Mercedes-Benz presented its MANUFAKTUR personalization program at the 2026 Concours of Elegance with an S-Class prototype finished in silicon grey over a bespoke Vista Blue interior. Displayed at Hampton Court Palace from September 4–6, the long-wheelbase sedan demonstrated how MANUFAKTUR Made to Measure extends customization from major color choices to individual cabin accessories and trim.
As the event’s “Celebrated Manufacturer of the Year,” Mercedes-Benz organized its presentation around “Masterpieces of Individualisation.” Contemporary cars appeared alongside classics, while a joint demonstration workshop with Savile Row tailor Henry Poole & Co examined the craftsmanship behind automotive upholstery and bespoke clothing.
Mercedes-Benz Classic at the Concours of Elegance at Hampton Court Palace. Photo from 2026. On the left, a Mercedes-Benz 300 SL “Gullwing” Coupé (W 198); on the right, a Mercedes-Benz S 500 4MATIC long-wheelbase version (223 series). Photo: Craig Pusey.
Silicon Grey over Vista Blue
The S-Class was the clearest illustration of the current personalization program. Its MANUFAKTUR silicon grey exterior was paired with an exclusive Vista Blue cabin, giving the otherwise restrained sedan a distinctive interior specification.
Made to Measure details included personalized headrest cushions, seat cushions, floor mats, a trunk mat and individually designed door sill panels. Together, these treatments showed the scope for carrying a customer’s preferences through elements beyond the primary upholstery and dashboard trim.
Mercedes-Benz displayed the S-Class alongside a 300 SL “Gullwing” coupe, with both cars combining grey exterior tones and light blue interiors. The pairing connected the contemporary commission with an earlier interpretation of the same color family.
Mercedes-Benz Classic at the Concours of Elegance at Hampton Court Palace. Photo from 2026. Upholstery work being carried out by the experts at the Mercedes-Benz Classic Centre in the joint demonstration workshop with Henry Poole & Co. Photo: Craig Pusey.
MANUFAKTUR and Made to Measure
MANUFAKTUR is Mercedes-Benz’s personalization program for selected model lines, offering an expanded selection of materials, colors and finishes. Made to Measure provides a further level of customization through individual consultations and bespoke design work.
According to Mercedes-Benz, those consultations give customers access to the full range of technically feasible colors and design options. That qualification defines the program’s scope: individual requests are developed within the limits of what the company can engineer and manufacture.
The Hampton Court S-Class demonstrated how this process can produce a coordinated specification across both prominent surfaces and smaller details. The exterior and interior colors establish the overall combination, while cushions, mats and sill panels extend it throughout the car.
Mercedes-Benz Classic at the Concours of Elegance at Hampton Court Palace. Photo from 2026. Work on a bespoke jacket by Henry Poole & Co in the joint demonstration workshop with Mercedes-Benz Classic. Photo: Craig Pusey
Automotive Upholstery Meets Savile Row
Mercedes-Benz renewed its collaboration with Henry Poole & Co for a second consecutive year at the concours. Upholsterers from the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center in Fellbach worked beside the tailoring house’s craftspeople, who constructed a men’s jacket in the shared demonstration space.
The workshop made the work behind personalization visible to visitors. Both disciplines depend on material knowledge, precise cutting and assembly, and the ability to translate an individual customer’s requirements into a finished product.
The Classic Center’s upholstery shop is one of seven traditional automotive trades represented at the Fellbach facility. Its restoration work draws on original vehicle documents held in the company archives, providing historical references for the materials and construction of older Mercedes-Benz interiors.
That restoration expertise formed part of the wider presentation alongside today’s MANUFAKTUR specialists. The connection was particularly relevant to a display built around corresponding classic and contemporary specifications.
Mercedes-Benz Classic at the Concours of Elegance at Hampton Court Palace. Photo from the year 2026. Stand of Mercedes-Benz, the “Celebrated Manufacturer of the Year”. Vehicles from left to right: Mercedes-Maybach SL 680 Monogram Series (R 232), Mercedes-Benz 300 Sc Roadster (W 188), a faithful replica of the 1886 Benz Patent-Motorwagen (Benz patent motor car), Mercedes-Benz 300 SL ‘Gullwing’ Coupé (W 198) and Mercedes-Benz S 500 4MATIC long-wheelbase version (223 series). Photo: Craig Pusey.
A Second Pair in Red
A separate pairing brought together a 300 Sc Roadster and a current Mercedes-Maybach SL 680 Monogram Series, both presented in shades of red. The 300 Sc was one of just 53 roadsters built, while the Maybach illustrated the brand’s contemporary approach to decorative finishes and luxury materials.
The Mercedes-Maybach SL featured handcrafted Monogram patterns on the hood, chrome accents and a crystal white Nappa leather interior. It complemented the bespoke S-Class by showing another approach to individual appearance within the wider Mercedes-Benz portfolio.
The strongest takeaway from the presentation was the breadth of MANUFAKTUR Made to Measure. The silicon grey and Vista Blue S-Class showed how a commission can encompass a complete color combination and continue through the smaller pieces owners see and use every day.
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