Mercedes Vision Iconic Concept: Retro Body, Neuromorphic Brain, Wild Solar Paint

The Mercedes-Benz Vision Iconic is the kind of concept that makes you stop scrolling. Mercedes has doubled down on its new pixelated grille language, but this time it actually feels intentional. The face is a modern homage to the brand’s classic radiator grilles, framed in chrome, filled with a smoked-glass lattice, and outlined by contour lighting. It still leans flashy, but it reads more couture than costume compared to the GLC’s oversized treatment.

From the side, the proportions give off serious pre-war vibes. Think 1938 540K Autobahn Kurier for the body, with a rear section that nods to the 300SL. The brand even pulled cues for the front from the W108, W111, and the 600 Pullman, so there is real lineage baked into the surfacing and jewelry.

Open the door and the art deco storyline takes over. A floating glass dashboard—Mercedes calls it the Zeppelin—sets the mood. There is a graceful four-spoke steering wheel, an onboard artificial intelligence companion, blue velvet for the bench seat, and blue straw marquetry across the floor. That last detail is a seventeenth-century craft that roared back in the 1920s, and it looks right at home here.

Under the skin, the Vision Iconic is fully electric and steer-by-wire. The wild detail is the solar paint. In ideal conditions, Mercedes claims a mid-size SUV wearing this finish could add up to 7,450 miles of range per year just from sunlight. On this coupe, it gives the sheet metal a sinister, almost liquid look while contributing real energy.

The tech stack reaches further with neuromorphic computing, an architecture designed to work more like a human brain. The promise is faster, more efficient artificial intelligence tasks—better traffic sign recognition, more precise object identification, and lower energy draw for automated driving features. Speaking of which, the Vision Iconic targets Level 4 autonomy and automated parking, so the car can handle the commute and park itself while you step straight into your day.

For now, it is a concept. Expect the illuminated grille treatment and some of these design signatures to appear on future models, possibly including the coming S-Class electric vehicle. As for a giant electric coupe going into production, that is a tougher sell. Still, if Mercedes decided to build it—and maybe teased the faithful with a rumbling V8 variant for fun—the internet would melt.