Mercedes-Benz has unveiled a concept car known as the Vision Iconic. The vehicle was revealed at the marque’s design house in Shanghai, China. As per the official fluff, the concept represents the bridge between the future of the company’s EV cars and the rich heritage of the automaker, by combining classic design elements with new technology such as the Solar Coating.
Here’s what the Vision Iconic offers, design-wise. The front fascia is defined by the iconic grille, a key design element inspired by legendary models such as the W108, W111, and the 600 Pullman.
The grille has been updated with a detailed panel filled with hundreds of tiny, illuminated squares. Other design elements that catch the eye include the long bonnet and the iconic three-pointed-star hood ornament, which also glows.
Inside, the cabin of the Vision Iconic sports a “lounge-like” atmosphere, filled with Art Deco-inspired luxury while blending fine craftsmanship with modern technology. Its centrepiece is the “Zeppelin”, a floating glass structure that elegantly combines analogue and digital elements, including a pillar-to-pillar display and an AI companion clock shaped like the Mercedes-Benz logo.
As for the technology that makes the car move, Mercedes-Benz is developing innovative solar modules that can be applied directly to a vehicle’s body like a thin paste, creating a photovoltaic surface adaptable to different materials. When used across the entire surface of the Vision Iconic, the system could generate enough solar energy to add up to 12,000 kilometres of range per year under ideal conditions.
Then there’s automated driving, with the automaker envisioning Level 2 autonomous capabilities for city driving and advancing to Level 4 autonomy on highways, managing all driving its tasks without driver input. Handling the vast amount of data required for autonomous operation is neuromorphic computer, which mimics the way the human brain processes information.
Theoretically, this approach enables faster, more efficient data handling, potentially reducing energy consumption for processing by up to 90% and allowing the car’s safety systems to respond almost instantaneously to changing road conditions. Additionally, Mercedes-Benz has introduced a steer-by-wire technology that offers a completely new steering experience with enhanced safety.
Working in harmony with rear-axle steering, it greatly improves handling, manoeuvrability, and parking. By replacing the traditional mechanical link with electronic control units and actuators, steering inputs are transmitted instantly and precisely, reducing effort and eliminating the need to re-grip the wheel during tight manoeuvres.
As mentioned, the Vision Iconic serves as a glimpse of what we can expect from the company in its future models. Who knows, maybe the next EVs or hybrids made under its banner will be technologically advanced while retaining its iconic touches.
(Source: Mercedes-Benz Press Release)
