There’s nothing worse than facing a harsh winter without a good, warm coat. That seems to ring true for automobiles, as Mercedes-Benz and Moncler have teamed up to cloak a special, one-off version of the G-Class in its very own puffer jacket.
Unveiled at London Fashion Week, the iconic off-roader—titled Project Mondo G—took over a year of collaboration to create, with both brands ensuring their respective design languages were best showcased.
Naturally, the G-Wagen is more of a work of art than a vehicle, featuring a removable top and wheels made exclusively from Moncler’s trademark quilted fabric. According to Robb Report, this three-door version of the car isn’t sold at dealerships, making it all the more unique.
Although the vehicle’s body stands 18 inches shorter than the standard model, the oversized winter clothes bulk it up significantly, with the final piece measuring over nine feet tall and 11 inches wide—probably too large to maneuver on an actual road.
Upon closer inspection, one would notice the subtle details the companies have added to the piece, including a rough patina that gives off a visible trace of use as a nod to the car’s functionality and practicality in contrast to the high-gloss reflective surfaces.
Another eye-catching element is the project’s huge zipper, a deliberate motif as a reference to the versatility and variability of both products—the puffer jacket and the G-Wagen—in daily life.
“This art piece merges extremely contrasting forms and surfaces: spacecraft shiny materials with a used patina look; strong geometry of the G-Class with organic forms of the Moncler puffer jackets,” explained Gorden Wagener, Chief Design Officer at Mercedes-Benz Group AG.
“Two strong luxury brands offer an extraordinary new experience by combining [the] automotive and fashion world united in one piece. Because of over-dimensional and exaggerated language of forms, it’s polarizing art to set new impulses and trends,” Wagener added.