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- Mercedes just unveiled the Vision Iconic EV in Shanghai
- The concept features Solar Paint and Neuromorphic compute power
- High levels of autonomous driving are expected
Mercedes-Benz has been on a design push of late and is keen to flaunt the idea that it’s shaking up its styling for an increasingly electric future.
The latest Vision Iconic EV is perhaps the boldest statement yet and could go on to inspire future S-Class models, but it also wants to showcase the marque’s latest tech.
Long, low and boasting a very large front grille, the luxury coupe is inspired by classic Benzes of the past, including the W 108, W 111 and the 600 Pullman, while packing a similar face to that of the recently launched GLC.
However, that massive illuminated grille doesn’t look so out of place on the German brand’s lengthy two-door coupe. Plus, the deep black paint job experiments with a photovoltaic-active surface that could add range by harnessing power from the sun.
Inside the car, Mercedes’ Shanghai-based design team has drawn inspiration from the Art Deco era, with a mix of analogue and digital displays.
The instrument clusters come to life like high-end chronograph watches as the door is opened, while one of the four clocks houses an AI assistant that will take care of car functionality without the driver having to lift a finger.
Mercedes says that sweeping design, which has more than a touch of Batmobile about it, will also play host to the company’s latest innovations in Neuromorphic compute power, which apparently mimics the functions of the human brain for much faster decision making.
Tesla has been using something similar to train its self-driving models, with Mercedes suggesting its technology could be ten times more efficient than current systems.
This would allow the company to hypothetically introduce Level 4 autonomous driving, which would allow those behind the wheel to take hands off and eyes off the road when traveling along the highway, for example.
“It would be also possible and permissible to take a nap or get comfortable while streaming the latest trending video including an immersive sound and ambient light experience,” Mercedes says.
Hands-free parking as standard
Although the Vision Iconic Concept is just a design study for now, it does showcase a number of technologies that Mercedes-Benz is working on.
Solid State battery tech could provide monster range, while a steer-by-wire system, for example, is due to appear on the upcoming S-Class and will remove any physical connection between the steering column and the wheels.
Combined with rear-axle steering, this allows large cars to be maneuvered more easily in tight urban environments.
But hey, you won’t have to worry about that, because the concept also suggests that the German marque is ploughing ahead with greater levels of autonomous driving, stating that a highly-automated parking feature that uses the car’s sophisticated sensor architecture will see the vehicle find its own way to a free space.
Probably best, given the size of the thing.
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