Virgil Abloh’s Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen design confuses fans

The German car marker is famous for its sleek and often very expensive vehicles but its latest design concept has confused some fans.

Virgil Abloh is one of the hottest designers in the world right now. He is a creative director for the famous fashion brand Louis Vuitton, has worked with Kanye West and Jay Z and founded the high-end streetwear brand Off-White.

There was a lot of hype around his teaming with Mercedes-Benz to create a new concept design for it’s up-market SUV the G-Wagen. (The vehicles sell for about $250,00 in Australia).

But the results have left some car fans “confused”.

Virgil Abloh welcomes applause at the launch of a fashion collection in Paris. Picture: AFP / Francois Guillot

Virgil Abloh's take on the Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen.

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Mr Abloh took the company’s iconic Geländewagen (also known as the G-wagen) and turned it into something like a race car.

The concept shows the G-wagen dropped to the floor, a wide body kit added to its normally boxy frame, as well as a roll cage and window nets to complete the race car aesthetic.

Virgil Abloh's take on the Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen.

Virgil Abloh's take on the Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen.

Mr Abloh told Vogue about his design motivations.

“I’ve always been interested in this notion of the concept car, something that offers you an eye to the future, that shows you where the future is going to be,” Mr Abloh said.

“With Mercedes-Benz, we kind of went halfway and created a whole new genre, creating a concept car that you actually could see on the road tomorrow.”

While Mr Abloh told the magazine “the most challenging aspect was deciding which ideas to actually run with, and which to hold for later”, critics have debated how much thought he put into the concept design.

Looks like my Grade 1 drawings bro.

— 🌹Bushie Rockstar🌹 (@Grimmestar_) September 8, 2020

Virgil in the design meeting with Mercedes Benz pic.twitter.com/hQc9nmgCwz

— Brandouche™️ (@Brandouche) September 8, 2020

I was excited at first learning that Virgil Abloh of Off-White collaborated with Mercedes Benz

but after seeing the car itself I‘m kinda confused or maybe I don’t know how to appreciate art berat 🙃 pic.twitter.com/Wbw54cEtyL

— bart (@bartbhrdn) September 8, 2020

This Mercedes Benz X Virgil Abloh G wagon, is really disappointing pic.twitter.com/vyIneApACf

— Ambrosia & Nectar (@AmbroseA_) September 8, 2020

Was there no one at Mercedes Benz who could tell Virgil “no” ? Was it not possible to be like “yeah, it looks like this isn’t gonna work out but thanks for coming”

— Phantom of the WAPera (@THISisLULE) September 10, 2020

The design was also compared to cars like the Nissan Cube or Kia Soul, and while Mr Abloh’s G-Wagen’s low stance makes it an apt comparison, the G-Wagen itself and its iconic boxy silhouette predates the Cube and Soul by decades.

that new virgil abloh x mercedes goes crazy 🔥🔥 #virgil pic.twitter.com/3n66D9fg4H

— kswiss (@kswissagent) September 8, 2020

This is the most disrespectful thing I’ve ever seen on a Mercedes. Someone tell Virgil that the future doesn’t need their Mercedes to look like a Kia Soul w a F1 steering wheel and a roll cage. pic.twitter.com/HVOICHXaFb

— 🥴 (@juanhelluvaguy) September 8, 2020