Maybach Berline Concept

tags: Berline Concept, LA Design Challenge 2011, Maybach | in: Concept Cars 4 November 2011

Maybach’s entry for the LA Design Challenge 2011 is a futuristic reinterpretation of the historic Berline carriages, created for a modern Cinderella tale.

Designers working at the Mercedes-Benz Interior Design Studio, Germany, have tackled the LA 2011 Design Challenge by taking inspiration from the classic folk tale “Cinderella”.

Reviving the distant origins of the Maybach marque, they came up with a futuristic vehicle strongly inspired by the Berline carriage type): a covered, fast four-wheeled carriage with two seats inside and a detached hooded rear seat for a footman.

The vehicle serves as one of the main characters of the story, which tells about Cinderella, her father – a Berline Carriage Engineer – and the evil stepmother and stepsister.

On the night of her birthday, Cinderella is allowed by her father to use a new Maybach prototype to go out on the town, where she meets a handsome stranger.

The concept is based on the dimensions of the Mercedes-Benz GL Class, and is intended as a E-Cell or F-Cell vehicle equipped with an autonomous driving system called Maybach Virtual Chauffeur Center which remotely operates it via a satellite link.

The interior seamlessly integrates with the exterior and offers maximum interior space and privacy to the passengers who are seated in a vis-à-vis layout with a “Royal Lounge” on one side and two single seats on the other.

A large glass screen with 3D laser projection is suspended from the ceiling and can display the Virtual Chauffeur or a variety of media and entertainment.

Passengers can easily enter the cabin using the large divided gullwing doors with oversized privacy glass and the retractable stairs inspired by business jets.

The exterior reinterprets the carriage layout by applying a modern, sleek surface treatment, while at the same time maintaining some distinctive elements such as the boxy overall shape, detached wheels, and separate headlamps and tail lights.

The interior, which is the hearth of the project, is characterized by curved yet essential surfaces, and combine metal and wooden elements with leather surfaces and parts made of aluminum and copper.

The minimalist atmosphere is underlined by the presence of a bonsai in the multipurpose slot between the seats.

Project details

Movie: “Cinderella”
Design team: Christopher Ottersbach, Philipp Haban (Designers), Jan Kaul (Design Manager)

Background story

Berline Carriage Engineer, her Stepmother, a retired Actress, and her Stepmother’s spoiled daughter who spent her days partying at the Billionares Club while Cindy spent all day working at her father’s workshop.

On the night of her birthday, Cindy’s father surprises her with a beautiful dress and allows her to take a new Maybach prototype out on the town – a reinterpretation of the historic Berline Carriage.

Based on the dimensions of a Mercedes-Benz GL-Class, the Maybach Berline Carriage features autonomous driving that allows Cindy to have an amazing night out, where she meets a handsome stranger.

Moviegoers will awe in the romance and new technology as Cindy goes on the journey of a lifetime.