Merc's new van concept has the face of an emoji and a cinema inside

The extra-posh Mercedes-Benz Vision V van has landed in concept/prototype form at the Shanghai motor show. Presumably the paparazzi aren't far behind.

The all-electric (duh) luxury people carrier showcases some futuristic smarts that Merc reckons will 'revolutionise the segment'. To make it make sense, we've momentarily suspended all memory of the Lexus LM, Volvo EM90 or any single one of Clive Sutton’s V-Class mod projects. Ahem.

So what has Merc dreamt up for its celeb-tastic limo? Aesthetically, the V (that's the letter, not 'five' auf Roman) gets an open-mouthed expression and sits on massive 24in wheels, with a futuristic tailgate that's entirely framed by 450 3D lights.

The ‘portal’ door (or sliding rear door in NormalpersonSpeak) automatically opens to reveal a lounge-like cabin. Cue much white leather, a smattering of silk, some polished chrome and a few elegant accents in real-wood.

The many screens and much tech were to be expected. For entertainment, there’s a gaming controller (specifically for racing games), and a 65in retractable 4k cinematic display with a 42-speaker Dolby Atmos audio system ready for whatever you need.

Relaxing? Play some calming landscapes or a fireside crackle. Working? Enjoy seeing the faces of your whole team appear virtually in the back of your luxury mobile office.

Merc says you can shop, swot up on local history, and even enjoy a spot of karaoke with the V's fancy devices. Something you'll be able to do in private, thanks to an ‘intelligent glass’ partition that switches from transparent to opaque at a button click. That sound you can hear is the driver breathing a sigh of relief.

Speaking of, front occupants have their own displays, extending the full width of the dash and complete with augmented reality for practical things, such as parking.

No mention of a production timescale at this stage, but if push comes to shove the Mercedes Vision V could one day relegate the current V-Class to minicab duties...