Mercedes-Benz Style is taking its ‘Vorsprung durch Technik’ concept to the skies, with a little help from Lufthansa Technik.
The German giants have released images of a new VIP cabin for short- and medium-haul aircraft, offering luxury above the clouds. The typical ceiling, wall and floor arrangement is replaced entirely by a dynamic, spiral layout, giving rise to what the companies call ‘spatial zones’.
That sense of space is reinforced by Mercedes's typically strong emphasis on contrast in terms of material, colour and lighting, which is intended to appeal to a private global clientele.
The cabin windows are concealed by black panels, which are inspired by the screen design in the Mercedes‑Benz S-Class and appear to float in front of the window like a light corona. Innovative ‘Magic Sky’ technology allows the panels to be dimmed electrically from black to transparent. Displays and touch screens for entertainment and information can easily be integrated into the black panels.
"It was an inspiring challenge to transfer our design philosophy of sensual purity into the area of aeronautical engineering. The spectacular architecture of the interior shows creativity and modernity. Sensual surfaces and clear forms, combined with intelligent high-tech features and perfectly shaped modern luxury are the characteristic features of Mercedes-Benz design," said Gorden Wagener, vice president of design at Daimler AG.
The two companies have said they will jointly evaluate the level of customer interest within the VIP market while they continue developing the design concept.