Since 1990, Southern California has been home to the Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design Center, where 20 designers (give or take a few depending on the project) have been planning, sketching and dreaming up the future. Surrounded by gorgeous weather, ethnic diversity and arguably the best concentration of car culture aficionados in the entire United States (additionally, California is Benz’s largest U.S. market), Southern California provides the perfect location for this studio. Focusing on concept vehicles, the minds here have birthed beautiful and sometimes otherworldly designs, such as the Ener-G-Force, Silver Lightning, F125, S-Coupe , and most recently, the Vision GT6.
Other Great Mercedes-Benz Rides: 2014 E63 AMG Wagon | 2014 S63 AMG Coupe | 2016 AMG GT S
We visited the studio to learn more about this hyper-focused and inspired group of people: what sets them apart from the Como and Tokyo locations, and how their designs on the all-new GLA went from concept to concrete. We also got our hands on live clay models and view sketches and renderings that we’re not allowed to share or talk about — you’ll have to take our word: there are great things coming soon.