- Airbus and Mercedes reveal redesigned ACH145 special edition.
- White leather cabin is inspired by EQS and Maybach show cars.
- Based on the five-blade ACH145, chassis, it costs more than $10m.
With prices ranging from $180,000 for poshed-up GLS or EQS SUV to almost $250,000 for an S 680 limo, any new Mercedes-Maybach model looks unobtainable to the average American. But there’s another Mercedes-branded vehicle that’s so expensive it makes all of those models look about as luxurious as a bus pass.
Technically, it’s not a Mercedes at all, but an ACH145 chopper from Airbus Corporate Helicopters, the business whirlybird division of the French airplane company. But the two brands have teamed up again to create the ACH145 Mercedes-Benz Edition so that CEOs can jump from their Mercedes condo to a four-wheeled Mercedes to a five-blade one.
Step inside and the cabin channels the vibe of an EQS or a Maybach concept car. There’s a wraparound layout, sculpted seats with coordinated stitching and proper materials like leather, wood flooring, and metallic accents. It’s less utility helicopter, more airborne executive lounge.
Related: Mercedes Can’t Sell Cars, So It’s Selling Thousands Of Condos In Dubai
Buyers can choose from six interior themes with names like venture capitalist soundalike names such as Atlas, Meteor, Phoenix, Zenith, Polaris, and Solaris. Or go fully bespoke if their yacht already has a color scheme that needs matching. Seating layouts range from four to eight passengers, with clever storage tucked between seats and cabinets integrated front and rear.
AMG Speed
Underneath the designer trim is Airbus’s latest five-bladed H145, a twin-engined helicopter with a cruising speed of 137 knots (158 mph / 254 kmh) and a 4-hour range. Compared with earlier models, that latest design promises reduced noise and an extra 150 kg (331 lbs) of useful payload.
The helicopter made its debut in São Paulo, which happens to be one of the helicopter capitals of the world, but this isn’t the first time these two have collaborated. The partnership dates back to 2010 and has already delivered 26 examples of the previous Mercedes-styled ACH145.
Only for the hyper-rich
Like the car-helicopter crossover idea but not a Mercedes fan? ACH has other tie-ups with brands ranging from Aston Martin to designer Harrison Eidsgaard, best known for his work on super-yachts. And you’re going to need to be super-yacht-wealthy to afford an ACH145 Mercedes Benz Edition. The company hasn’t revealed exact prices but based on what we know of previous models, you’re looking at spending well over $10 million.
