Test drive: 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
The 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class is a flagship model filled with a boatload of luxury and tech, but is missing one thing according to Fox News Autos Editor Gary Gastelu.
Late fashion designer Virgil Abloh designed a concept car with Mercedes-Benz prior to his passing at age 41, it has been revealed.
![Virgl Abloh co-designed the Project Maybach off-road electric coupe, which is 20-feet long.](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2021/12/1200/675/maybach-1.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
Virgl Abloh co-designed the Project Maybach off-road electric coupe, which is 20-feet long. (Mercedes-Benz)
With permission of Abloh's family, the automaker has released images of the Project Maybach, which will be privately shown to art students at a Miami museum.
![Project Maybach is a two-passenger vehicle with fully-reclining seats.](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2021/12/1200/675/maybach-3.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
Project Maybach is a two-passenger vehicle with fully-reclining seats. (Mercedes-Benz)
The wild, 20-foot-long electric two-seater wears the name of Mercedes-Benz's ultra luxury brand Maybach, but is designed with oversized off-road tires, skid plates, an external roll cage and fully reclining seats.
![Project Maybach is equipped with an external roll cage.](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2021/12/1200/675/maybach-4.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
Project Maybach is equipped with an external roll cage. (Mercedes-Benz)
The coupe's epically-long hood is equipped with solar panels and the car fitted with auxiliary adventure lighting normally reserved for a pickup or rally racing car.
![Project Maybach features off-road lighting and body protection along with solar panels in its hood.](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2021/12/1200/675/maybach-2.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
Project Maybach features off-road lighting and body protection along with solar panels in its hood. (Mercedes-Benz)
Abloh developed in in partnership with Mercedes head designer Gorden Wagener as a styling exercise and there are no plans to put it into production or even a drivetrain installed, but a previous and similarly outlandish Maybach concept from 2005 called the Exelero was built as a one-off car and sold for a reported $8 million.
![The Maybach Exelero is a legendary concept car that ended up in private hands.](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2021/12/1200/675/excelero.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
The Maybach Exelero is a legendary concept car that ended up in private hands. (Mercedes-Benz)
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![Abloh was close friends with Mercedes-AMG F1 driver Lewis Hamilton.](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2021/12/1200/675/abloh-hamilton.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
Abloh was close friends with Mercedes-AMG F1 driver Lewis Hamilton. (Bertrand Rindoff Petroff/Getty Images)
Abloh's connection to Mercedes goes beyond his work in the fashion world. He was also close friends with six-time Formula One champion Lewis Hamltion who drives for the Mercedes-AMG F1 team and was often seen wearing clothing designed by Abloh.