Mercedes-Benz Vision V and Maybach S 680 Emerald Isle unveiled at Pebble Beach

At Pebble Beach 2025, Mercedes-Benz presented the Vision V luxury concept van and the limited Maybach S 680 Emerald Isle, restricted to 25 units in the U.S.

At the 2025 Pebble Beach Automotive Week, Mercedes-Benz Classic offered a rare combination of history, innovation, and spectacle. The centerpiece was the 115-year-old Benz Prinz-Heinrich-Wagen, which led the traditional Tour d’Elegance and received the prestigious Charles A. Chayne Trophy for the most advanced engineering of its time. First awarded in 1978 and named after General Motors engineer Charles A. Chayne, the prize has gone to groundbreaking cars over the years, such as the 1906 Adams-Farwell with its rotary engine.

The Prinz-Heinrich-Wagen, equipped with a 5.7-liter four-cylinder engine featuring four-valve technology, dual ignition, and cardan drive, was originally built for the “Prinz-Heinrich-Fahrt.” This touring competition, held between 1908 and 1910 under the German Imperial Automobile Club, played a crucial role in shaping early European motorsport. Restored with the highest authenticity standards by Mercedes-Benz Classic, the vehicle is now one of only two surviving examples.

The week also marked the 75th anniversary of Formula 1, where Mercedes-Benz highlighted its long racing legacy. The legendary 1954 W 196 R Formula 1 car appeared alongside the current 2025 F1 W16. On the Laguna Seca track, spectators enjoyed the sight of further icons: the 1955 300 SLR and the 2009 SLR McLaren Stirling Moss, both continuing the proud SLR tradition.

Cinema history played its part too. At the “Stargaze Theatre,” presented in the style of a drive-in cinema, guests watched clips of famous movies and experienced the cars themselves: the M-Class from Jurassic Park, the 380 SL from Beverly Hills Cop, the 220 SE Cabriolet from The Hangover, and the 190 SL from High Society. The display underscored how Mercedes-Benz has become not only a leader in engineering but also a cultural reference point.

The brand also looked firmly to the future. The AMG GT XX concept, featuring three axial-flux electric motors and delivering more than 1,341 hp, offered a glimpse of the next era of high-performance EVs. Alongside it came the Vision V, described as a “luxury lounge on wheels” with an innovative interior and a 65-inch screen. Completing the trio was the limited-run Maybach S 680 Edition Emerald Isle, restricted to 25 units for the U.S., finished in a special two-tone scheme inspired by Monterey’s coastal scenery.

Pebble Beach 2025 thus became a stage where past and future converged. The award for the Prinz-Heinrich-Wagen recalled Mercedes-Benz’s spirit of innovation more than a century ago, while the new concepts showed that the pursuit of bold ideas remains as vital as ever.