Ride Report: Facial Recognition, Zero Gravity, & A Digital Sky: A Look At The Mercedes Vision V

On April 22nd, 2025, in the region of Shanghai, China, a new era had begun. Within the bowels of Shanghai’s National Exhibition and Convention Center (NECC), multiple platforms crowded the area occupied with black and white curtains or backdrops, colorful and flashing lights, and the showmanship of one representative of every major automobile manufacturer on the planet, eager to show their product. However, there was one presentation that stole everyone’s gaze, and one vehicle that ended up on the world’s center stage. 

April 22nd marked the beginning of the Shanghai Auto Show, an international challenge to all of the top automobile companies around the world to bring their best and newest designs to display to audiences full of potential buyers. While other typical car companies such as Cadillac, Nissan, Toyota and Honda took this challenge as an invitation to showcase the latest in a long line of designs to prove how they are consciously improving on previous products, Mercedes-Benz took the challenge as an opportunity to reinvent themselves, and took over the stage to (quite literally) give us a portal into their vision of the future, with the appropriately named Mercedes Vision V. 
Audiences stood in awe as the demonstration of the powers of the Vision V began. The vehicle radiated a powerful aura and stood strong with chrome trim elements and transparent illuminated louvres, giving a rather sculptural appearance while seamlessly blending the future with tradition, hinting at what awaits every passenger inside the car. Instead of reaching for the door handle, as one normally does, it’s demonstrated that one simply leans over to stare into the glossy reflection; In response, the Vision V lights up in recognition of its passenger, greets you a written hello and your name, and the door (excuse us, “portal” as it is aptly labeled by Mercedes-Benz) smoothly slides open for you—no physical pulling required.

“It’s Supposed to bring perfect harmony between luxury and space”- Mercedes-Benz

As you step through the portal door, the interior is unveiled as an exclusive first-class country club lounge transported and implanted directly into the van. The Vision V has it all: from long, zero gravity ergonometric seats that appear to be crafted of fine leather clouds and can gently fold all the way back into the perfect bed on-the-go, to a fully stocked mini bar encased in glass and more than enough leg room to comfortably host 4 people and their full luggage sets while still leaving enough space for every seat to be reclined back without invading anyone’s bubble. As you settle into the zero gravity seats, you’ll discover that the Vision V is hiding a rather surprise - as you press a button hidden between the seats, the floor in front of you opens up, and a something gradually rising from the floor: a 65 inch flat screen TV complemented by forty-two loud speakers for optimal audio that spontaneously turns the passenger area of the limo into a private movie theater for your personal enjoyment. 

The finishing touch? A Dolby Atmos surround-sound system and a 360-degree digital experience in which seven projectors in the headliner and floor can transform the private lounge space into a fully immersive experience. 

Since its debut, the Mercedes Vision V has quickly dominated the social media landscape. The luxury vehicle became known for its various features, which delivered on Mercedes-Benz’s promise to deliver a line of vehicles that encompasses “a feeling of freedom, security and tranquility” through the creation of “perfect harmony between luxury and space”. Through the Vision V, Mercedes-Benz responded to the challenge of the Shanghai Auto Show by posing a challenge themselves: how can we take luxury travel to the next level? How should the future define and create a space of luxury without losing the feelings of comfort and timelessness?

Are you anxious to try out the Mercedes Vision V yourself? Get ready, because a production version launches in early 2026! For more information, please visit the Mercedes-Benz website.