New Mercedes-Benz Coupe Concept Designed for a Virtual World

Mercedes-Benz unveiled a concept this week to celebrate its partnership with "League of Legends" and video game publisher Riot Games.

The concept is strictly for the virtual world, and as a result the design team, led by Mercedes design chief Gorden Wagner, was able to create elements that would be impossible in the real world.

"Because it is a virtual space, there are no limits to what we can do. That means we can push the boundaries and give our creativity the space to create the unexpected," Wagner said in a statement.

The concept is a dramatic coupe that looks as if it were made of glass, with wheels presumably protected by a protective shield. The hidden wheel design may or may not be an homage to Audi's 2004 RSQ concept.

While the Audi RSQ was featured in the 2004 sci-fi film "Eye, Robot," the Mercedes concept appears in a music video tied to the 2022 "League of Legends" world championships, which will be held in North America from October 29 to November 5

Since 2020, Mercedes has been the exclusive automotive partner of Riot Games, and in 2021 Wagner and his team designed the championship ring for the "League of Legends" championship. The ring features a small Mercedes star and a man-made diamond made from atmospheric carbon dioxide.

"Winning the hearts and minds of gaming fans is an exciting challenge," Britta Zeger, Mercedes' head of sales and marketing, said in a statement. With Riot Games, we are in prime position to inspire our community and successfully shape the future of esports."