Armani label on new Benz

Coordinating a Giorgio Armani outfit will be a little bit more expensive now that the fashion legend has teamed with Mercedes-Benz to create the CLK Giorgio Armani design car.

The convertible features Armani-designed dashboard trim, leather seats and a leather steering wheel.

The idea for the collaboration came after Mercedes-Benz sponsored a five-city world tour of a retrospective exhibition of Armani designs.

The tour began in Berlin in May and moves this weekend to London, from where it will go to Rome, Tokyo and Los Angeles.

"The contact we have had with Giorgio Armani through our sponsorship revealed that we have much in common," said Mercedes-Benz marketing vice-president Joachim Schmidt.

"His philosophy of style, elegance, innovation and quality resonate strongly with our own brand strategy." The carmaker plans to produce 100 to 150 Armani signature models.

Said Armani: "It has been interesting for me to see the great similarities between our design philosophies and our approaches to work.

"This leads me to believe that there will be opportunities in the future for joint projects capitalising on our respective strengths."

The development of the signature car took four months at two design studios in Italy.