Vroom with a view: Mercedes-Benz promo, GQ, 2013
Comfort, performance and bags of room, the Mercedes-Benz Viano Vision Pearl is the new companion of the sun-worshipping Euro set
GQ Promo, 2013
Arriving at Saint-Tropez by dragon-red supercharged grand tourer – in first gear – might turn heads, but with the constraints of space, owners of 200mph 2+2s tend to travel light, carrying little more than a face flannel, credit card and Breton shirt for their fortnight by the sea. Lack of luggage space in sports cars may explain the high incidence of naturist beaches on the Cote d’Azur: there’s no room for clothes when you’re carrying a 6.5-litre V12.
We’re not all exhibitionists. Set to transform the journeys of the Med-bound Euro crowd is the Mercedes-Benz Viano Vision Pearl, giving the style of a sports car, the prestige of a large saloon and the spaciousness of a van. With room for six on board, your holiday drive can be its own society event.
It may have the interior space of a van but the Viano Vision Pearl has more in common with the ultimate mode of transport for the Mediterranean millionaire – the yacht. The inside borrows from the cabin of a maritime cruiser, a profusion of nappa leather, real wood and brushed aluminium.
From your raised travel position, the wide-open skies and rugged terrain of the A8 autoroute can be fully enjoyed by the panoramic roof and all-round electrotransparent glass that can be lightened or darkened through the Magic Sky Control function – so with the flick of a switch, the Riveira glare can be instantly dampened.
On the outside, the Viano Vision Pearl has all the style we expect from Mercedes-Benz. Special magno pearl grey paint, chrome-surround radiator grille and two-tone, 19-inch five-spoke alloy wheels mean that your entrance will not go unnoticed.
FEATURE RICH
MERCEDES-BENZ VIANO VISION PEARL
INTERIOR
- Real wood floor
- Leather finish throughout the entire interior
- Bang & Olufsen BeoSound Viano sound system
- Light effects
- WLAN internet
EXTERIOR
- Special matt finish, magno pearl grey
- 19-inch light-alloy wheels
- Bumper with integrated daytime driving lights and LED lights
- Magic Sky Control (panoramic roof, side and rear rindow)
At home on the move
“I like style – a car has to be sporty-chic,” says New York socialite Olivia Palermo, who, with her German model fiancé Johannes Huebl, holidayed in the Cote d’Azur with a Mercedes-Benz Viano Vision Pearl. “There are some beautiful elements inside the car,” adds Johannes. “I like a nice sound system – when you drive your friends around or if you go to a party, that’s always a plus.”