touch of a button make this arguably one of the greatest cinema experiences on wheels.
And there's even a bespoke karaoke setting that beams the lyrics of your favourite tunes onto the massive flat-screen telly - the largest ever installed in a car - so you and a friend can put your vocal skills to the test en route.
Mercedes has declared the 'dawn of a new era' for luxurious limousines as it previewed its electric Vision V people carrier overnight at the Shanghai Motor Show
The rear compartment is a 'private lounge' area featuring an enormous 65-inch TV screen, which can retract into the floor when it's not being used as a display or a partition wall between the deep-pocketed passenger and Jeeves at the wheel
The Vision V is very much a peek at what Mercedes-Benz can do with its new Van Electric Architecture (VAN.EA) platform that debuts next year to challenge premium MPV rivals like Lexus' LM and Volvo's EM90.
This will underpin its next-generation range of EV people carriers, which will ultimately replace the V Class when new petrol and diesel cars are banned from sale in 2030 onwards.
It has given a glimpse of how the German outfit's large new models will look in an electric era, with standout design features introduced to make the vehicle as aerodynamic - and as little battery range-sapping - as possible.
The most obvious of these is the enormous new grille, which dominates the face of the Vision V concept.
It sits below a futuristic-looking light bar, which wraps across the front of the bonnet section with LEDs linking the headlight clusters at each flank.
A similarly dramatic light arrangement is at the back, with an almost square structure outlining the entire rear window panel.
A substantial sliding rear door provides access to the rear.
The German brand has dubbed the Vision V a new 'benchmark' for VIP travel from its next generation of battery-powered vehicles arriving in 2026
The Vision V is very much a peek at what Mercedes-Benz can do with its new Van Electric Architecture (VAN.EA) platform that debuts next year to challenge premium MPV rivals like Lexus' LM and Volvo's EM90. A massive sliding door provides access to the rear
The Vision V is a glimpse of how the German outfit's large new models will look in an electric era, with standout design features introduced to make the vehicle as aerodynamic - and as little battery range-sapping - as possible
The Vision V showcases fresh design features, including a enormous new grille and striking LED bar light bar, which dominates the face of the people carrier. A similarly dramatic light arrangement dominates at the back, with an almost square structure outlining the entire rear window panel.
However, it's the palatial interior where Mercedes designers have focussed their attention for this business-class range topper.
'The Vision V is the beginning of a new era for Mercedes-Benz Vans. It demonstrates, in the truest sense of the word, how we bring luxury to a spacious cabin and define a new segment,' explains Thomas Klein, head of Mercedes-Benz Vans.
'With that, we set standards in design, comfort and an immersive user experience – while meeting the highest demands of our customers.'
The driver - who is likely on salary rather than the vehicle owner themselves - is greeted with a cockpit featuring a relatively conventional steering wheel and Mercedes's already-available three-display 'Superscreen'
However, it's this palatial rear compartment where Mercedes designers have focussed their attention for this business-class range topper
The 65-inch screen spans the entire interior to provide an immersive cinematic experience for those with pockets deep enough to afford a luxury electric limo MPV
The huge telly can be lowered to allow passengers to communicate to the drivers. The screen is linked to a 42-speaker sound system, seven projects to create varying ambiences, and rear windows that can be switched from transparent to opaque at the touch of a button make this arguably one of the greatest cinema experiences on wheels
The rear section, which is dominated by the two large airline-style seats and whopping TV screen, also has glass-panelled sections in the door sections, some encasing tumblers and cocktail shakers, while others house a crystal chess set
The driver - who is likely on salary rather than the vehicle owner themselves - is greeted with a cockpit featuring a relatively conventional steering wheel and Mercedes's already-available three-display 'Superscreen', which is debuting in its latest format in the upcoming CLA saloon.
At each end of the dashboard are crystal-style air vents, while the door cards have clear insets that give an undisrupted view of the huge speakers behind them.
The rear section, which is dominated by the two large airline-style seats and whopping TV screen.
It's the biggest of its kind to be installed in a car, dwarfing the 48-inch screen in the Lexus LM and 31.3-inch theatre display in the BMW i7.
The lounge area also has glass-panelled sections in the door sections, some encasing tumblers and cocktail shakers, while others house a crystal chess set, which occupants can play on an extending table that pops out of the elbow rest dividing the two chairs.
Passengers can use the screen for a variety of options - and not just to turn the cabin into a karaoke bar.
As well as watching TV or a movie, for those stressed out after a long day in the board room, the entertainment setting can be flicked to 'Relax' model, which plays soft music while a calming landscape gentle moves across the cinema screen
Remove the chess pieces from their glass compartment and the two rear occupants can face-off in a game over the extending table that pops out of the elbow rest dividing the two chairs
'The Vision V is the beginning of a new era for Mercedes-Benz Vans. It demonstrates, in the truest sense of the word, how we bring luxury to a spacious cabin and define a new segment,' explains Thomas Klein, head of Mercedes-Benz Vans
The Vision V concept is very much a look at how opulent Mercedes can makes its electric vans of the future, though it will also launch models with conventional rear seating for larger groups rather than just two well-heeled passengers
Gamers can get their fix too using compatible controllers for devices, while shoppers can use the screen to make purchases from a number of online shops
As well as watching TV or a movie, for those stressed out after a long day in the board room, the entertainment setting can be flicked to 'Relax' model, which plays soft music while a calming landscape gentle moves across the cinema screen.
Gamers can get their fix too using compatible controllers for devices, while shoppers can use the screen to make purchases from a number of online shops.
The last setting is 'Discovery' mode, which links to the car's navigation to transmit to the 65-inch screen the vehicle's surroundings using 3D game-engine graphics. Additional information is projected onto the camera image using augmented reality.
While no details have been revealed on what powers the concept, the platform is fitted with 800V electricals and will be offered with front- and four-wheel-drive powertrains.
Mercedes says the longest-range variant available will be able to exceed 311 miles on a single charge but has yet to disclose pricing information ahead of the official unveiling.
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