Design No.5 – “Creating Iconic Luxury”: the key facts at a glance
#CreatingIconicLuxury: The Mercedes-Benz brand history is a source of inspiration for the future. From the three-pointed star to gullwing doors and cab-forward design: over the decades, the Mercedes-Benz design team has created and established iconic elements. These are unmistakably associated with the brand, shaping the Mercedes-Benz myth and creating desire. The Mercedes-Benz design team will continue to develop the brand’s iconic style to further strengthen this heritage and carry it into the future.
#PinnacleOfExclusivity: Exceptional customization options, one-offs from collaborations, limited collector’s and special editions, pioneering show cars and research and concept vehicles are the epitome of exclusivity for Mercedes-Benz.
#IDCCarlsbad: The Mercedes-Benz Design Centers provide important impetus for the continuous development of the design philosophy of sensual purity and for setting trends with new design ideas. At the International Design Center Carlsbad, the Mercedes-Benz design team creates show car exteriors, vehicle studies and mobility concepts for tomorrow and beyond by picking up on stylistic trends on site and further analyzing and creatively implementing them. The Californian lifestyle influences the site just as much as its proximity to Mercedes-Benz Research & Development North America. A very special form of creativity flourishes in Carlsbad, leaving its mark on Mercedes-Benz design and opening up new perspectives.
#VisionOneEleven: With the Mercedes-Benz Vision One-Eleven, the brand presents a concept sports car that progressively reinterprets the C 111, a brand icon of the 1970s. Much like its historic predecessor, it combines stunning design with the most innovative drive technology. The Vision One-Eleven makes use of axial flux motors from YASA, which have an unmatched power density far beyond comparable radial motors, while being extremely lightweight.
#ExclusiveCollection: Mercedes-Benz is launching the “LIMITED EDITION 1 OF 111” collection along with the Mercedes-Benz Vision One-Eleven. This is the first time that an iconic design study has been accompanied by a lifestyle collection consisting of five exclusive pieces. In addition to the striking color of the concept sports car, the individual accessories also reflect the vehicle’s characteristic design elements.
#AugmentedReality: The Mercedes-Benz design team used augmented reality (AR) to create a visionary user experience for the premiere of the Mercedes-Benz Vision One-Eleven and integrated it into a virtual test model of the Vision One-Eleven interior. The physical vehicle interior and the digital interface merge so seamlessly that virtually the entire car becomes a user interface.
#MANUFAKTUR: With the MANUFAKTUR individualization program, Mercedes-Benz offers an ever-greater degree of exclusive design options at the highest level of craftsmanship. From a choice of bespoke colors to a wide range of exclusive interior fittings a Mercedes can be tailored exactly to one’s personal taste. With the Vision of MANUFAKTUR, Mercedes-Benz gives a glimpse of potential future exclusive design possibilities for the customization program.
#MercedesMaybachNightSeries: With the Night Series, Mercedes-Maybach is presenting the next chapter in the brand’s mission to further develop its curated portfolio. The most progressive design package from the tradition-steeped brand takes Maybach design to a new level. Unexpected and exquisite in its design, the Night Series defies convention and appeals to new target groups.
#NFT: Digital collectibles in the form of NFTs (Non-Fungible Token) allow Mercedes-Benz to support new strategic dimensions of digital brand and business development. Through NFTs, Mercedes-Benz is creating connections and experiences with new audiences. The brand with the star is teaming up with the artist Harm van den Dorpel to create blockchain-based digital art. A new in-car app that makes it possible to experience digital artworks in the vehicle will be tested for the first time in the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class.
“An icon must be something truly novel, beautiful and timeless – and have that magical ‘x-factor'”
Interview with Gorden Wagener
Gorden Wagener, one of the most influential automotive designers of our time, has headed the global design division of Mercedes-Benz and its brands – Mercedes-Maybach, Mercedes-AMG and Mercedes-EQ – since 2008. Wagener has served as the company’s Chief Design Officer since 2016. His goal is to create the most desirable cars in the world based on his design philosophy of sensual purity, which defines the specific hallmarks of luxury for each respective brand in the Mercedes-Benz Group. Wagener’s creations establish new impulses in the luxury segment and stand for beauty and the extraordinary. At this year’s Design Essentials in Carlsbad, California, Wagener and his team will showcase exciting new products and visions for the future – both physical and digital. Ahead of the event, Wagener discussed the Design No. 5 program:
The now well-established Mercedes-Benz Design event is taking place for the fifth time -this time with the theme of “Design No.5: Creating Iconic Luxury”. What defines this year’s event?
Last year, we presented our new strategy and explained how we want to build the world’s most desirable cars. At “Design No.5”, our purpose is about showing how we’re bringing it to life. That’s why we’re providing insights into both current projects and taking a look ahead at future design trends. And, of course, we’re also featuring the newest show cars with which we’re creating new impulses for the future of Mercedes-Benz design. For us, it’s all about continuously evolving our unique design language based on the Mercedes DNA. At “Design No.5”, we’ll be sharing what inspires us, how our creations come to life, and how we define iconic luxury at Mercedes-Benz.
What is the focus of “Design No.5”?
This year is first and foremost about providing an insight into the future of our Top-End segment. In line with our “Pinnacle of Exclusivity” principle, we’re presenting specific examples arising from our strategy. There are three focal points. The first is our “MANUFAKTUR” individualization program with which we want to offer our customers an increasing breadth of design options. At “Design No.5”, we offer a perspective on potential future MANUFAKTUR specs. The second focal point is collectibles. By that, I mean vehicles built in limited numbers for collectors and special models as well as products and exclusive design options created through collaborations. And a third focus is on one-offs, i.e. unique vehicles such as vision cars, concept cars and art pieces. In particular, I’m referring to the Vision One-Eleven, which is a modern, avant-garde interpretation of the C 111.
How exactly do you define and set the stage for iconic luxury?
Let’s stay with the keyword “icon” for a moment. Every designer strives to create something new and unique and, in doing so, make a statement that resonates long into the future. But whether or not a designer’s work actually becomes an icon only becomes apparent with the passage of time. However, it’s icons that count. They define luxury and embody specific characteristics. They are original and unmistakable, pursue a clear aim, are timeless, based on a powerful idea and, therefore, can also be polarizing. Products, brands, people or also a style can be iconic. In this respect, we have the greatest possible potential here at Mercedes – for instance, with our iconic Mercedes, AMG and Maybach brands or outstanding individuals such as Carl Benz or Gottlieb Daimler. Beyond that, we have developed our own distinctive style. And Mercedes has created many iconic vehicles, including the 300 SL, the S-Class and the G-Class, for example – all of which are automotive legends. They’re cars with a very long pedigree. Our job is to continue this success story – or even to reimagine it.
My team and I have designed many sports cars for Mercedes. And I personally feel that some of these cars have already become icons: an SLR or a GT, for example. The new SL also has the potential to achieve cult status. Of course, there are certain standards for extraordinary design. The most important one is that a vehicle must be something truly novel when it comes onto the market. Beyond that, it needs that magical “x-factor”: that unexpected, extraordinary flair that generates lasting fascination. Something that wasn’t there before, like a 300 SL Gullwing, for example – an “über-car” that almost seemed like a UFO when it first came out. Aesthetics are also very important. An icon must, by definition, be beautiful and, moreover, timeless. It doesn’t just capture and surpass the current trends or zeitgeist, it sets them – and it’s not a fashion or fad. It would literally go out of fashion before it had a chance to achieve icon status. I always urge and embolden my team to be visionary and unconventional! It’s only by breaking the rules here and there can you create great things. Perhaps even something iconic.
Let’s look first at the exterior. Which features here are typical of iconic design?
Mercedes-Benz design has always featured numerous iconic elements. Think of the gullwing doors of the 300 SL, or the so-called “shark nose” from the 1950s and the 1960s, which we’re still reinterpreting today. Shark nose describes a front-end design that has a strong forward lean, which gives the vehicle a distinctively dynamic appearance. As the saying goes – they look fast, even standing still. Another iconic element is our “signature graphic”, also at the front – in the case of AMG, for instance, the typical AMG grille with vertical struts, the widest part of which hovers close above the road. This A-shape contour markedly shifts the visual center of gravity lower to the ground – evocative of a predator ready to pounce. In Carlsbad, we’re providing an insight into a new and equally sporty grille variant for Mercedes-Benz. It looks super cool. Another new element is the modified daytime running lights, the so-called eyebrow above the headlights, which we’ve further enhanced with a stylized star. We will successively introduce these features into all model lines. Together they will comprise the new sporty “face” of Mercedes-Benz – the look of the future. And because we always take a holistic approach to design, we’re also working in parallel to develop corresponding elements around the rear lights.
Keyword “holistic” – what does iconic design mean for the interior?
For us, it’s the overall experience of a Mercedes-Benz that counts. Meaning – conveying the uniqueness of a Mercedes-Benz from the inside out. In other words, giving our cars a strong and unmistakable design identity throughout. Our aim is to give our customers an interior experience that seamlessly unites aesthetics and beauty, one that’s achieved through exceptional design and materials. The so-called “cocooning effect” plays a central role here. A car’s interior should lend an ambience of luxury and security, one that offers maximum comfort combined with bespoke details and touches of the highest quality. We combine traditional materials such as wood and leather – created with genuine craftsmanship – with the latest high-tech features such as the Hyperscreen. The result is a thoroughly unique and distinctively Mercedes overall composition of analogue and digital elements. The exquisite details and the interplay of contrasts in the interior contribute to the iconic design.
For quite some time now, we’re seeing many luxury brands making a clear break with the past, starting with the move away from traditional color combinations. We’re a driver of this trend – and in some cases, taking an approach that’s deliberately polarizing. For example, through the use of unusual color combinations such as sunny yellow interiors that contrast sharply with dark/black metallic exteriors. Maybach shows this from a completely new perspective – one that’s far more extroverted than before. At the same time, we are shifting to a more generous and expansive surface design language – with screens being a prime example. We’ve developed a new touch architecture for these that is emphatically personal and haptic. All of this makes for a very dynamic change in design in the Top-End segment.
What other innovations can we expect at this year’s Design Essentials?
We will be presenting some spectacular design studies and near-production models at “Design No.5”, including the Mercedes-Benz Vision One-Eleven as a highlight. This super sports car follows in the tradition of the legendary C 111 experimental cars from the 1970s, reborn as an icon of the modern era. Much like its historic predecessor, the Vision One-Eleven combines stunning design with ground-breaking powertrain technology that explores new avenues for the future of sporting performance. For its world premiere, we will use augmented reality (AR) to create a visionary user experience, which we will integrate into a virtual test model of the vehicle’s interior. With the help of AR glasses, the driver’s field of vision will be enriched with high-resolution graphics all around. The physical vehicle interior and the digital interface will merge seamlessly, in effect turning the entire car into a user interface.
Another highlight at “Design No.5” is our vision for MANUFAKTUR, the individualization program at Mercedes-Benz. For over a year and a half, the MANUFAKTUR label has served as a complement to our existing product portfolio by offering an additional level of exclusivity and luxury in a selected range of our Top-End vehicles. Thanks to the huge resonance it’s enjoyed with customers, we will be expanding MANUFAKTUR over the next few years to transform it into a cross-brand individualization program available for all Top-End models. With our vision for MANUFAKTUR, we are giving customers an exciting preview of how we envision the future of vehicle individualization.
Then there’s our PROJECT MONDO G, which we designed exclusively for our collaboration with Moncler. It premiered earlier this year at the Moncler live show, “The Art of Genius” at London Fashion Week and will likewise be on show in Carlsbad. Last but not least, we are presenting the Mercedes-Maybach Night Series, which embodies the most progressive design package of this prestigious brand. Guests will get to experience the Mercedes-Benz “x-factor” first hand – in the form of unexpected and progressive elements that deliberately defy convention. In this way, we will be creating an exciting new style that takes the iconic Maybach design to a new level.
But we’ve got more in store above and beyond our new vehicle designs. Together with artist Harm van den Dorpel, we will be creating NFTs live on site. A non-fungible token has its own unique value, much like a painting, sculpture or even a digital artwork. This NFT is unique, verifiable, tradable and programmable, meaning it can serve as a digital certificate for genuine ownership. For us, NFTs represent an important element in our efforts to further develop the customer experience and enhance it with unexpected digital features – both in car and beyond.
Together with the Vision One-Eleven, we are also launching a new collection: “LIMITED EDITION 1 OF 111”. This marks the first time that an iconic design study will be accompanied by a lifestyle collection consisting of five exclusive items. In addition to echoing the distinctive colors of the sports car study, each individual accessory in the collection will also reflect the characteristic design elements of the vehicle.
Is there a timeline for the goal of building the “world’s most desirable cars”?
I think we’re already creating the world’s most desirable cars. The latest proof of this is the new E-Class, which I feel is an outstanding combination of innovative technology and iconic design. The W 214 E-Class is currently the most intelligent business sedan on the market; it embodies digital and physical luxury in the purest form. And its design makes that clear at first glance. However, with regard to the goal of building the world’s most desirable cars, I would also like to make it absolutely clear that this is a continuous process that starts anew with each future model generation.
But that also means that your team is permanently working under high pressure – how do you manage that?
First of all, delivering top performance is an expectation we have of anyone who is at the top of their game – whether it’s an artist, an elite athlete, or the Mercedes-Benz design team. What counts is how you deal with this. And regardless of what you’re doing or which field you’re working in, there’s really only one approach that makes sense: having a clearly defined concept with a coherent strategy. Together with a highly motivated and competent team, this is the foundation. At “Design No.5”, we’re showcasing how this works for us – how it all comes together. And the venue – this year at our Design Center in Carlsbad, California – plays a central role in this. It’s part of our global Design Center network, with which we are present in every key market. This network allows us to pick up on regional trends around the globe and work together in an interdisciplinary and intercultural fashion. The Design Centers function as our creative melting pots, where we forge ideas for the luxury automobiles of the future. Each Center’s respective environment – such as California, for example – serves as an incredible and inexhaustible source of inspiration for our work.
Mercedes-Benz Vision One-Eleven: progressive interpretation of a 70s brand icon
- Design and technology pioneer in the tradition of legendary C 111 experimental vehicles
- Exterior: sporty interpretation of One-Bow design with high-tech references
- Interior: fuses lounge-like feel with super sports car minimalism
- YASA axial-flux motor signals the future of performance electric drive
- Battery with high-performance liquid-cooled cylindrical cells
Mercedes-Benz presents a new sports car study. The Vision One-Eleven combines a highly dynamic design language with innovative all-electric powertrain technology. The supercar silhouette is characterized by skillful execution of the signature Mercedes-Benz One-Bow design that is significant of its 21st-century style. The development of this design underscores the positioning of the Mercedes-Benz brand, which stands for ICONIC LUXURY. Its technical highlights include the extremely powerful and highly efficient axial-flux motor developed by electric motor specialist YASA. The British company has been a 100-percent subsidiary of Mercedes-Benz AG since July 2021.
The Mercedes-Benz Vision One-Eleven is inspired by the tradition of the legendary C 111 experimental vehicles from the 1960s and 70s, which were used to test revolutionary Wankel and turbodiesel engines. They were also prototypes for testing polymer-based body shells. The extremely (aero)dynamic mid-engine sports cars are considered design icons of their era, not least due to their distinctive gullwing doors and eye-catching orange-and-black paintwork.
“Our goal at Mercedes-Benz is not to do styling – our goal is to create icons. To me, that makes the difference between mainstream design and luxury. Design icons like the Type 300 SL and C 111 – both with gullwing doors – are part of our DNA. These legendary vehicles were major inspirations for the iconic design of the Mercedes-Benz Vision One-Eleven. This is beauty and the extraordinary united in one vision of the future. Our all-electric vision show car is the modern-day interpretation of the C 111, which was avant-garde at the time. The element of surprise comes from its exceptionally clean, purist and, at the same time, extremely muscular proportions. This iconic clarity is also reflected in the interior. The equally sensual but minimalist design language stands for ICONIC LUXURY by Mercedes-Benz.”
Gorden Wagener, Chief Design Officer, Mercedes-Benz Group AG
“The Mercedes-Benz Vision One-Eleven combines breathtaking design with groundbreaking powertrain technology. Like its historical namesake, it explores new paths for the future of sporting performance. At the heart of the compact and extremely efficient powertrain is the innovative YASA axial-flux high-tech electric motor. It offers a motorsport-like power output from a considerably smaller package. This makes the YASA axial-flux motor ideal for electric high-performance vehicles. Combined with the liquid-cooled cylindrical-cell battery with Formula-1 inspired cell chemistry, the Mercedes-Benz Vision One-Eleven is yet another proof point for the broad performance spectrum encompassed by our four-pronged development strategy for electric drive.”
Markus Schäfer, Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG, Chief Technology Officer
The exterior – One-Bow design in its most athletic form
The body of the Mercedes-Benz Vision One-Eleven centers on skillful execution of the One-Bow design. From the low-slung front end to the muscular hind quarters, it runs in a smooth bow that endows the just 46 inch-high vehicle silhouette with an extremely sculptural feel. This harmonizes perfectly with the deep orange paintwork tinged with a hint of copper. It provides an unmistakable reference to the distinctive color of the C 111 without adopting it one-to-one. The color of the Mercedes-Benz Vision One-Eleven is considerably more powerful than that of the C 111 and also changes with the light. It conveys not only a sense of quality but also a certain extravagance.
Further notable features of the side view include the flush-fit gullwing doors and the side windows, which are opaque from the outside and camouflaged by a pixelated pattern. Yet another is the large-diameter wheels inserted seamlessly into the wheel arches beneath voluminous flared wings. This reinforces the impression of an uncompromisingly sporty and aerodynamically refined driving machine. The wheel design incorporates powerfully structured elements evocative of electric motor windings – a clear indicator of the state-of-the-art, all-electric powertrain underpinning the Mercedes-Benz Vision One-Eleven. They stand in spirited contrast to the vehicle’s iconic, minimalist and smooth surface design, which is more akin to a sculptural art piece. This contrast is typical of the x-factors the brand applies to its design thinking and a distinctive feature of the Vision One-Eleven.
Another striking contrast arises through the very low-slung front and rear skirts finished in matte black. The two deeply scooped aerodynamic elements are visually connected by two blade profiles in the same color running along the flanks beneath the sills. These profiles feature piercings that are backlit in blue. The functional aerodynamic elements also serve as a further design reference to the C 111, which is painted black on the lower portion of its body shell. The dark “keel line” of the Mercedes-Benz Vision One-Eleven generates an impression of seamless transition between the vehicle and the ground beneath it that is even more powerful than that of the C 111. The form of the car appears fused with the road surface.
The front-end design – iconic high-tech look with historical reference
From the frontal aspect, the Mercedes-Benz Vision One-Eleven is powerfully evocative of the C 111. In detail, however, there are striking differences: One stand-out example is the distinctive front end, which on both vehicles consists of a low-lying rectangular element with rounded ends left and right. On the C 111, this is a closed plastic element with a honeycomb structure, fitted with round fog lamps. The corresponding part on the Vision One-Eleven appears very similar at first glance. However, upon closer inspection, it reveals itself as a high-tech feature. The panel is a flexible external display with a 3D pixelated look. It interprets the C 111’s characteristic round lights in digitized form and can also convey messages to other road users.
In contrast to the C 111, the Mercedes-Benz Vision One-Eleven bears a U-shaped and strongly profiled front apron. Above the slender light band, both forefather and descendant show further similarities, most notably the black air intakes on the hood.
The rear-end design – aerodynamic features and digital elements
The rear-end of the Mercedes-Benz Vision One-Eleven is likewise dominated by a powerfully profiled diffuser. Spanning the breadth above it is a display that echoes the shape of its counterpart at the front end and features the same pixelated structure in the red taillights. Similar to the blade profiles along the sides, blue lighting effects are also visible at the rear. The inner face of the wheels is fitted with circular lighting elements.
The interior design – first sports car interior with a lounge concept
Inside, the Mercedes-Benz Vision One-Eleven presents the first sports car interior with a lounge concept. It reflects the paradigm shift from self-driven sports car to autonomous electric vehicle within the super sports car segment and unites two completely different states of being. In race mode with the backrest upright and the compact driver-oriented touchscreen, the interior becomes that of a minimalist driving machine. Conversely, in lounge mode, the seats are fully integrated into the interior sculpture, which merges sills, center tunnel and luggage compartment into a single unit.
This creates a whole new, exceptionally airy spatial concept. In contrast to previous mid-engine sports cars, it takes advantage of the compact proportions of electric motors to extend the interior rearwards. Consequently, the lounge-like interior invites occupants to take their time and relax – a completely new approach for the sports car of the future.
Futuristic and luxurious ambience with contrasting colors
The interior design of the Vision One-Eleven reflects future luxury based on a progressive color concept and extraordinary material combinations. The richly contrasting colors and materials attract attention at first glance: Large surfaces such as the dashboard are upholstered in white fabric displaying a tech-look honeycomb structure. The material is made from 100-percent recycled polyester. Other elements such as the armrests on the sills and center console, as well as the rear parcel shelf beneath the expansive rear windscreen, are clad in bright orange leather. This creates a smooth transition from interior to luggage compartment. The sustainably processed leather was tanned using coffee bean husks. Polished aluminum in the steering-wheel spokes and inlaid as straps across the armrests underscore the tech look and feel. The same applies to the brake and accelerator pedals, both of which are made from polished aluminum and floor mounted.
Otherwise, the interior equipment in the Mercedes-Benz Vision One-Eleven has been reduced to a minimum. Like the exterior, the task was to keep the number of add-on features to a bare minimum. The seats are good examples as they don’t follow the classic format. Instead, the seat cushions are integrated flush-fit into the floor. This creates the initial impression of the bucket seat in a Formula 1 race car. The orange four-point harness and its high-gloss polished buckle further reinforce the sporting character.
Nevertheless, the innovative seats combine this sporty feeling with luxurious comfort because, unlike in a Formula 1 race car, the angle of the backrest can be adjusted. The silver shimmer of their diamond-quilted upholstery is another eye-catcher that underscores the first-class interior ambience. Between the seats is a compact center console, freestanding in space like a work of art.
The only highly complex feature in the interior is the leather-clad steering wheel, which is fitted with various functional controls and state-of-the-art touch elements. This is complemented by a compact touchscreen with high-resolution display mounted to the side of the steering wheel and angled towards the driver. It shows all relevant vehicle information as required.
Fusion of analogue and digital – UI/UX with retro-futuristic pixel-look
The contrast to the modern interior is provided by the slender pixel display spanning the entire breadth of the dashboard, picking up on the form of the front and rear light bands. The pixel structure is intentionally coarse here as well, which gives the information displayed – such as the current speed – a strikingly bold appearance. Moreover, the 3D pixel display shows digital art pieces as a coarsely rasterized stream of QR codes in the style of “early digital” news tickers. This is done with the help of glass pixels that show a changing color gradient depending on the viewing angle. The corresponding real image then appears razor sharp on the high-resolution screen next to the steering wheel.
This combination of vastly differing representations of the same image embodies a further interpretation of the MBUX Hyperscreen with a focus on flexible interfaces. The retro-futuristic, 8-bit look thus creates an additional x-factor. The development in the Mercedes-Benz Vision One-Eleven reinforces the increasing fusion of physical and digital.
Creating an experimental spatial user interface – augmented reality takes the user experience to a new level
For the premiere of the Vision One-Eleven, Mercedes-Benz designers have created a visionary user experience with the aid of augmented reality (AR), setting it inside a virtual prototype of the Vision One-Eleven interior. As soon as the driver dons the Magic Leap 2 augmented reality headset, their experience is enriched with high-definition digital content that is contextually integrated into their surroundings. It creates a seamless spatial blend of physical interior and digital user interface beyond the screen. In effect, the entire car becomes the user interface.
Mercedes-Benz has been exploring the benefits of AR since the launch of the F015 concept car in 2015. The AR UI in this new car presents a vision of the future that works on two levels: the information attached to the dashboard and information placed in the environment inside and outside the car. This marks the next step from screen-based UI with Mercedes-Benz intuitive zero-layer technology to an AR UI that arranges zero-layer elements around the user in space. Elements include modules, 3D icons and the navigation map. The control interface around the dashboard and steering wheel is also augmented with additional contextualized information attached to actual objects such as buttons or switches.
The 180-degree AR view incorporates the world outside the virtual prototype – fusing the car effortlessly with its surroundings and placing the driver at the center. Map elements are projected into the environment, which is enriched with further information such as places of interests or hidden hazards such as roadworks beyond a bend. With this X-ray view, the system enhances situational awareness by blending out unimportant details to create an uncluttered image of relevant input. Elements that obstruct the driver’s line of sight – such as the A-pillar, doors or even the bonnet – then appear “transparent”. Mercedes-Benz designers and experts worked with the technical specialists at Magic Leap to develop and refine the AR experience showcased in the Vision One-Eleven using the highly advanced Magic Leap 2 AR glasses.
The spatial user interface is a beacon for a Mercedes-Benz user experience that is unencumbered by technology. It is part of a wider vision that looks towards extended reality, whereby technology and hardware cease to be the focal point; instead becoming fully integrated and seamless facilitators of user needs and wishes.
Innovative electric powertrain – high-performance axial-flux motor and all-new battery technology
Technology highlights include a new battery concept featuring high-performance liquid-cooled cylindrical cells with a novel cell chemistry. Once more, the extensive knowledge of the motorsport experts from Mercedes-AMG High Performance Powertrain in Brixworth found its way into this promising concept for future performance-oriented batteries. Aside from that, the Vision One-Eleven features an exceptionally powerful and advanced axial-flux motor from YASA. Mercedes-Benz is developing this technology together with YASA to large scale production maturity for its next-generation electric drives. YASA is a British electric-motor specialist based in Oxford and has been a 100-percent subsidiary of Mercedes-Benz AG since July 2021. The company has thus secured access to a unique future technology that has the potential to take electric mobility to a new level of performance.
“Axial-flux motors are significantly lighter and more compact, yet more powerful than comparable radial-flux motors currently used in 99 percent of all electric cars. In an axial-flux motor, the electromagnetic flow runs parallel to the motor’s rotational axis, which is highly efficient. In a radial-flux motor, the flow runs perpendicular to the rotational axis. Compared to radial-flux motors, they have considerably higher and more enduring power reserves, which delivers a whole new level of performance.”
Tim Woolmer, Founder and Chief Technology Officer of YASA
Alongside its power and torque density, another major benefit is the narrow package, which reduces both its weight and dimensions. The weight of an axial-flux motor is just one third of that of current electric motors with the same power output. At the same time, it requires just one-third of the space occupied by a radial-flux motor. This opens up completely new options for engineers as well as new freedoms in the design of an electric vehicle as demonstrated by the Vision One-Eleven.
The future generation of YASA axial-flux motors will be produced at the Mercedes-Benz Berlin-Marienfelde plant. The motors manufactured there will be at the heart of the forthcoming powertrain for the performance segment.
High-quality products from the Mercedes-Benz Collection: The “LIMITED EDITION 1 OF 111”
Together with the presentation of the sports car study, Mercedes-Benz is launching the “LIMITED EDITION 1 OF 111” collection. For the first time, an iconic design study is accompanied by an exclusive lifestyle collection. This translates the zeitgeist of the 1970s into the here and now, and combines casual sportiness with lavish attention to detail. In addition to the distinctive coloring of the Vision One-Eleven, the individual accessories also invoke the vehicle’s hallmark design elements. The five articles are each limited to 111 pieces and thus offer admirers of this fascinating study an exclusive opportunity to take its style home with them. All products bear “LIMITED EDITION 1 OF 111” lettering – either embossed, printed or engraved. The high-quality packaging, also in orange, is embossed on the top with the Mercedes star and “LIMITED EDITION 1 OF 111” lettering.
- The weekender bag in silver, orange and black is a luxurious travel bag made of high-quality cowhide with a striking diamond pattern. The two embossed leather badges on the left and right show the Mercedes-Benz logo on one side and the Limited Edition labelling on the other. In addition, there is a pendant made of black leather embossed with “Vision One-Eleven”. In addition to the two leather carrying handles, the travel bag has a shoulder strap with leather shoulder padding. The weekender bag (dimensions: approx. 19.5 x 12 x 11 inches) can carry approx. 40 liters.
- In addition to the Carl Zeiss Vision N2020 lenses in orange, eye-catching design features of the sunglasses include the striking, slightly upwards offset double bridge. The 19-gram classic aviator sunglasses with retro flair are “made by ic! berlin for Mercedes-Benz”. Limited Edition is engraved on the inside of the side piece, the Star Pattern on the outside. Another highlight of the frame made of highly polished stainless steel is the familiar screw-less joint system from ic! berlin.
- The modern-fit hoody in orange and grey has a hood, pocket and drawstring with black flat-belt cord, printed in white with the label “LIMITED EDITION 1 OF 111”. The back features an embossed 3D star with a diameter of approx. 8 inches, and the raglan sleeves have a grey insert with a tonal diamond pattern.
- The orange cotton cap with a metal buckle has a tonal embroidered star at front center, and the Limited Edition label is printed in white on the left side. The Mercedes-Benz lettering can be found on the inner straps, which are also orange.
- The cover for the iPhone 14 Pro, orange on the outside, lining in grey microfiber on the inside, is made of liquid silicone with rubber soft-touch finish. The lettering “LIMITED EDITION 1 OF 111” is printed in white on the front, tonal grey on the inside, and the Mercedes-Benz star is printed in tonal orange on the front and tonal grey on the inside.
The items in the “LIMITED EDITION 1 OF 111” collection will be available from August 2023 at www.1of111.com .
