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Car Design round-up: collaborations, colour-trends & new Mercedes concept
Car Design News takes a look at news that may have gone under the radar, including the latest updates from Bentley, Mercedes and BASF Coatings
Bentley Motors and Steinway & Sons collaborate
A special-edition Bentley Flying Spur Speed sedan and a limited-edition line of Steinway grand pianos have been released.
The sedan is finished in Arctic White with a Piano Black veneer interior, mirroring Steinway’s new Ultra Black and Ultra White grand pianos.
The Bentley Flying Spur Speed and two Ultra Black and Ultra White Steinway grand pianos will tour Europe for a series of concerts for the brand’s shared customers.
Full release here.
BASF Coatings reveal 2025-2026 automotive colour trends collection
The new collection prioritises sustainability, with some colours incorporating renewable or recycled raw materials. Other colours innovate, with multi-colour pigments and liquid metal-like surfaces.
Insights from global fashion trends, technology and nature have inspired the BASF automotive colour trends collection.
There are 45 colours in the collection, with the colour designers pinpointing three regional key colours for EMEA, Asia Pacific and the Americas that reflect the evolving humanity in these regions. These colours are Tesseract Blue for EMEA, Phygital Magnetar in Asia Pacific and Auxetic Neutral in the Americas.
Full release here.
Mercedes-Benz Vision Iconic concept
Mercedes-Benz has revealed the Vision Iconic concept.
The new concept draws inspiration from the art deco era as well as from the golden era of automotive design in the 1930s, as seen through the grand exterior form language. The grille takes cues from models such as the W 108, W 111 and the 600 Pullman but pulls the vehicle back into the 21st century with integrated contour lighting and an illuminated upright star on the bonnet.
Inside, Level 4 highly automated driving transforms the cabin into a lounge-like space. The hyper-analogue ‘Zepplin’ instrument panel, with its illuminated details and AI-driven analogue displays, creates a cinematic focal point. Deep velvet upholstery and straw marquetry flooring adjourn the interior with a steampunk edge.
Keep an eye on the Car Design News website for an upcoming First Sight interview with Stefan Lamm, advanced design director at Mercedes-Benz.
Full release here.
