Flying in the Mercedes-Benz helicopter, for the ultimate commuter

Extensions are not just for highways, electrical cords, and hair anymore; now they’re also for luxury automotive brands. When a consumer identifies with a high-end marque, one way to deepen this connection — and enhance precious loyalty — is to provide opportunities to engage with the brand in other aspects of their life aside from road rage and commuting. Mercedes-Benz has recently attempted to do this with a new offshoot, Mercedes-Benz Style, which is charged, according to Project and Design Manager Stefano Tam, with “Creating new, non-automotive design collaborations with other manufacturers who are on the same level as Mercedes-Benz.”

Following branded ventures into goods such as eyewear, luggage and home furnishings, the latest product to wear the three-pointed star is a helicopter. Not just any chopper: the $8 million Airbus EC145 to which the German master craftspeople add multiple layers of flame-surfaced paint, carbon-fiber landing gear, and an entirely new interior.

Those of us fortunate enough to have spent time inside the luxe cocoon of the current M-B vehicular lineup will recognize many of the lovely features included in this conversion. There are the usual high-quality contrasting leather seating surfaces, bin covers, and headliner. There are the round metal ventilation outlets. There is the warm glow of ambient lighting, customizable in color and brightness (we like the pink.) There is an amazingly adjustable seating system capable of being slid fore and aft and reconfigured to make room for as many as eight passengers, or as few as two. (A sliding load wall in back allows expansion of the cargo hold to make room for luggage or motorcycles; the aviation equivalent of folding down the rear seat.) And there is plenty of wood, or at least something that closely resembles wood.