Calling all ballers: Mercedes wants to pimp your private jet!
The market for private jets just got a little more gorgeous for the well-heeled: Mercedes has developed its own unique look for the mahogany-wrapped world of private air travel. Developed by in-house design team Mercedes-Benz Design in partnership with Lufthansa, the jet features a plush interior that wouldn't be out of place in the latest boutique hotel. And yes, there's an aquarium.
In announcing the design initiative, Gorden Wagener, VP of design, pointed to the "sensual surfaces" as a key distinction for this new aviation design:
It was an inspiring challenge to transfer our design philosophy of sensual purity into the area of aeronautical engineering.
The interior features a smooth leather look that truly makes us want to move in and never leave. The bendy curves are sleekly reminiscent of the jet's exterior, making it hard to find an angular surface on-board. The cabin is also lit like a smoky cigar den — moody and mysterious.
Similar to the shades on Boeing's Dreamliner, the Mercedes version will have dimmable windows that go from pitch black to crystal clear. The shades, which are based on Mercedes' Magic Sky Control retractable glass sunroofs, double as entertainment panels. Dubbed "black panels," the touch screens would offer access to functions like movies or business functions.
There is a very real possibility that the airline and car maker will actually get together to make this design a reality. It would be a different world for both — and could potentially make waves. Regardless of what happens, Mercedes should contribute some design engineering up front in the cockpit, where much of the safety concerns in private aviation lie. Then everyone can relax in the most elegant cabin in the sky — except for perhaps the aquarium's fish, who suddenly find themselves soaring high above sea level.