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The Mercedes-Benz S-Class has long been the pinnacle of automotive luxury, so influential that Mercedes eventually extended it into a two-door coupe and a sprawling SUV called the GLS. But now, the brand is taking its top-end opulence in an entirely new direction: the VLS. Revealed as the Mercedes-Benz Vision V Concept, it made its U.S. debut at Pebble Beach Automotive Week last month. Unlike traditional luxury cars that juggle both performance and comfort, the all-electric VLS is focused on one thing: being the ultimate private lounge on wheels.
Chances are, no one has ever reclined in an S-Class and wished for more space. The VLS changes that. Though it has the proportions of a minivan, it only seats four, prioritizing privacy and comfort over passenger count. Two passengers sit in individual captain’s chairs surrounded by handcrafted Nappa leather, ambient lighting, and never-before-seen tech. And don't forget the crystal chessboard. While minivans may carry family-friendly connotations in the U.S., markets like China have long embraced ultra-luxury vans as status symbols. Mercedes-Benz now believes America is ready for a vehicle that treats passengers more like royalty than commuters. Nothing like this exists elsewhere. BMW, Audi, and Porsche don’t offer a van even close to this level of luxury. Not even Bentley or Rolls-Royce has a chauffeured lounge-on-wheels of this caliber.
Step inside and the first thing that'll catch your eye is a retractable 65-inch cinema screen – more than double the size of the BMW 7 Series' Theater Screen – that glides up from the floor, paired with Dolby Vision, 42 speakers. Mercedes even adds seven projectors that turn the entire cabin into a 360-degree digital environment, embracing a full-body experience. One moment, it’s a movie theater; the next, a concert hall, or a silent sanctuary. Sure, all this might sound a bit gimmicky, but then again, so did many other now-beloved features like heads-up display and ambient lighting.
To some, the current flagship Mercedes-Benz is the AMG GT, while others will argue it is, and has always been, the S-Class. Whether people will consider the VLS as another flagship contender is still up for debate. Built on the VAN.EA architecture with Maybach-level luxury, it may well become the most over-the-top, affluent vehicle to wear the Three-Pointed Star. And with cars like the G-Class Cabriolet on the horizon, Mercedes seems to have overcome its draught of creativity. The major downside? It might become the most expensive Mercedes-Benz money can buy.
This story was originally reported by Autoblog on Sep 13, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Autoblog as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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