It was 2014. Nintendo fans were busy arguing about the Blue Shell’s frequency when something weird happened. Suddenly, a sleek, silver GLA-Class SUV wasn't just on a German highway; it was drifting around Moo Moo Meadows. The Mario Kart 8 Mercedes partnership remains one of the most bizarre, jarring, and secretly influential moments in the history of the franchise. It felt like a fever dream. One second you're playing a whimsical racer with a talking mushroom, and the next, you're looking at a hyper-realistic Mercedes-Benz W 25 Silver Arrow.
People hated it. Or they loved it for the absurdity. Honestly, there wasn't much middle ground back then. This wasn't just a cosmetic skin. It was the first time Nintendo allowed real-world advertising to sit directly inside the Mario universe.
The Day the Mushroom Kingdom Went Corporate
Nintendo is protective. Like, scary protective. They don't usually let outside brands touch their "crown jewel" IPs unless there's a very specific reason. So, when the Mario Kart 8 Mercedes-Benz x Mario Kart 8 collaboration was announced, the collective "huh?" from the gaming community was deafening. It started as a free DLC pack in Japan to celebrate the launch of the Mercedes GLA, but it eventually rolled out globally.
You got three cars. First, the modern GLA with those weirdly realistic tires that looked out of place on anti-gravity tracks. Then, the 1930s W 25 Silver Arrow, which actually looks incredible in motion. Finally, the 300 SL Roadster from the 50s.
The weirdest part? The commercial. If you haven't seen the Japanese TV spot where a hyper-muscular, real-life Mario steps out of a GLA after crushing a Goomba, you haven't truly lived. It was jarring. It was "uncanny valley" territory. But it worked. It got everyone talking about a game that was already the best-selling title on a struggling Wii U console.
👉 See also: Walkthrough Final Fantasy X-2: How to Actually Get That 100% Completion
Why the GLA Actually Changed the Meta
Most people thought these cars were just for show. They weren't. In the original Wii U version of Mario Kart 8, the Mercedes-Benz GLA became a genuine contender in the competitive scene. Why? Weight and traction.
Basically, the GLA had a specific hitbox and stat distribution that made it surprisingly viable for heavy characters like Bowser or Morton. While the "Blue Falcon" or the "Pipe Frame" were usually the go-to choices for speedrunners and high-level online players, the GLA offered a strange stability. It felt heavy. It gripped the road in a way that helped players maintain lines on 200cc—the ultra-fast mode that was eventually added.
Breaking Down the Specs
The Silver Arrow was the standout for many purists. It has a slim profile. In Mario Kart, your "width" matters when you’re trying to squeeze through a gap or avoid a stray Banana Peel. The Silver Arrow’s narrow frame made it a niche favorite for "snaking" (though snaking isn't really the same as it was in the DS days) and precise maneuvering.
The 300 SL Roadster? That was mostly for the vibes. It looked classy. Seeing Peach in a 1950s luxury convertible while firing a Triple Red Shell at Donkey Kong is a specific kind of comedy you can't get anywhere else.
✨ Don't miss: Stick War: Why This Flash Classic Still Dominates Strategy Gaming
The "Realism" Problem in a Kart Racer
There is a legitimate design critique here. Mario Kart’s art style is defined by "squash and stretch." Everything is bouncy. The tires are oversized. The exhaust pipes spit out cartoony flames. When you drop a Mercedes-Benz GLA—rendered with high-fidelity textures and accurate proportions—into that world, it creates a visual clash.
- The wheels don't look like they belong on a Mario kart.
- The paint reflects light differently than the rest of the environment.
- The engine sounds were sampled from real cars, which felt odd next to the synthesized vroom of the standard karts.
Nintendo eventually addressed this by making the cars slightly more "Chibi" or stylized in later iterations, but that original DLC pack was pure, unadulterated realism. It was a marketing experiment that tested the boundaries of player immersion. Did it break the "magic"? For some, yeah. For others, it was just a funny way to beat their friends while driving a mom-SUV.
Moving to the Switch: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
When Nintendo ported the game to the Switch as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, they didn't cut the Mercedes content. It's actually baked into the base game now. You don't even have to download it. It’s just there, sitting in the vehicle select screen between the Landship and the Biddybuggy.
Interestingly, the "meta" shifted on the Switch. With the introduction of more complex "Mini-Turbo" stats and changes to how weight affects top speed, the Mercedes karts fell out of favor for the top-tier competitive players. Nowadays, if you go online, you’ll see a sea of Waluigis on Wild Wigglers. The GLA is a rare sight in high-ranked rooms, which arguably makes it more of a "flex" if you can actually win with it.
🔗 Read more: Solitaire Games Free Online Klondike: What Most People Get Wrong
The Lasting Impact of the Mercedes Deal
This wasn't just about cars. It was a signal. It told the industry that Nintendo was finally open for business. Since then, we've seen more collaborations, though none quite as "real-world" as this one. It paved the way for things like the Animal Crossing tracks, the Legend of Zelda crossovers, and even the massive Splatoon presence in the game.
It also highlighted a weird truth about gaming: we love weird stuff. We love things that shouldn't exist. The Mario Kart 8 Mercedes DLC is the "Pizza Hut in EverQuest" of the modern era. It’s a time capsule of a moment when a car manufacturer and a gaming giant decided to see what happened if they smashed their brands together.
How to Actually Win with Mercedes Karts Today
If you’re going to use these cars, you have to play to their strengths. They aren't the best all-rounders, but they have niche uses.
- Use the GLA for Heavy Characters: If you're playing as Wario or Dry Bowser, the GLA provides a decent balance of weight and off-road capability. It's great for tracks like Sherbet Land where traction is a nightmare.
- The Silver Arrow is for Tight Turns: Its narrow frame is its best asset. Use it on tracks like Ribbon Road or Neo Bowser City where the paths are thin and the turns are punishing.
- Tire Choice is Everything: Don't pair the Mercedes bodies with the "Slick" tires just because it looks cool. In the current 2026 meta, "Roller" or "Azure Roller" tires are almost mandatory for the Mini-Turbo boost. It looks ridiculous—a luxury SUV on tiny toy wheels—but it’s how you win.
The Mercedes partnership might have been a one-off experiment, but it remains a fascinating part of Nintendo’s history. It proved that Mario can survive a bit of corporate realism without losing his soul.
Actionable Insights for Players:
- Check your kart collection; if you're on the Switch, you already own these.
- Try the Silver Arrow with a medium-weight character (like Mario or Luigi) and Roller tires for a surprisingly high Mini-Turbo stat.
- Ignore the visual clash and focus on the weight-to-traction ratio, which is the hidden strength of the GLA body.