Ignore the Way This Mercedes Van Looks-It’s Actually Awesome

When was the last time you saw a concept van? It’s been a minute, but big vans aren’t dead yet. In a fateful twist, Mercedes-Benz wants to push them to a whole new level. Feast your eyes on the Vision V concept, a vehicle that could be the future for ultra-luxury travel in the world of Mercedes.

The Vision V debuted for Auto Shanghai in China and yes, Mercedes is very serious about it being a luxury vehicle. According to the press release, the Vision V concept “embodies the pinnacle of luxurious and elegant multipurpose vehicles (MPVs) to exceed the highest customer expectations.” There’s no mention of a wine chiller anywhere inside, so we suspect Rolls-Royce might have something to say about that. Then again, Rolls-Royce doesn’t build a van.

The Vision V does have a retractible 65-inch 4K TV screen, though. It’s supplemented by a 42-speaker Dolby Atmos surround-sound system that can be used for watching movies or playing video games. If that’s not enough, “exciters” embedded in the seats provide feedback related to whatever you’re listening to. Apparently, the future of luxury travel is more like a house party than an afternoon nap.

You could do that too, if you want. A glass partition separates the “lounge” from the cabin and can be set to clear or opaque for privacy. The seats are electrically adjustable and configurable, and there’s even a “refined fragrance” in a bottle that adds to the sensory experience. Alternatively, you can flip open a chess set if you want to play a quieter, gentler game. Rolls-Royce has one of those, too.

Meanwhile up front, this concept van actually looks pretty close to production. The space-age seats and abundance of white are still there, but it contrasts with a big Mercedes Superscreen spanning the dash. A normal-looking steering wheel is adorned with buttons, and there are two pedals on the floor for accelerating and braking. It looks like you could jump in and just drive away.

That’s because the Vision V isn’t an abstract self-driving concept from the distant future. Mercedes says this is the introduction of its scalable Vane Electric Architecture (VAN.EA) that will launch in 2026. Nothing is mentioned about the powertrain in this concept, nor whether the concept’s … distinctive styling will translate entirely to a production vehicle. But this does mark the beginning of a new direction in luxurious limousine travel for Mercedes, not to mention vans in general.

The Vision V concept is on display at Auto Shanghai, running from April 23 through May 2.