Latest news with #Mercedes-BenzPlaces
Newsweek
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Newsweek
AI Will Connect Mercedes-Benz Places Residents to the World
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Sixty-seven stories above sea level, Mercedes-Benz Places sits as one of the many high rises on the Miami skyline bearing an automaker's name. Aston Martin Residences, Porsche Design Tower and Bentley Residences are all nearby, as are the Armani/Casa and Fendi Chateau. To stand out, Mercedes-Benz Places is relying heavily on its brand affiliation. Design and technology features throughout the space are meant to welcome homeowners, shoppers, diners and visitors into a fully immersive Mercedes-Benz ecosystem. The exterior of the condominium structure features horizontal brightwork reminiscent of the center console vents in the new-generation Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class sedan and the rounded edges of the building play on the car's armrest design. The evolving juxtaposition of the two-tower structure gives the eye something unique to look at in a sea of light-colored towers as it moves toward the sky. While driving an artificial intelligence-enhanced Mercedes-Benz, such as the new CLA, Places residents will be able to seamlessly move throughout their day. Transitioning from morning to night with work or play in between, with AI assistance. "Mercedes-Benz Places in Miami is designed as a highly integrated living experience," Michael Stern, CEO of JDS Development Group, told Newsweek. "As truly a mixed-use project, Mercedes-Benz Places includes residences, a hotel, office, wellness and food and beverage outlets. Forward-thinking technology, mobility and sustainability features, and community programming support this future-oriented, integrated lifestyle, including the large-scale, reimagined park at the ground floor, to the many spaces for gathering, entertaining and socializing." Among the features of the 2.5 million-square-foot build are over 1,000 parking spaces, over 800 condominium residences, a 175-key hotel, 130,000 total square feet of amenity and hospitality space and 200,000 square feet of office space. There is also a public park that surrounds the Brickell neighborhood space. It will be filled with a basketball court, a dog run, green space, a kid-friendly section and a restaurant that will be built into the historic building that once housed Miami's first high school. Each condo buyer can customize their space from a selected materials and color palette developed in partnership with the Mercedes-Benz team, led by Mercedes-Benz's Chief Design Officer Gorden Wagener. Prospective buyers can see the options at the site's experience center. In its Finish Room, the sales team shares floor plans and views with clients, helping them understand what their unit could look like. Like when ordering a car, customers are presented with a curated menu of options they can choose from. Unlike what is available from Mercedes' Manufaktur arm, high levels of materials and design customization aren't able to be accommodated. Instead, as with a car, the highest level of customization and personalization comes from AI. "AI and connected technology have been part of the design process (a collaboration with Mercedes-Benz, SHoP Architects, and Woods Bagot), and will be experienced in many ways throughout the property, including through an in-home 'dashboard' in your private kitchen," Stern said. One potential AI-linked opportunity is a valet summon capability. Imagine a blend of technology that knows your schedule, traffic, navigation and climate control preferences that would be able to ask the condo complex's valet to pull up your car so you can be sure to leave on time, in comfort. Or, utilizing self-driving features, your Mercedes car could drive itself out of the deck and into the porte-cochère so it is ready and waiting for you when you arrive on the ground floor. "Seamless communication will be available at every turn. Not just a 'SmartHome', this is a SmartBuilding, and SmartLifestyle, where your car can talk to your home," Stern said. Additional high-tech amenities at Mercedes-Benz Places include an F1 simulator, recording studio and custom app. The first residences in the building are expected to be inhabited in 2027.
Yahoo
23-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Mercedes-Benz's design chief says vehicles are becoming 'smart homes' on wheels
Gorden Wagener is obsessed with speed. The veteran auto designer was standing next to a rendering of the upcoming Mercedes-Benz Places towers in downtown Miami, carefully retracing the lines of the balconies that swirled around the altitudinous structure. "You can see the speed ... it's like an automobile fender," Wagener, the chief design officer for Mercedes-Benz, said. "The flow of the lines go around the building ... accelerates it. Geometry is timeless." As the German automaker expands its product portfolio to luxury real estate, Wagener's resume grows too: From cars and SUVs to go-fast boats, the prodigious designer is now in charge of imbuing the brand's design "language" into living spaces for hundreds of residents. It's a natural evolution of the brand, Wagener said, adding that Mercedes is building an "ecosystem" for customers. MORE: Meet your new virtual assistant: The AI in your car Its not alone: competitors Porsche, Bentley and Aston Martin have also partnered with developers to build branded residential complexes in the Miami area, a gamble automakers are willing to take to attract new customers. Wagener recently spoke to ABC News about the Miami project, how vehicles are becoming "smart homes" and why his successor may be a robot. The interview below has been edited for clarity. Q: You're overseeing the design for the company's next big undertaking -- Mercedes-Benz Places, with locations in Dubai and Miami. Talk about the automotive nods in the design for the Miami location, which the company unveiled last month. A: Dubai was very automotive, very full of speed. The Miami building has speed too but in a different way. You see the speed in the balconies, going around and around, it's kind of endless. The movement doesn't stop. The building is also silver, so it's very Mercedes. The balconies are like an automobile fender. Mercedes-Benz Places is elevating our brand, our design. How can we infuse our style into the building? We're aiming for an ecosystem -- the car and the home. Q: Would this concept work in Europe? Would there be the same amount of interest in a Mercedes-Benz-branded building in Germany? A: It's easier to do this in the U.S. or Middle East or Asia. Stuff like that in Europe is very difficult. You have regulations, you need investors. It would be very hard to do this in Europe. Q: I have to ask you a question about autonomous driving. The company is encouraging owners to interact more with their vehicles using voice assistants. Will we ever see a Mercedes without a gear shifter or a steering wheel? A: Probably at one point but I don't see it in the near future. We will always have a steering wheel ... at least in the foreseeable future. With increasing autonomy, the car becomes more of a living space. The car of the future is not a smartphone on wheels, it's going to be a "smart home" on wheels. Autonomous driving is so expensive and so hard to make it a business, it's such an effort from the technological side. And it's still like science fiction. Q: Customization has become a booming business for automakers. Is there anything Mercedes-Benz won't do for a customer? Any outrageous requests in terms of personalization? A: Manufaktur [the company's new personalization program] is a great opportunity. As you said, customization is crucial to luxury and many customers simply want a unique piece. It's a growing business and that's why we invested in Manufaktur. I haven't seen any tasteless stuff [laughs]. We always try to keep an eye on it so it's tasteful. Q: Are customers trying to meet with you to go over designs? A: I have no time for this [laughs]. Q: I want to ask you about those giant curved screens in models like the EQS. They're becoming a defining stylistic choice for the brand. How have customers responded to that? A: We don't have the hyperscreen in all the cars right now, just in a few. From the hardware side it's very good. From the software side it hasn't been that good. Because when you have a big screen, you want to have great content on it. So we're working on content that is more specific and more entertaining. Screens are not luxury. You have a better -- and bigger -- TV at home, right? And every car has a big screen. So we have to create luxury beyond the screen. That's why I talk about craftsmanship and sophistication. There's so much emphasis on making [Mercedes] vehicles better. Q: Some people have been critical of the brand's electric vehicles, referring to the style as bulbous and jelly bean-like. What's your response to that? And will future Mercedes-Benz EVs resemble the brand's internal combustion vehicles, such as the electric G580? A: The EQS sedan design is purposeful and very progressive -- probably like 10 years into the future. It was not designed to be an S-Class or a chauffer car. We have an S-Class and we wanted to do something different. So it's a completely different type of car actually. I think the shape is super progressive and very aerodynamic, which is important for an EV but also we took that aero look and made it futuristic. Does a normal Mercedes S-Class customer like it? Probably not. That person wants something more conventional. We wanted to target other customers [with the EQS]. One problem with EVs is customer perception. The customer sees it like an electronic device. Combustion cars are still being perceived like a Chrono watch -- much more long-lasting. Q: How important is AI for your designers? A: We work with AI now. You get 99% of crap with AI and sheer quantity. That's the biggest problem -- sorting out the good stuff from the bad. But you get 1% good stuff and we keep learning. It's getting better every day. AI will drastically change the way we design. I think in 10 years maybe most of design will be done by AI and it will make designers obsolete. My successor will be a machine and will be much cheaper than my salary [laughs]. Q: You've designed sedans, SUVs, sports cars, cigar boats, accessories and now buildings. What's your next challenge? A: Good question. I have no idea. I've designed pretty much everything. Mercedes-Benz's design chief says vehicles are becoming 'smart homes' on wheels originally appeared on
USA Today
18-02-2025
- Automotive
- USA Today
Mercedes-Benz opens sales for more ultra-luxurious residences in Miami
Miguel Cortina MotorTrend Automakers are extending their influence beyond the road, curating a lifestyle that seamlessly blends opulence with innovation. Beyond crafting vehicles, luxury automotive brands are forging deeper connections with their customers — now extending into the realm of high-end real estate. Among the pioneers, Mercedes-Benz has made an entrance into this space with Mercedes-Benz Places in Miami, an ultra-luxurious 2.5-million-square-foot development nestled in the prestigious Brickell neighborhood. Following the launch of Tower 1 — where 100 residences were purchased within just four days — the marque is now opening sales for Tower 2, along with an exclusive, residents-only Silver Arrow Lounge rooftop, a sophisticated space high above the city skyline. This marks Mercedes-Benz's first foray into residential living in North America, complementing its ongoing luxury tower development in Dubai. The brand joins an elite circle of automakers that have extended their prestige beyond the road and into the realm of high-end real estate. In Miami — a city synonymous with glamour and exclusivity — Porsche, Bentley and Aston Martin have already established their own residences, each embodying the same meticulous craftsmanship and refinement that define their cars. Read more:The Mercedes-Benz E-Class is the 2025 MotorTrend Car of the Year Mercedes-Benz partnered with the esteemed JDS Development Group to bring its vision of refined living to life with the 67-story tower. Just as with its automobiles, Mercedes-Benz Places in Miami is defined by a commitment to luxury, timeless design and cutting-edge technology. The project's architectural elegance is a collaboration of renowned firms; Field Operations sculpted the lush green spaces, serene gardens and meticulously designed landscapes, while SHoP Architects crafted the bold, cuboid structure that houses the residences, multi-use playgrounds and basketball courts. The interiors, which shine for its sophistication and mid-century modern design, have been penned by Woods Bagot Studio. Perhaps the most sought-after amenity in this development is the exclusive Silver Arrow Lounge, the resident-only rooftop retreat that features a 52-foot swimming pool and sun deck. Inspired by the legendary 'Silver Arrows' racing cars, this private sanctuary exudes the same spirit of performance, elegance and innovation that defines the Mercedes-Benz legacy. And to top it all off, the building has its own Mercedes-Benz F1 simulator, as well as a professional recording studio. Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle. Read more:Mercedes-Benz' solar paint could make plugging in EVs a thing of the past Much like its cars, Mercedes-Benz Places in Miami offers a range of residences designed to suit varying lifestyles. The development comprises approximately 800 condominiums, ranging from chic studios to expansive three-bedroom spaces. Beyond its private residences, the project seamlessly integrates 250,000 square feet of premium office space, indoor and outdoor bars, world-class health and wellness facilities and a lavish 174-room hotel. Naturally, convenience is paramount — ample parking, complete with EV charging stations, as well as dedicated bicycle and scooter storage, ensures effortless mobility. In true luxury fashion, residents will also enjoy the exclusivity of valet parking and a fleet of house cars, elevating everyday living to a level befitting the Mercedes-Benz legacy. With the launch of sales for the second tower, Mercedes-Benz Places has unveiled a sales gallery, offering prospective residents an immersive preview of the project's interior designs. Showcasing the refined aesthetic of the residential suites, the gallery also provides an enticing glimpse of the forthcoming Silver Arrow Lounge. As anticipation builds, Mercedes-Benz estimates that residents will be able to move into their luxury condominiums in 2027, ushering in a new era of sophisticated living infused with the brand's signature excellence. Photos by manufacturer
