Franken Autodesign and Destacar: premium Mercedes-Benz V-Class

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Destacar is starting to sell Franken Autodesign vehicles. These are Mercedes-Benz V-Class vans with an individually converted passenger cabin: bespoke trim, executive seats, a private zone, multimedia and equipment for travelling. We are launching this line not with a catalogue but by getting to know the vehicles in person.

On 21 September 2026 we met the Franken Autodesign team and tested two vehicles. One cabin was finished in a bold teal, the other in a calm brown palette. We were able to compare two different concepts and see how solutions that look striking in photographs come across inside a real vehicle.

Franken Autodesign: a new line built on the V-Class

According to Denis after the meeting, the new line started about 11 months ago with the Mercedes-Benz V-Class. The official catalogue confirms that it is indeed the V-Class. There is no F-Class in the Mercedes-Benz model range, so in this article we use the correct designation of the base vehicle.

The Impressum names Auto-Design Franken UG of Walldürn as the operator of the Franken Autodesign website. The AGB describe the work as individual finishing and conversion of vehicle interiors. The public showcase presents the Royal Lux, Premium, Crystal Edition and Prestige series. What unites them is not one fixed set of options but an approach: the cabin is designed for a specific order and a specific way of using it.

On its official website Franken names Nappa leather, Alcantara, natural wood and carbon as its key materials. The company also emphasises handcraft and quality control at every stage. For us those words only mean something when they can be checked against a real vehicle. That is why the main subject of the meeting was not the marketing names of the trim levels but the details of the workmanship.

Vehicle 1: a bold contemporary concept

Quality begins where the striking photograph ends

A premium interior is easy to describe in words. It is harder to make it stay convincing up close and on the move. When assessing such a vehicle, the evenness of the seams, the perforation of the leather, the edges and the joins between different materials all matter. The fit of the decorative panels, the operation of the buttons, tables, armrests, blinds and electric drives need to be checked separately. The elements must not only look expensive but also work without unnecessary play or noise.

A separate measure of quality is the integrity of the project. Leather, wood, carbon, metal, light and the control graphics should read as one cabin. If a material is beautiful in itself but poorly matched to the neighbouring panel, the impression fades quickly. In the photographs of the two vehicles you can see the recurring lines, the lighting and the complex transitions between elements.

What we checked on 21 September

During the meeting we tested two vehicles and compared our impressions of the different cabin variants. This was a first hands-on introduction, not a long-term trial, a technical inspection or a check of the documents of a specific vehicle. We will show our detailed conclusions in a video after a separate editorial review of the material.

The first impression is built on colour and light. The more important conclusion comes later: a premium cabin must be comfortable for a passenger who will spend several hours inside. The seat position, access to charging and climate controls, space for belongings, privacy, sound quality, the operation of the blinds and the ability to use the table calmly on the road all matter. It is precisely the combination of trim and function that sets a thorough conversion apart from ordinary interior tuning.

Vehicle 2: a restrained warm palette

Equipment depends on the specific project

The officially described Franken projects include Executive-class seats with heating, ventilation and massage, electric blinds, refrigerators, folding tables, touch controls, Alpine 5.1 audio, a smart-glass partition, a large retractable screen and a games console. There are versions with a modified roof and different numbers of passenger seats.

This list cannot be applied to every vehicle. Specifications differ, and some solutions are made to order. Before selling a specific vehicle we will separately record the base vehicle, the number of seats, the equipment, the documents for the modifications, the lead time, the price and the terms of liability for defects. A beautiful example from the catalogue shows what is possible, but it does not replace a precise order specification.

What a Destacar client receives

In this new line it is not enough to repeat the catalogue. Before a deal is concluded, more than the colour of the leather and the size of the screen matters. For a specific order we need to fix the intended use, the base model, the permitted number of seats, the specification, the conversion documents, the tax regime, the acceptance procedure and the servicing after handover. The format of this work through Destacar is agreed with the client and Franken separately for each deal.

In its AGB Franken Autodesign specifies individual work with written order confirmation. A deadline becomes binding only after written agreement. The terms of liability for defects differ for private and business buyers. That is why every order has to be examined separately, without blanket promises on lead time, warranty or price.

The start of a new line

For Destacar this is the start of working with a new type of vehicle: not simply a Mercedes-Benz V-Class from stock, but an individually built passenger space. Our principle for this line is to show not only the outward effect but also what confirms the quality of a specific order, including materials, assembly, functions, documents and the terms of the deal.

If you are considering such a vehicle for business travel, transfers, family use or working on the road, write to Destacar. We will discuss your requirements and prepare the specification questions before the conversation turns to price and lead times.