Mercedes-Benz Project Maybach: Electric off-road coupe concept unveiled

Mercedes-Benz has taken the wraps off the Project Maybach concept, a bespoke creation co-designed by American fashion designer Virgil Abloh, who died earlier this week aged 41.

The full-electric Project Maybach off-road concept is Mercedes’ second collaboration with the late fashion designer, following the unveiling of the wild race-inspired G-Class-based Project Geländewagen last year.

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Every piece of the six-metre long concept was built from scratch, designed under the guidance of Abloh – founder of fashion label Off-White and artistic director of Louis Vuitton’s menswear division – and Mercedes-Benz’s chief design officer, Gorden Wagener.

Inspired by the great outdoors, the two-seater gold and black Project Maybach coupe is unbound by production constraints and is poised for off-road action, sporting a set of chunky all-terrain tyres, an exterior roll-cage, thick body cladding with exposed rivets, and stocky proportions.

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Up front, a set of large circular headlights feature alongside a full-width LED light bar, Maybach’s iconic chrome vertical grille, a nudge bar with four auxiliary lights, and a metal skid plate. The off-road design theme also extends to the rear of the concept, with a set of round tail-lights designed to mimic the headlights and an additional skid plate.

There is also a solar panel integrated into the front bonnet to help boost driving range, disguised under a transparent black panel.

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“Mercedes-Benz is devastated to hear of the passing of Virgil Abloh. Our sincere thoughts are with Virgil’s family and teams,” the company said.

“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 Project Maybach concept will be on display to the public today and tomorrow at the Rubell Museum in Miami, Florida.