150-unit Mercedes-Maybach by Virgil Abloh pays tribute to late artist

MANILA: Mercedes–Maybach unveils the final chapter of Project Maybach — the German car marque's cooperation with trusted partner Virgil Abloh

Virgil Abloh is a late polymath artist, architect, creative director, fashion designer and philanthropist. 

Designed in partnership with Mercedes‑Benz Group AG Chief Design Officer Gorden Wagener in 2021, the Maybach by Virgil Abloh was finalized before Abloh’s untimely passing in November and is available in a strictly limited run of 150 units. The launch coincides with the release of a capsule collection designed by Virgil Abloh and in collaboration with Off‑White clothing brand. 

It has been developed in connection with the Project Maybach electric show car and is exclusively available to buy on Off‑White, Farfetch and Maybach Icons of Luxury online stores, as well as Off‑White  stores in select markets.

For over a century, Mercedes–Maybach has defined the boundaries of luxury experiences, and the limited edition Maybach by Virgil Abloh, a fully equipped Mercedes‑Maybach S‑Class S680, continues this tradition.

Created by Mercedes‑Benz’ most specialized customization and craftmanship team in the Manufaktur in Sindelfingen — the vehicle exterior features the unique two-tone color combination created for Project Maybach. While the upper part of the vehicle is lacquered in a glossy obsidian black, the lower part, side flanks and special forged rims are painted in a sand hue.

The highest levels of craftsmanship continue into the vehicle's interior with an identical two-tone color scheme. The four-seat configuration, steering wheel, doors, lower dashboard and ceiling are lined in black and sand-colored Nappa leather, complete with sand-colored décor trims and strips.

The highpile floormats are black with a sand colored leather border and embroidered Mercedes‑Maybach logo. To enhance its monolithic appearance, the window frames are painted, and a special Mercedes-Maybach and Virgil Abloh logo is inscribed on the piano black middle of the center-console, rear cushions, head restraints and door sill panel.

Unique to the limited-edition S‑Class is a bespoke user interface, which presents the driver with an even more luxurious variation of the Maybach MBUX suite of cutting-edge technologies. Hand-picked visual elements are used to enrich the digital content: from a home button with colored border and brand logo denoting the edition, to profile pictures decorated with luxurious fashion accessories. 

All customers will be given a special custom-made wooden box covered in sand-colored Nappa leather emblazoned with the Mercedes‑Maybach and Virgil Abloh logo. The gift box contains a 1/18 scale replica of the limited-edition car, the two car keys and a carabiner hook. In addition, a special car cover featuring the Mercedes‑Maybach and Virgil Abloh logo will be gifted to customers.

The capsule collection has been designed by Virgil Abloh together with Off‑White, in connection to the Project Maybach electric show car. It comprises of sand-colored vintage washed cotton T-shirts and half-brushed cotton fleece crewnecks and hoodies, as well as canvas baseball caps and racing gloves crafted in canvas, neoprene and suede, coated with a black spray effect and embroidered.

The Maybach by Virgil Abloh is Abloh’s third cooperation project with Mercedes‑Benz, and the second with Mercedes–Maybach. 

Photos from Mercedes-Benz

Also read: New Mercedes-Benz 'Manufaktur' offers wider range of customization options