Mercedes-Benz Shows Off Viano Vision Diamond Van Concept [Beijing Auto Show]

Introducing the Mercedes-Benz Viano Vision Diamond concept, the fanciest van you're likely to see this year, which debuted at the Beijing auto show. The luxurious van follows the yacht-themed Viano Vision Pearl concept that debuted in Frankfurt last year. Instead of the Pearl's maritime ambience, the Vision Diamond gets a subtle nod to the number 8 in the form of eight diamonds scattered about the interior. Why eight? The number is considered lucky in Chinese culture. This concept gets a slick two-tone paint job—black over diamond white—with gold accents, and the color scheme also carries over to the AMG-like five-spoke wheels; they even painted "Mercedes-Benz" on the brake calipers in the same gold color used on the body. Finally, there's a diamond painted on both B-pillars. Night Vision Comparison Test: 2012 Mercedes-Benz CL550 vs. BMW 750i, Audi A8L Seat-Massager Comparison Test: 2012 Mercedes-Benz CL550 vs. Jaguar XJL Supersport, Audi A8L Comparison Test: 2012 Mercedes-Benz C250 Sport vs. Audi A4 2.0T, Infiniti G25, BMW 328i, Volvo S60 T6 AWD Naturally, the Vision Diamond's interior is where you'll find the luxury action. The van is set up like a limousine, with rear accommodations for passengers separate from the cockpit. Rear occupants can separate themselves from the driver with a divider that uses Benz's Magic Sky Control electrochromatic glass, which changes from tinted to clear at the push of a button. Passengers can further distance themselves from their chauffeur by motoring up a 40-inch monitor in front of the partition. Interestingly, all of the rear windows get the two-mode glass, which assuredly isn't cheap. (The option costs $2500 on the SLK roadster's roof, for example.) Porcelain-white Nappa leather covers nearly everything in the passenger area, with much of it done in a diamond-quilted pattern, and Mercedes threw in champagne flutes and champagne-flute holders for added opulence. For those who want to amp up that atmosphere further, there is chilled storage for no fewer than five champagne bottles in addition to a bumpin' Bang & Olufsen sound system. The audio gear and the 40-inch monitor can be controlled by an iPhone or iPad, and passengers can watch movies or video conference using the screen as well. We'll take two. from Car and Driver Blog http://blog.caranddriver.com

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