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Mercedes-Benz is bringing innovation from the roads into the gallery. From January 25 to March 22, 2025, Studio Odeonsplatz in Munich will host “PROTOTYPE – An Exhibition of the Mercedes-Benz Art Collection,” a show where art and technology intersect in surprising ways. Curated by Christopher Dake-Outhet, it features six international artists, each exploring the concept of the prototype — that intriguing, exciting space between vision and reality where experiments are born.
A prototype is more than just a draft or a model. It’s a mindset. It’s where ideas come to life for the first time, where creators have the freedom to fail, refine, and push boundaries. Mercedes-Benz has operated in that space for decades with its concept cars — designs that often never reach production but still influence the vehicles we drive years later. At PROTOTYPE, this spirit is brought to life through art, reminding visitors that imagination is just as important as the finished product.
Mercedes-Benz Art Collection at Studio Odeonsplatz | Image: Alex Schmitz
The exhibition isn’t about gazing at static objects on walls. Instead, it’s immersive, featuring works that feel alive: an experimental video game that doubles as art, blockchain-based projects that question digital ownership, and visual installations that respond to something as simple and human as breath. Like concept cars, these works don’t claim to be finished — they’re moments of potential, still evolving.
For Mercedes-Benz, this isn’t just about placing a logo on an art show. The brand’s art collection has long served as a means of fostering dialogue between culture, design, and society. PROTOTYPE continues that tradition by pairing avant-garde artworks with scale models of futuristic vehicles, emphasising that innovation isn’t limited to one realm. Whether in a studio or an engineering lab, progress always comes from experimentation.
Mercedes-Benz Art Collection at Studio Odeonsplatz | Image: Alex Schmitz
Mercedes-Benz Art Collection at Studio Odeonsplatz | Image: Alex Schmitz
Walking through the space, visitors aren’t just spectators. They become part of the experiment, shaping meaning through interaction and reflection. Much like drivers testing ideas behind concept cars, every person who engages with the exhibition influences how these works are understood. It’s unfinished—that’s the point.
What makes PROTOTYPE so captivating is how effortlessly it bridges two worlds that don’t often intersect: art and automobiles. However, the connection becomes clear once you see it — both rely on risk, creativity, and a willingness to imagine a different future. Place a Mercedes-Benz concept model beside a piece of living digital art, and suddenly it’s evident: prototypes are where the future starts.
Elias Albay is the Founder and Director of Many Men Magazine, a Toronto-based digital publication dedicated to promoting modern masculinity through style, culture, and self-improvement. What started as a personal turning point became a purposeful platform. — born from Elias’ desire to create something meaningful after completing his studies and finding no career path that truly matched his ambitions. With a background in Civil Engineering from York University and experience in Commercial Flight Operations at CAE, he applied skills, and resilience from both fields to forge a new path.
Our team of editors and experts thoughtfully chooses each product. If you decide to buy through one of our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more. Want to know how we test products? Click here for more details.
Cadillac just fired a high-voltage warning shot — and it’s headed straight for the performance SUV market. The 2026 LYRIQ-V isn’t your typical electric grocery getter. This thing is a 615-horsepower, dual-motor beast that rockets from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.3 seconds, making it the fastest-accelerating Cadillac ever built. Forget quiet luxury — this one shouts from the rooftops (silently, of course).
The LYRIQ-V joins the existing LYRIQ lineup, adding more edge and boldness than ever before. While the price hasn’t been officially announced, its expected startingprice of USD $79,990 places it in direct competition with high-performance electric models like the Mercedes-AMG EQE SUV, BMW iX, and Porsche Macan Electric. Cadillac unmistakably aims to make a statement — it’s here to shake up the EV scene.
As John Roth, Vice President of Global Cadillac, says, the LYRIQ-V “captures the spirit of Cadillac, embodying our relentless pursuit of engineering excellence through our racing and production vehicles.” He adds that it “takes this commitment a step further in the EV era, pushing our performance pedigree of V-Series to new heights with a powerful, personalised and high-tech driving experience that fits perfectly into our customers’ lives.” Translation? Cadillac just made going electric way more exciting.
Key Highlights:
Dual-Motor AWD System Delivering 615 Hp and 650 lb-ft (880 Nm) of Torque
Launches from 0–60 mph in just 3.3 seconds with standard Launch Control
Unique V-Series Cabin with Exclusive Steering Wheel and Performance Paddle
Custom V-Mode and Traction Settings Designed for Sharper, More Responsive Driving
2026 Cadillac LYRIQ-V | Image: Cadillac
Beneath its sleek, futuristic exterior, the LYRIQ-V offers serious power. It features a dual-motor all-wheel drive system, delivering a Cadillac-estimated 615 hp and 650 lb-ft (880 Nm) of torque. This performance is thanks to a 102 kWh battery pack, which gives an estimated 285 miles (459 km) of range. Sure, it’s not the most efficient LYRIQ in the lineup — but let’s be honest, no one’s buying the V for hypermiling.
If long-range cruising is your thing, you’ll get the best out of the standard AWD model, which offers a range of up to 530 km (European WLTP). But if you’re after performance, the LYRIQ-V is where the fun begins. Cadillac dialed up everything: custom signature sounds, Brembo performance front brakes, a quicker steering ratio, adjustable traction management, and Standard Continuous Damping Control tuned specifically for the V. It’s a completely different beast — more athletic, more responsive, and more fun.
And it’s all brought together by V-Mode, a driver-focused system that allows you to customize the experience to your liking — from throttle response to suspension feel — and save it with a press of a steering wheel button. Think of it as Cadillac’s answer to BMW’s M-mode, like what you’d find in an M3 Competition xDrive. Oh, and when you’re ready to unleash all that power, just hit Launch Control and let it rip: 0–60 mph in 3.3 seconds. Not bad for a luxury SUV that weighs as much as a small moon.
2026 Cadillac LYRIQ-V | Image: Cadillac
At first glance, the LYRIQ-V maintains a classy appearance — but upon closer inspection, you’ll see it’s showing off a bit more than the rest of the LYRIQ family. The front fascia is lower and more sculpted, the side rockers are sharper, and the body-colored trim gives it a more grounded, performance-ready stance. And if that’s not enough for you, Cadillac is also offering carbon fibre accents to give it a more aggressive finish.
Along the sides and rear, the differences are subtle but deliberate. You’ve got 22-inch wheels, a blacked-out roof, and V-Series badging tucked onto the rear doors and tailgate — all complemented by a chin spoiler, polished rockers, and a V-pattern grille that adds just the right amount of menace. It’s not shouting for attention, but it certainly leaves an impression on anyone who knows what to look for.
Step inside, and Cadillac isn’t messing with a good thing. The panoramic fixed-glass roof still makes the cabin feel wide open, and the AKG Studio 23-speaker sound system with Dolby Atmos delivers theatre-quality audio that makes your playlists hit even harder.
And then there’s the screen — or should we say, the command centre. The 33-inch curved LED display stretches across the dash like it was designed for a spaceship, offering crisp visuals and seamless control. It’s high-tech luxury done right — and in the LYRIQ-V, it finally has the performance personality to match.
2026 Cadillac LYRIQ-V | Image: Cadillac
You’ll also receive a handful of V-Series–exclusive goodies that transform the LYRIQ-V from just an upgraded SUV into more of a bespoke performance cockpit.
A Race-Inspired Steering Wheel Featuring the V-Mode Selector
A sport rim with sculpted hand grips and an aluminum regen-on-demand paddle.
Power-Adjustable Seat Bolsters (For Both Seatbacks and Cushions)
Infotainment Themes and Menus Customized for the V-Series Persona
Illuminated V-Series Sill Plates That Light Up When You Step On Them
Premium Paperwood Décor, with available Nappa Leather Seating and contrast embroidery.
And when it comes to value, Cadillac’s pricing will land you pay less than the headline-grabbing competitors. Expect the LYRIQ-V to beat electric performance SUVs like the Mercedes-AMG EQE53 SUV or Porsche Macan Electric on price, offering V-Series power and tech for thousands less.
Elias Albay is the Founder and Director of Many Men Magazine, a Toronto-based digital publication dedicated to promoting modern masculinity through style, culture, and self-improvement. What started as a personal turning point became a purposeful platform. — born from Elias’ desire to create something meaningful after completing his studies and finding no career path that truly matched his ambitions. With a background in Civil Engineering from York University and experience in Commercial Flight Operations at CAE, he applied skills, and resilience from both fields to forge a new path.
