Let’s talk about something so outrageously luxurious it makes you wonder if it’s still a car or a private jet that accidentally sprouted wheels. The Mercedes Vision V, unveiled at the 2025 Shanghai Auto Show, isn’t just any minivan. It’s a mobile palace, a middle finger to mundane commutes, and a love letter to anyone who believes luxury should know no bounds. This thing is so over-the-top it’s almost comical, but good grief, do you want to be inside it.
The exterior of the Vision V is like a fever dream from the future. Picture a sleek monolith with crystalline headlights ripped straight out of a sci-fi blockbuster. LED lighting runs from front to back, as if the car’s putting on a constant light show. And then there’s the grille – massive, with 190 illuminated slats that glow like a welcome party for the elite. The 24-inch wheels? They scream, “I’m more important than you.” And just when you think it can’t get flashier, the grille puts on a full-blown light display when you approach. Subtle? Not a chance. Jaw-dropping? You bet.
But let’s be real, the outside is just the appetizer. Step through the ultra-wide electric sliding doors – complete with an illuminated running board, because why not – and you’re greeted by an interior that looks like the lobby of a five-star Dubai hotel. Everything’s draped in nappa leather, wood, crystal, and chrome. The seats? Not just seats, but captain’s chairs that seem plucked from a private jet. White leather, ambient lighting that pulses to your music, and a glass partition separating you from the driver. That partition, by the way, can switch from clear to opaque with the press of a button, for when you’re done with the outside world.
And then, the showstopper: a 65-inch cinema screen that rises from the floor. Yes, you read that right. This isn’t some measly tablet stuck to a headrest. It’s a screen big enough for Zoom meetings, GTA sessions, or a full Marvel movie marathon. And if that’s not enough, extra projectors create a 3D experience, beaming images onto the floor, ceiling, and walls. It’s like being in a rolling IMAX theater. Oh, and for the Asian market – because let’s face it, this thing was designed with China in mind – there’s a karaoke mode and a built-in online shop. Because why not browse for shoes while stuck in traffic?
The Vision V is built on Mercedes’ new Van Electric Architecture (VAN.EA), a modular, fully electric platform. Will there be a petrol version? No one knows, but let’s hope not. This beauty deserves to be whisper-quiet, so you can fully appreciate the sound system that’s probably better than your home theater. Specs like power or range? Mercedes is keeping those cards close to the chest, but if this is a preview of the next V-Class, it’s going to be something special.
And then there’s a detail so absurd it’s almost genius: a chessboard. Not some flimsy fold-out table, but a proper chessboard with glass and aluminum pieces. Picture it: you’re in the back, playing chess with a business partner as you glide through Shanghai, the only sounds being the soft clink of pieces and the hum of the electric motor. This is luxury on a level that’s hard to wrap your head around.
Is the Vision V practical? Probably not. Affordable? Definitely not. But that’s not the point. It’s a statement, a glimpse of how Mercedes sees luxury transport in 2026 and beyond. It’s a car for people who aren’t just rich but want the world to know it. And honestly? I want to drive it. Or better yet, I want to sit in the back with a glass of champagne and a chess game while someone else handles the wheel.
For those already dreaming of their own luxury ride, check out our marketplace. At https://volty.be/nl/buy/cars/overview/, you’ll find a range of cars to browse and buy. Maybe not a Vision V, but a guy can dream.
