Tag Archives: Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz’s voice assistant will soon support Samsung SmartThings
Mercedes’ expanded EV plans will include six new models
Mercedes-Benz’ new electric scooter has a mileage of over 3100 miles – hello zero emissions!
As we continue to move towards a cleaner and sustainable future, automakers around the world are doing their best to switch over to electric vehicles. Mercedes-Benz has spent the past couple of years developing electric mobility concepts and it has finally unveiled its own fully-electric scooter which accelerates our zero-emissions journey – at least for short distances and especially for city dwellers. Longevity is at the core of this e-scooter, it uses high-quality components and materials to give the user a mileage of over 3,100 miles (5,000 kilometers) which allows for more freedom when it comes to micro-mobility solutions.
Mercedes-Benz has launched this EV in collaboration with a Swiss scooter specialist, Micro, to make this e-scooter sleek, strong, and efficient. It features an electric motor with a maximum 500 W power which allows the scooter to accelerate to a speed 20 km/h (permitted in Germany) while the 7.8 Ah battery gives a range of up to 25 kilometers. This lets users travel with speed, comfort, and security. The kickboard is wide enough to have plenty of room for both feel and has a non-slip coating for more stability. The e-scooter has front + rear suspension and comes with 20 cm diameter rubber wheels that effortlessly handle uneven surfaces like cobblestones making it ideal for short urban commutes.
The electric scooter also features a retractable steering column that is adjustable to the rider’s height making it a popular option in the market. The handlebars are ergonomically designed with the accelerator on the right and brake on the left as well as an integrated bell. It has a rear drum brake and a foot brake on the protective plate for added riding security. The compact scooter also includes front and rear lights along with the side reflectors so the user can ride it in traffic at any time of the day. There is a display in the center that shows the speed, battery level, and riding mode – this is also all synced to the user’s mobile app for the electric scooter.
The best part is that you can fold the Mercedes-Benz e-scooter using a simple mechanism operated with just a press of the foot. To make it more streamlined and easy to carry, the handlebars also fold down. The e-scooter weighs around 29 lbs (13.5 kg) making it portable and convenient. Let’s kickstart our zero-emissions journey with a touch of a luxury automaker!
Designer: Mercedes-Benz
Meet the Mercedes-Benz Vision Duet, the next impossible concept for the luxury automaker to conquer!
Fast forward to the year 2035 and you’ll be riding in the cozy confines of your luxury coupe for your next escapade – connecting with nature like never before. That’s what designer Lujie Huang has proposed for millennials to be close to nature and also with their close ones. As a part of his senior thesis, while studying at the ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, California, Lujie thought of creating a 3-seat grand tour which has an inside out design approach. According to him, “The objective is to capture the magical moments of user experience offered by autonomous vehicles as a part of our lifestyles.”
He calls this luxury coup of the future “Mercedes-Benz Vision Duet” and it has the essence of marine design influence and by the Mobius strip (yes, the same one that inspired Tony Stark!) The coupe has cocooned seating embodied with an open seating experience, much like the two-seater coupe convertible. Huang believes that autonomous electric vehicles will be a common thing by the 2030s. Given the level 5 autonomous design of the Vison Duet, the car carries that very imagination with no driving controls like steering wheel, pedals, or gear shifters. The inside-out approach is evident in the comfortable forward-facing seats and a center table inside the cabin. On the one side on the front, there’s a retracting storage drawer for food and utensils while on the opposite side there is a built-in mini-fridge. When the car is parked amidst nature, the glass roof retracts and the third seat opposite the conventional seating area (inspired by the seating layout of leisure boats) can be used for enjoying the surrounding view with your pals. On the outside, the car impresses with an iconic Mercedes-Benz grille and the rear sporting a strikingly cool bumper design.
The EV also derives inspiration from the classics of the past, blending it with modern luxury which is apparent from the overall flowing design on the coupe. In a way, it also looks influenced by the very future-forward and practical Mercedes-Benz Vision AVTR (the names sound similar too). The only predicament of the design and functionality with Huang’s iteration is its practicality! The lack of doors makes safety an issue. Also, not to ignore the ability of the EV to reach high speeds since the aerodynamic drag would make it impossible for the riders to get away with chunky hair after a long trip! The fun is when the car is parked and you can bask in the luxury of a picnic-like setup. Perhaps, the addition of clear glass doors that can be retracted is a more viable option for the riders to feel safe. Maybe Mercedes should ask Tony Stark to share his input after all the Mobius strip did help him breakthrough one difficult problem already!
Designer: Lujie Huang
Ideation and Explorations
The Final Design
Automotive Inspiration: Mercedes Benz VISION AVTR releases video + sketches showing the car in action!
Mercedes Benz created an uproar with the launch of their Mercedes Benz Vision AVTR – inspired by the James Cameron blockbuster Avatar. And now, Mercedes is out to prove they mean business – that this is not just another concept car but the idea is envisioned and in motion. In the 13 minute video launched recently on the Mercedes YouTube channel, you can see the futuristic car perform the ‘crab walk’. Given the revolutionary nature of the design, our excitement is palpable, and to understand the design better, we gathered up some special behind-the-scenes footage – right from car sketches to environmental renders created by Alex Dang. Feast your eyes as this is one of the rare moments where a vision of the future is actually being brought to life in front of us.
Exterior Designer: Alex Dang
Bionic Flaps
Alex says, “The bionic flaps are literally alive! They interact with you! + show your intentions as a driver from the interior to the exterior. Furthermore, by moving in various directions it influences aerodynamics.” The car is inspired by Avatar in concept – where all the living elements exist in peaceful harmony, sustainably, and in grace. The same way, the car reacts to your actions taken while sitting inside the car and that reaction is conveyed by the bionic flaps.
Wheel Design
The wheels draw inspiration from the woodsprites, the floating creatures that are the seeds of the Tree of Souls that lives on Pandora. These seeds, according to the Na’vi, are very pure and sacred spirits. They are similar in appearance to small deep-sea jellyfish, but they float on the wind like dandelion seeds, possibly aided in this by the denser atmosphere on Pandora. The wheels also imitate the flowing nature/curves of the woodsprite and the glowing lights on the wheel emphasize the stronger curves on the body of the wheel, making them look dynamic as they rotate.
Behind the Scenes:
“The path to final design is not always linear. There is a lot of exploring and searching,…That’s why fast doodles are a perfect tool to iterate and communicate your ideas. The theme of the lower sketches are showing the interior of my colleague Hogun Lee” says Alex Dang.
Scale Model
A 1:4 scale model created by Alex for his bachelor thesis in 2014.
Process Video
A fun exercise, this quick colour sketch by Alex shows the car in its element, envisioned by him, and to wrap it up, we can only say this – yes it’s real, yes it drives and no, it has no steering wheel!
Mercedes-Benz releases a trio of electric vehicles for the long and short of cargo deliveries!
Many global automotive makers are turning towards making electric vehicles. While Tesla might be spearheading that movement, interestingly many leading companies are making the switch by transforming their larger vehicles to electric ones. Mercedes-Benz is the latest one to join the movement and has unveiled a trio of zero-emissions trucks that are estimated to go into production as soon as 2021. It all starts with the aim of making the Daimler trucks to become CO2-neutral.
The new models use hydrogen fuel-cells and battery-electric drivetrains for both urban and long-haul use, the potential range is claimed to be more than 600 miles which makes it very efficient in reducing emissions especially as deliveries have only increased during the pandemic. The first model is the MercedesBenz eActros, a battery-electric truck that was first revealed in 2018 with an expected to have a range of over 124 miles and is best suited for heavy urban distribution according to the Mercedes. The eActros will also be a smart truck with features like route analysis, fleet integration, and charging infrastructure solutions. The second model is the eActros LongHaul which is expected to be ready in 2024 which gives enough time for the infrastructure to be EV-ready too. It will also be completely electric but outfitted with extra batteries to give it a range of 310 miles on a single charge because it is for the “long haul”. Many will argue that it is not close to a regular diesel truck on a full tank but Daimler says they will keep the charging costs relatively low and the impact will be significant for the environment. I agree – planet first, mileage later.
The third model is the Mercedes-Benz GenH2 Truck which will be powered by a hydrogen fuel-cell that Daimler says can do over 620 miles on a full tank of the fuel – this is certainly the most interesting and advanced one of the EV truck trio! It will have two tanks and a new fuel-cell system to keep it running for multi-day routes. “Thanks to the use of liquid instead of gaseous hydrogen with its higher energy density,” Daimler says, “the vehicle’s performance is planned to equal that of a comparable conventional diesel truck.” Mercedes continues to work on a standardized electric platform for passenger cars while Daimler Truck works on its zero-emissions haulage solutions. This is a key development in their pledge to only offer CO2-neutral trucks “from tank to wheel” in Europe, North America, and Japan by 2039.
Designer: Daimler AG
The MercedesBenz eActros, the battery-electric truck the automaker first showed in 2018
Mercedes Benz-inspired futuristic delivery robot brings essential supplies home
The world is grappling with COVID-19 ever since this year’s onset, making social-distancing the current norm. The situation isn’t going to improve any time soon, leaving us all digging for alternative ways to reduce human contact. Nobody knows what the future holds for all of us – perhaps the apt time to ponder over mindful product designs that shape the way we live in our society.
This concept design by artist Jakob Payk wants to solve the predicament of deliveries – sans any human contact – in a very safe manner. Jakob has levied the Mercedes Benz brand tag to create the EQ Delivery Pod which is a compact robotic four-wheeled pod for safely transporting parcels from one place to the other. This last-mile delivery robot is more or so like the Amazon Scout delivery robot – just that it is much futuristic in its looks. The designer envisions this delivery pod to operate in the urban dwellings – moving important things like groceries, supplies and critical medication to the masses.
EQ Delivery Pod is totally contact-free as it is app operated, and can only be opened by scanning the QR Code by the intended user. Moving swiftly on the sidewalks, the battery-operated self-driving robot is penned-down with a very balanced thoughtfulness. Truly, it gives a sneak-peak into the future of urban spaces, where social-distancing will be the accepted, new normal.
Designer: Jakob Payk
Daimler settles its emissions scandal lawsuit for nearly $3 billion
Popular SUVs redesigned as Sedans are difficult to un-see!
You wouldn’t be wrong to assume this post was about crossovers, but these definitely aren’t crossovers. Created as a fun design exercise that’s more absurd than practical, the guys at NeoMam Studios envisioned what popular SUVs would look like if their proportions were altered to become Sedans. To be honest, it’s a lot like the Jason Momoa commercial from the 2019 Superbowl (remember thin Jason Momoa?)… these new sedans definitely look a little more ‘macho’ than you’d expect and that SUV character really still shines through. It’s a great way to understand design and visual semantics too, and that each product has something called a ‘category code’. You wouldn’t expect to see Kleenex sold in a Coca Cola bottle, right? Or a soft-drink in a jerry can. Bottles are designed a certain way to fit into their product category the same way cars are. That’s probably why these sedans look like there’s something off. It’s a good thing these are just concepts and nobody’s actually building any of them!
Right above the first paragraph, we look at the Land Rover Discovery Sedan, perhaps the most easy-on-the-eyes of them all. The adventure DNA is still present with recognizable headlights and a standard front grille, but the front bumper is shortened to give it the SUV proportions of a sedan. Also, the roofline is a direct ode to the Discovery SUV, although the boxier rear proportion means expansive room for both rear passengers and cargo.
A Hummer Sedan is the equivalent of superimposing Hulk Hogan’s face on Michael Cera’s body (or the Undertaker on Pete Davidson). The iconic Hummer chrome grille almost hints at an SUV build, but its boxy sedan proportions sort of feel like we’re not getting our money’s worth! The large wheels have the same chrome finish as the grille, making this sedan a proper bling machine. The angular front bumper was also redesigned to give it the appearance of a sedan. NeoMam, however, retained the large wing mirrors mounted on the doors to give it the unmistakable appeal of a Hummer.
Is it a Ford Explorer sedan, or is it a reincarnation of the now-defunct Taurus? I admit the Explorer sedan sort of resembles a crossover-inspired Taurus, albeit with a more rugged appeal. The massive front grille and large headlights were lifted directly from the Explorer SUV. However, the shorter front bumper is complemented with a new lower front lip like a proper sports sedan. The large wheels are also lifted from the Explorer SUV.
The GMC Yukon is a prime-and-proper family SUV. It has the right levels of toughness and luxury, and the same holds true for your GMC Yukon sedan. Right off the bat, this sedan means serious business. The familiar GMC Yukon grille and headlight design are present, albeit toned down to match the proportions of a full-size luxury sedan… And yes, it has the aura of a Chrysler 300 C, but the boxy pillars and curved roof is very much original. The GMC Yukon sedan exudes a strong sense of robustness. It has a long and sculpted hood, a long wheelbase, and a shorter front overhang – all the qualities of a Rolls-Royce. It looks as robust as an SUV and yet as stately as a proper limousine.
Depending on your point of view, the Nissan Juke is either funky and super stylish, or just a bit weird and googly. While its design might not please everyone, it’s definitely one of the more natural SUV to sedan transitions. Nissan’s trademarked V-motion grille dominates the front, but the biggest eye-catchers are the LED indicators and large headlights on the front bumper. There’s no mistaking the Juke sedan for anything other than a Nissan, but from the A-pillar and back, it’s pretty much a Juke with a wagon-like rear end. Dare I say this Juke sedan looks good enough for production? Attention Nissan, here’s your next car.
Yet another iconic SUV (perhaps the most iconic, since the word jeep is now used as a noun) turned sedan, the Jeep Wrangler Sedan looks odd, but rewind to the 70-80s and maybe this sedan would fit in just fine. The flat Wrangler doors are retained along with the iconic vertical grille and round headlamps, but the guys at NeoMam Studios angled the windshield to give the vehicle a lower roof. Despite having a sloping windshield and lowered roof, the roofline is straight as an arrow and dramatically slopes downward to form the boxy rear end of the vehicle.
The Mercedes-Benz G-Class is a modern SUV with a retro body style. The G-Class (or more popularly known as the G wagon) is also oozing with power and sophistication. The G-Class may be the boxiest of the lot, but it doesn’t look as unusual as a Hummer or a Jeep sedan, now does it? The powerful hood, aggressive Panamericana grille, and classic G-wagon headlights are there. Instead of creating an entirely new front bumper, the G sedan makes do with a Lilliputian version of the G-Wagon’s bumper. The AMG wheels fit well under those resculpted wheel arches. All it needs now is a growling turbocharged V8 motor!
Designer: NeoMam Studios for Budget Direct.
Via: Budget Direct