Mercedes is currently being sued in the UK in a class-action lawsuit over allegations of manipulating diesel emissions tests — a scandal that dates back to 2015, when Dieselgate first exposed widespread lawbreaking by German automakers. Mercedes is not the only one in the dock; five other major automakers are also refusing to hang their heads in shame.

Here at the DCB, we’ve always said that automotive concepts serve numerous purposes — the main one being to generate publicity. We can’t help but think that the timing of the Mercedes Vision Iconic Concept’s debut is no coincidence. It feels like a well-timed PR move designed to shift attention away from the negative publicity of getting its arse handed to it by a class-action lawsuit.

Mercedes claims that the Vision Iconic offers a glimpse into the future. Well, I say just take a trip to China — the future is already happening there. The concept is said to be inspired by 1930s Art Deco design; however, the overly long bonnet and slippery silhouette look far more reminiscent of the AMG GT.

The interior may draw from Art Deco influences, but I’m fairly certain the Vision Iconic won’t be inspiring enough to make it to production. In fact, I doubt a single design element will find its way into future Mercedes vehicles.

What’s also interesting is that Mercedes hasn’t released any technical details — conceptual or otherwise. We don’t know if the Vision Iconic is powered by an electric drivetrain or a conventional ICE powertrain. Usually, a proud engineering company like Mercedes loves to highlight powertrain options, if only for the sake of corporate showboating.

For me — as someone who follows the auto industry closely and has seen how concept cars are often used as publicity tools (and occasionally for more dubious purposes) — I’m 100% convinced that the timing of this concept’s reveal is meant to distract from the ongoing legal case Mercedes is facing in the UK.

However, distractions are temporary — and so is the news cycle. People generally forget and move on. But the stigma will never fade. It’s a nice concept, and you’ve got to feel sorry for the design team, who were perhaps unknowingly used as pawns in a much larger chess game.