Monterey 2022: Mercedes-Benz Star Lounge

Mercedes-Benz Star Lounge
Electrics Loom Large

The Star Lounge has always been a must visit destination during Monterey Week. This stylish pavilion typically features a mixture of classics – often including iconic competition cars – and current models the Factory wishes to expose. Anchoring the display is often a jaw-dropping creation from design chief, Gorden Wagener. Witness the Vison Mercedes Maybach 6 coupe and cabriolet of 2017 and 2016 respectively.

The mix this year was biased decidedly toward the continued electrification of the model lineup. 2022’s ‘anchor’ was the outrageous and entirely entertaining 2021 Project MAYBACH. The result of a collaboration between Wagener and the late Virgil Abloh, the artistic director of Louis Vuitton’s menswear collection, the Project Maybach was a fascinating piece of rolling sculpture. And like its Project Maybach predecessors, the fanciful off road vehicle is fully electric.

‘Sophisticated Luxury meets Outdoor Adventure’ is how Mercedes presented the imposing Project MAYBACH. The all electric beast has introduced a new design ethos – monolithic style. I should say!

Classics Overshadowed

The only classic within the pavilion was a C111 nicely displayed against one of the 35 Andy Warhol prints commissioned by Mercedes in 1986. Stepping outside revealed an elegant group of classics: a spotless 220S fintail and a gorgeous 300d, both in black with brilliant red leather, and a lovely red 300Sc. And as last year, a red SL55, silver 280SL and Blue 450SEL were available for road tests for anyone curious about just how MB’s young and oldtimers might feel like.

C111-11 is always a welcome sight at any Mercedes-Benz gathering. It’s fitted with a 2400 cc 4 rotor Wankel engine and produced about 350 HP.

G-Class Electrified

For those of you who have wondered when the globally beloved G-Wagon would be available in all electric form, the answer is…soon. On display was the Concept EQG whose design aesthetic unambiguously communicated, ‘I am electric.’ 2023 G-Wagons will be entirely petrol powered but I have a feeling 2024 might see a silent model.

A ‘near production’ study for the upcoming all electric G-Wagon was on display. Featuring 4 near-wheel electric motors the EQG will offset the embarrassing fuel mileage returned by the gas equivalents.

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