1940 Road Trip in a Volkswagen Beetle

 A pretty lady, a creepy guy, wonder film background music and excellent filming. It depicts a romantic Germany soon to be turned upside down by World War II realities.  Goethe's world confronted with the harsh mass politics and machine age technologies that seem compatible in this presentation, but perhaps cannot coexist?

The Maybach and the Film "The Devil Wears Prada 2" release on May 1. Significance -- true power does not announce itself loudly – it is felt in the details.

 

• The Mercedes‑Maybach S‑Class takes center stage as the vehicle for main character Miranda Priestly, reinforcing its status as a symbol of authority and luxury
• The global campaign celebrates “The Art of Arrival” with a custom spot rooted in the philosophy of the Maybach brand: True power lies in the details, refined presence, and sanctuary of the rear seat
• This collaboration with 20^th Century Studios’ “The Devil Wears Prada 2”, which hits theaters May 1, marks the 20^th anniversary of the Mercedes-Benz featured in the original film

The Maybach brand announced a landmark collaboration today with 20^th Century Studios’ “The Devil Wears Prada 2” – a remarkable full-circle moment. Two decades ago, the Mercedes‑Benz S‑Class was prominently featured in the original 2006 film, helping define its aesthetic of power and prestige in the glamorous world of high fashion. Now, with the highly anticipated sequel arriving in theaters May 1, the brand returns to the world of “The Devil Wears Prada” with the Mercedes‑Maybach S‑Class as the hero vehicle. The placement is part of a new, first of its kind campaign from the brand, celebrating two icons of style.

The Mercedes‑Benz collaboration with “The Devil Wears Prada 2” is a fully integrated 360° co-promotional campaign launching globally on March 27, 2026. Campaign assets include a custom spot featuring film footage and premium key visuals for print and digital advertising. A one-of-a-kind “Devil Wears Prada 2”-themed MANUFAKTUR Mercedes‑Maybach S‑Class will be produced for premiere activations and marketing events, as an elevated tribute to craftsmanship.

About the “The Art of Arrival” co-promotion campaign

“The Art of Arrival” tagline encapsulates a philosophy that resonates deeply with both the brand and the world of “The Devil Wears Prada 2.” It speaks to the idea that true power does not announce itself loudly – it is felt in the details. Hand-stitched interiors. Effortless performance. A presence that commands without asking permission.

The moment the Mercedes‑Maybach’s doors close with a hushed finality signals something far beyond transportation: a high expectation. Within the car's intimate sanctuary, private conversations unfold, control is restored and genuine calm prevails amidst the chaos of daily life. In this embodiment of “The Art of Arrival,” Maybach distils its philosophy into a single truth: true luxury is experienced in the sanctity of a moment before the world demands your presence.

“‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ is the perfect stage for our Mercedes‑Maybach S‑Class. After 20 years, we celebrate the film’s return with an equally stylish and prominent placement of the vehicle. With its sophisticated design and uncompromising excellence, the Maybach brand mirrors the self‑confident elegance embodied by the film’s main characters. Beautiful cars are timeless – and they never go out of style.” 
Christina Schenck, Vice President, Digital & Communications and Investor Relations, Mercedes-Benz AG

“In ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2,’ the art of the arrival is critical. We are thrilled to collaborate with Maybach, a brand where uncompromising craftsmanship meets timeless luxury.” 
Lylle Breier, EVP Partnerships, Promotions, Synergy & Events at Disney

The campaign showcases the new 2026 Mercedes‑Maybach S‑Class, which represents the next generation of refined innovation and elevated craftsmanship, and which celebrated its recent world premiere. Further details about the new Mercedes-Maybach S-Class can be found here.

Defining the power of arrival: The Mercedes‑Maybach S‑Class

The Mercedes‑Maybach S‑Class is a natural choice to accompany one of cinema’s most formidable cultural figures: editor-in-chief of Runway Magazine, Miranda Priestly. Chauffeuring Miranda Priestly, it embodies the refined power, timeless elegance, and uncompromising excellence that define the world of high fashion and luxury. Through journeys across Manhattan streets and intimate moments within the car's serene MANUFAKTUR interior, meticulously tailored and crafted within Mercedes‑Benz’s in‑house MANUFAKTUR atelier, the Mercedes‑Maybach S‑Class reinforces a central message: true luxury transcends fads and remains rooted in craftsmanship, intelligence, and timeless design. 

Complementing this flagship placement, the Mercedes-Benz lineup – including the Mercedes‑Benz S‑Class, Mercedes‑Benz GLE, all-electric G‑Class, the versatile V‑Class and the Sprinter – demonstrates the commitment of Mercedes‑Benz to building the most desirable cars in every segment. The authentic vehicle integration of Mercedes‑Maybach and Mercedes‑Benz ensures significant brand visibility and prestige association within a highly aspirational, luxury-focused demographic across key global markets.

Mercedes-Benz G 580 with EQ Technology | consumption combined: 30.3‒27.7 kWh/100 km | CO₂-emissions combined: 0 g/km | CO₂-class: A[1]

Campaign details at a glance

In collaboration with 20^th Century Studios’ “The Devil Wears Prada,” Mercedes‑Benz has developed an integrated 360° campaign launching globally on March 27, 2026. Campaign assets will roll out until the end of June 2026, with its peak of communication taking place around the film's release in May 2026:

• 30-second co-promotional film spot plus cutdowns for theatrical, TV, streaming and digital platforms
• Premium key visual for print and digital advertising
• A film-themed MANUFAKTUR Mercedes‑Maybach S‑Classone-offfor premiere activations and key market events featuring an individually tailored MANUFAKTUR Made to Measure interior as an elevated tribute to craftsmanship
• Behind-the-scenes footage and film stills
• Social media content, influencer partnerships and event activations in participating markets
• Regional campaign variations tailored to local market priorities and release timelines

 About “The Devil Wears Prada 2”

Twenty years after making their iconic turns as Miranda, Andy, Emily and Nigel – Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci return to the fashionable streets of New York City and the sleek offices of Runway Magazine in the eagerly awaited sequel to the 2006 phenomenon that defined a generation. The film reunites the original main cast with director David Frankel and writer Aline Brosh McKenna, and introduces an all-new runway of characters including Justin Theroux, Lucy Liu, Kenneth Branagh, B.J. Novak, Simone Ashley, Patrick Brammall, Caleb Hearon, Helen J. Shen, and Pauline Chalamet. Tracie Thoms and Tibor Feldman also reprise their roles as “Lily” and “Irv” from the first film. 20th Century Studios’ “The Devil Wears Prada 2” is produced by Wendy Finerman, and executive produced by Karen Rosenfelt, Michael Bederman and Aline Brosh McKenna. The film debuts exclusively in theaters May 1, 2026. A film still* can be found here.  

*Mercedes-Benz does not host this asset. Please note that the usage is subject to the terms and conditions of the rights holder.

Mercedes-Benz anniversary year “140 years of innovation”

Since Carl Benz filed the patent for the first automobile 140 years ago and Gottlieb Daimler built his motorised carriage shortly afterwards, Mercedes‑Benz has dedicated itself to constantly innovate and to create the world’s most desirable cars for customers. This ambition has driven every innovation – from the world's first automobile in 1886 to today's intelligent and safe electric vehicles, like the all-new GLC and the award-winning all-new CLA. With the new S-Class, the company continues the biggest product launch programme in its history. With its passion for performance and pioneering power, excellence and an unwavering commitment to customer service, the brand has consistently shaped the future of mobility. The result goes well beyond engineering achievement – it creates the unmistakable feeling that leads through everything Mercedes‑Benz does: Welcome home.

Mercedes-Benz is celebrating 140 years of innovation by driving three new S-Class saloons on a trans-continental journey to 140 locations worldwide. Each place highlights the brand’s technology, heritage, pioneering spirit and worldwide presence. Along the way customers, fans and colleagues will get to join in the celebrations - on an epic adventure that will run until October. Follow the “140 Years. 140 Places” drive across six continents on our “140 years of innovation | Mercedes-Benz Media” special and via the Mercedes-Benz Community.

^[1] The specified values were determined in accordance with the WLTP (Worldwide harmonised Light vehicles Test Procedure) measurement method. The ranges given refer to ECE markets. The energy consumption and CO₂ emissions of a car depend not only on the efficient utilisation of the fuel or energy source by the car, but also on the driving style and other non-technical factors.

Japanese F1 GP Preview -- Mercedes-Benz

 

Toto Talks Japan

We have made a positive start to the season but it is only that. In both Australia and China, we had several close calls that could have ended our weekend. These cars are new and fragile; we were fortunate that none of the issues we faced severely compromised our results. We have work to do to make sure that continues to be the case. The grid is also learning so much every time we take to the track. Each weekend brings a new set of challenges and we are focused on completing our work, and looking to improve. We know that the moment you think you've got this sport figured out, you are usually proven wrong. 

That is as true for Kimi as it is for the team. His win in China was a great achievement and a moment to be proud of. However, his focus and ours are on what is ahead. His first victory is a first step and all that matters is how he builds on it. We will support him to navigate the expectations that come with performing at the front more consistently.

We're also hopeful that the exciting racing we saw in Melbourne and Shanghai will continue in Japan. Suzuka is one of the world's great race tracks but it has, in recent years, been a difficult place to overtake. Hopefully under these new regulations we can put on a good show for the fans.

Finally, we will be sporting an edgy look for this weekend's race. As a team, we continue to lead the way in blending our sport and wider culture and that is reflected in our work with Y-3's legendary Japanese designer, Yohji Yamamoto. It is fitting that his collection will be seen on the team trackside, plus his designs on the drivers' overalls and helmets, and on the W17 itself. It is a significant honour to partner on such a collaboration with Y-3, becoming only the third sports team after the Japanese national football team and Real Madrid to do so, and I'm sure it will prove to be an iconic one.

Third Driver Insights

The Japanese Grand Prix is truly one of a kind. Suzuka is a legendary circuit, steeped in decades of Formula 1 heritage, and it reminds me exactly why I became a racing driver.

The rhythm of the track is incredible. The fast, flowing corners push you physically and mentally, demanding precision, commitment, and total trust in the car. It’s a real driver’s challenge, the kind that brings out the pure joy of driving. It can be tricky to overtake at Suzuka but we've seen some fantastic racing so far this year; it's not an energy poor circuit but there will be some interesting decisions to take with deployment and that could lead once again to some great battles.

Last but by no means least, there are the fans. The Japanese supporters are some of the most passionate and creative in the world; their love for Formula 1 is almost beyond compare. Their energy makes the entire weekend feel special.

Did you know?

• Suzuka holds the distinction of being the only circuit we race at that is laid out in a figure-of-eight configuration.
• 2026 will be the 40th edition of the Japanese Grand Prix.
• No Grand Prix or track has seen more F1 world champions crowned than Japan (13) and Suzuka (12). The 1976 season was settled at Fuji.
• The 1994 Japanese Grand Prix remains the last occasion a race was decided using aggregate times after the race was split into two parts due to a red flag.
• All six of Mercedes’ wins in Japan came in consecutive seasons between 2014 and 2019.
• Mercedes clinched a record-equalling sixth consecutive Constructors’ title at Suzuka in 2019.
• In 2025, Kimi became the youngest driver to set a Grand Prix fastest lap in history by setting the quickest race tour in Suzuka.
• In the same race, Kimi also became the youngest in Grand Prix history to lead a lap, holding P1 for 10 of the 53 tours.

2026 Japanese Grand Prix
Session	Local Time (JST)	Brackley (GMT)	Stuttgart (CET)
Practice One – Friday	11:30 – 12:30	02:30 – 03:30	03:30 – 04:30
Practice Two - Friday	15:00 – 16:00	06:00 – 07:00	07:00 – 08:00
Practice Three – Saturday	11:30 – 12:30	02:30 – 03:30	03:30 – 04:30
Qualifying – Saturday	15:00 – 16:00	06:00 – 07:00	07:00 – 08:00
Grand Prix - Sunday	14:00	06:00	07:00

 

Circuit Characteristics
Circuit Length	5.807 km
Race Laps	53
Race Distance	307.5 km
Number of Corners	18 (8 L / 10 R)
Distance from Pole to First Braking Zone	330m
Pole Position Side	Left
Pit Lane Length Under Speed Limit Control	396m
Drive-Through Time at 80 km/h	18s
Braking Events (>2G)	4
Heavy Braking Events (<0.4s @ >4G)	1
Braking Energy	Medium
Top Speed	326 km/h (expected)
Race Lap Record	1:31.0 (ANT, 2025)
Absolute Lap Record	1:27.0 (VER, Q3, 2025)

 

Race Characteristics (2018 – 2019 & 2022 - 2025)
Safety Car Probability	40%	Average Track Temperature	27.8 °C
Average Ambient Temperature	14.8 °C	Maximum Track Temperature	40 °C
Maximum Ambient Temperature	19.2 °C	Wet Session Probability	7%

The Distinctive Chrysler Crossfire

 2008 Chrysler Crossfire

The Chrysler Crossfire arrived in the early 2000s as a car built from an unusual set of circumstances: a design statement wrapped around a partnership. Produced from 2004 to 2008, the Crossfire was essentially a Chrysler-bodied sports coupe and roadster riding on Mercedes-Benz hardware from the prior-generation SLK (R170). That origin story shaped everything about it—its strengths, its compromises, and the way it has been judged since. The Crossfire wasn’t a clean-sheet American sports car, nor was it a pure German roadster. It was a hybrid of corporate strategy and styling ambition, and its legacy is inseparable from that mix.

Visually, the Crossfire was the point. Chrysler leaned hard into sculpture and proportion: a long hood, a short rear deck, and a cabin pushed back toward the rear axle. The most debated feature was the fastback’s “boat-tail” rear end, defined by a central spine that ran down the hatch and split the rear glass. Some saw it as elegant and daring; others saw it as overwrought. Either way, it gave the Crossfire a silhouette you could identify instantly, which is more than can be said for many coupes of its era. The design also communicated a kind of premium aspiration—Chrysler trying to play in a space usually occupied by European brands—without simply copying their visual language.

Underneath, the Mercedes connection gave the Crossfire a credible foundation. Using proven components meant the car had a solid chassis, familiar powertrain options, and a level of structural integrity that would have been expensive to develop from scratch. The standard car used a 3.2-liter V6, and the SRT-6 variant added a supercharged version of that engine, turning the Crossfire into something genuinely quick for its time. The Mercedes-derived five-speed automatic was common, and while it wasn’t the enthusiast’s dream pairing, it fit the Crossfire’s personality as a sporty grand tourer rather than a razor-edged track tool. The car’s dynamics reflected that: stable and planted, with a sense of heft and refinement, but not as playful or communicative as the best purpose-built sports cars.

That tension—between image and intent—defines the Crossfire’s critical reception. Chrysler marketed it with the aura of a sports car, but it often drove like a stylish, compact GT. The cabin, too, revealed its dual identity. Some of the switchgear and ergonomics felt Mercedes-like in a good way—sturdy, familiar, functional—while other elements reminded buyers they were in a Chrysler wearing a premium suit. Practicality was limited, especially in the coupe, where the dramatic roofline and hatch design constrained cargo access and visibility. These weren’t deal-breakers for a niche car, but they made the Crossfire harder to justify against competitors that offered either more performance purity or more everyday usability.

The Crossfire also carried the burden of timing. It launched during a period when Chrysler was navigating shifting corporate ownership and product direction, and it competed in a market that was increasingly crowded with credible sporty coupes and roadsters. Enthusiasts could choose cars with clearer identities: Japanese sports coupes with sharp handling, American pony cars with big power, or European roadsters with brand cachet. The Crossfire’s identity—part Mercedes, part Chrysler, heavily style-driven—was distinctive, but distinctiveness doesn’t always translate into sustained demand.

And yet, that same distinctiveness is why the Crossfire has aged in an interesting way. In a modern landscape where many cars converge toward similar aerodynamic shapes and shared platforms, the Crossfire’s commitment to a bold form feels rarer. It represents a moment when a mainstream American brand tried to build a design-led halo car and had access to a high-quality parts bin to make it feasible. The SRT-6, in particular, has become the version that best aligns the car’s dramatic looks with its performance promise, giving the Crossfire a sharper point in automotive memory.

Ultimately, the Chrysler Crossfire is best understood not as a failed sports car or a rebadged Mercedes, but as a product of a specific era of experimentation—when partnerships could produce genuinely odd, compelling machines. Its styling remains polarizing, its driving character sits between categories, and its interior reminds you of its corporate genealogy. But those very qualities make it a fascinating artifact: a car that tried to turn collaboration into charisma, and in doing so created something that still looks like almost nothing else on the road.

The Unusual Plymouth Prowler

 The Plymouth Prowler was Chrysler’s late-1990s proof that a major automaker could still build something unapologetically weird—and get it into showrooms. Introduced for 1997, the Prowler looked like a 1930s hot rod filtered through a concept-car studio: exposed front wheels, a long pointed nose, a tightly pinched cabin, and a tapering tail that made it seem in motion even when parked. In an era dominated by rounded sedans and practical minivans, it was a rolling act of defiance, designed less to blend in than to start conversations at gas stations.

What made the Prowler especially interesting was that it wasn’t just a styling exercise. Chrysler used it as a technology demonstrator for lightweight construction, leaning heavily on aluminum for the frame and many body components. That focus on mass reduction fit the hot-rod spirit—light, quick, and visually minimal—even if the car’s mechanical package was more modern cruiser than tire-smoking brute. Power came from Chrysler’s 3.5-liter V6 paired with an automatic transmission, a choice that disappointed purists who wanted a V8 and a manual. Yet the decision also revealed what the Prowler really was: not a kit-car fantasy, but a factory-built specialty vehicle meant to be reliable, drivable, and compliant with modern safety and emissions rules.

The Prowler’s cultural impact outweighed its sales numbers. It arrived at a moment when “retro” design was becoming a mainstream strategy, and it helped set the stage for more nostalgia-inflected products—most famously Chrysler’s own PT Cruiser. But unlike many retro-themed cars that borrow a few cues and wrap them around conventional proportions, the Prowler committed to the hot-rod silhouette so completely that it remains instantly recognizable decades later. Its compromises—limited practicality, polarizing looks, and the mismatch between dramatic styling and relatively modest power—are part of why it’s remembered so clearly. The Prowler is best understood as a factory hot rod in the most literal sense: a bold shape, a technical experiment, and a reminder that sometimes the point of a car is not to be sensible, but to be memorable.

The Mercedes-Maybach VLS -- Back Seat Comfort in An Age of Inordinate Income Inequality

 

• Mercedes‑Benz expands the top-end portfolio by announcing the all-new Mercedes‑Maybach VLS, elevating Grand Limousines into the realm of sophisticated luxury
• The Mercedes‑Maybach VLS underscores the brand’s pursuit of perfection with timeless elegance, a first-class interior, a new level of digital sophistication and an exceptional rear-seat experience.

Last year, the Vision V show car provided an early glimpse of how Mercedes‑Benz plans to expand its top-end portfolio: with a Grand Limousine defined by prestige and exceptional elegance. This vision now becomes reality – with the all-new Mercedes‑Maybach VLS. It is an unparalleled Grand Limousine for customers with the highest expectations, bringing together generous space, uncompromising elegance and an uncompromising commitment to the rear passenger – for a one-of-a-kind “Welcome home.” feeling.

The all-new Mercedes‑Maybach VLS delivers an exceptional sense of space with unrivalled exclusivity, welcoming passengers into a completely new world of comfort and digital sophistication. This extravagant Grand Limousine transforms the generous space into an extraordinary private lounge with everything that characterizes a Mercedes‑Maybach: impeccable craftsmanship, luxurious materials and exquisite design details. It’s a true Maybach, now combined with the ultimate spatial and immersive digital experience, elevating automotive excellence even further.

What more can one say of a car for the rich made available at a time when the global economy may well tank due to the war with Iran! But the wealthy will remain wealthy, as happened in 1929 when clever traders read the markets, made adjustments, and came out of the crash better than before.