The super sports sedan shown on the cover doesn’t actually exist: it’s a digital render inspired by the legendary Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.8 AMG, the famous “Rote Sau” that, with its second-place finish at the 1971 24 Hours of Spa, cemented AMG in motorsport. This reinterpretation in a futuristic restomod style is the work of Gorden Wagener, who recently stepped down from leading Mercedes design.
The concept appears for the first time in the book Iconic Design: Das Design-Manifest der Marke and draws on styling cues typical of Wagener’s latest creations, such as the large retro-flavored grille already seen on the Mercedes Vision Iconic. Original details also stand out, like the illuminated rings that echo the auxiliary lights of the racing Rote Sau and the four illuminated stars up front, inspired by the recent Mercedes-Benz S-Class.
