The Vision Mercedes Simplex looks like a motorised carriage

Mercedes-Benz has unveiled a new concept car that takes inspiration not from the future, but from the past. Way back in the past: the 1900s.

The Vision Mercedes Simplex goes back farther in history than many car manufactures even can go, with a body design similar to the first-ever cars or motorised carriages.

According to Chief Design Officer Gorden Wagener, the old-school design “embodies the heritage and future of the luxury brand.”

The model supposedly demonstrates the progress the brand has made over a century of design manufacturing, and specifically in the luxury aesthetic. According to Wagener, “Only a brand that is as strong as Mercedes-Benz is capable of the physical symbiosis of history and future. The ‘Vision Mercedes Simplex’ symbolises the transformation of the brand-specific luxury of Mercedes-Benz.”

As expected, while the outside stays true to its old-school roots, the inside has been fully kitted out with 21st-century tech. The instrument panel is made of rose gold, while the instrument panel features a projector display that shows data in 3D.

It’s pretty safe to say that this is one concept that will never see the light of day, but you can be sure elements of its design will start trickling down to some of Mercedes’ luxury models over the next few years.

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